Englemann spruce progression.

[Hartinez]

 

[Hartinez]

 

[Djtommy]

Very nice tree. Maybe you can still bring the branches on the left trunk down to a more similar angle as they have on the right trunk?

 

[Hartinez]

Very nice tree. Maybe you can still bring the branches on the left trunk down to a more similar angle as they have on the right trunk?

Thanks Tommy! And I Totally agree. They could probably use a guy wire or 2. Branches towards the apex at some spots were much thicker making for a difficult bend. At this point though, I removed a decent amount of foliage, and it needs a break. Maybe I’ll attach some guy wires and slowly bring them down through out the year.

 

[Hartinez]

Very nice tree. Maybe you can still bring the branches on the left trunk down to a more similar angle as they have on the right trunk?

Though I don’t know that I’ll ever match the same angle if i don’t notch the branch at the bottom crotch. And cutting notches terrifies me.

 

[PiñonJ]

Looks good in 2D, but looking at the video, the apex is moving away from the viewer. That’s a problem, visually. This could be solved by changing the planting angle, or choosing a new front.

 

[Hartinez]

This heavy branch right here may be an issue long term. The angle is off.

 

[Hartinez]

Looks good in 2D, but looking at the video, the apex is moving away from the viewer. That’s a problem, visually. This could be solved by changing the planting angle, or choosing a new front.

Yeah, the whole tree needs to be tilted forward at re-pot. But I’m seeing that also. Next year probably.

 

[Hartinez]

Looks good in 2D, but looking at the video, the apex is moving away from the viewer. That’s a problem, visually. This could be solved by changing the planting angle, or choosing a new front.

There were so many initial branches at the first repot that I needed to just get it in secure and happy.

 

[PiñonJ]

There were so many initial branches at the first repot that I needed to just get it in secure and happy.

That's why it's good, on collected material, to do a full styling while it's still in the grow box. You use blocks to set the planting angle and do branch selection and a full wiring. Then you re-pot it the next year. With nursery stock, the order is reversed, especially if it was grown in a clay soil, because you want to get it into a free-draining substrate ASAP.

 

[Hartinez]

That's why it's good, on collected material, to do a full styling while it's still in the grow box. You use blocks to set the planting angle and do branch selection and a full wiring. Then you re-pot it the next year. With nursery stock, the order is reversed, especially if it was grown in a clay soil, because you want to get it into a free-draining substrate ASAP.

 

[0soyoung]

I read through this thread and I cannot find any reason for your chosen front to not be the back instead. The other side has the proper inclination toward the viewer. That heavier branch you're worried about would be in front instead and the tree has a proper perspective when viewed from the (what is now your chosen) back.

 

[Hartinez]

I read through this thread and I cannot find any reason for your chosen front to not be the back instead. The other side has the proper inclination toward the viewer. That heavier branch you're worried about would be in front instead and the tree has a proper perspective when viewed from the (what is now your chosen) back.

I think the reverse could work. It’s a nebari thing at that point. I thought the surface roots showed the best from this angle. But I’ll take a few photos of different angles and post em up.

 

[Hartinez]

That's why it's good, on collected material, to do a full styling while it's still in the grow box. You use blocks to set the planting angle and do branch selection and a full wiring. Then you re-pot it the next year. With nursery stock, the order is reversed, especially if it was grown in a clay soil, because you want to get it into a free-draining substrate ASAP.

How I’ll handle the next set of englemann. I need to start with better boxes next time.

 

[Hartinez]

I read through this thread and I cannot find any reason for your chosen front to not be the back instead. The other side has the proper inclination toward the viewer. That heavier branch you're worried about would be in front instead and the tree has a proper perspective when viewed from the (what is now your chosen) back.

Either way. Thanks for the input. I’ll play with your thought some.

 

[wireme]

This heavy branch right here may be an issue long term. The angle is off.

It’s always hard to judge the true stiffness and girth by photo but it looks like a long term progressive guy wire pull + some crotch support could probably bring’er down over time fairly safely.

But.. does it really need it? To some of us conditioned by general spruce styling guidelines it may as well have a flashing neon sign saying wrong angle hanging off it, it just jumps out. It may just be conditioning. I just showed the pic to my gf, asked her if anything stood out styling wise and nope. Before doing anything I’d suggest spending some time trying to learn how to love it as is.

 

[Hartinez]

It’s always hard to judge the true stiffness and girth by photo but it looks like a long term progressive guy wire pull + some crotch support could probably bring’er down over time fairly safely.

But.. does it really need it? To some of us conditioned by general spruce styling guidelines it may as well have a flashing neon sign saying wrong angle hanging off it, it just jumps out. It may just be conditioning. I just showed the pic to my gf, asked her if anything stood out styling wise and nope. Before doing anything I’d suggest spending some time trying to learn how to love it as is.

I appreciate that answer wire me. The tree needs a break from work for a bit anyways. Plenty of time to mull over the idea and location of that branch.

 

[wireme]

I appreciate that answer wire me. The tree needs a break from work for a bit anyways. Plenty of time to mull over the idea and location of that branch.

I can see you’ve got a list of “next time things” to improve the result like potting angle to adjust etc but the overall image is great considering how recently the tree was collected if you ask me, looking closer to finished tree than project tree.

 

[wireme]

I can see you’ve got a list of “next time things” to improve the result like potting angle to adjust etc but the overall image is great considering how recently the tree was collected if you ask me, certainly looking closer to finished tree than project tree.

 

[Hartinez]

I can see you’ve got a list of “next time things” to improve the result like potting angle to adjust etc but the overall image is great considering how recently the tree was collected if you ask me, looking closer to finished tree than project tree.

Yeah the timeline has been relatively aggressive, but I’ve basically been responding to the trees strong growth. Can’t wait to get up into the same area this year and get a few more.