Excited about new project

[Juanmi]

So I just was spending a good holiday with my wife on Belgium on our 5th anniversary and I noticed an acorn that was starting to germinate, that had fallen from the trees on the property we were staying on. (Quercus Robur or English Oak if I'm not mistaken).

So I started thinking that that would be a nice souvenir from that trip. Even better... we are expecting a baby, so I could have a tree that would literally have the same age as my son / daughter / thing. Even he / she / it could continue taking care of it if he / she / it is one day interested in bonsai.

I wanted to have lot of chances of success, so I started collecting lots of acorns and hopefully some of them will eventually be a nice little tree.

So in this thread I'll be posting the slow and long evolution of those oaks.

Suggestions of course will be welcome.

 

[Frozentreehugger]

Plant the acorns in pots . Protect them from animals ( rodents ) metal screen cage with pots inside . Or tough screen like metal over the pots . The germinated trees will sprout thru the screen . The acorns are very very vulnerable to rodents . Even after sprouted as long as the nut exists . Often into the second year with some oak .no idea with rubur cut the tap root early

 

[Carol 83]

Happy anniversary and congratulations on your new addition! Cool idea to start a tree that will be the same age as your baby.

 

[JudyB]

Congrats on the 5th and your expected arrival as well!

 

[Potawatomi13]

Plant acorns now. Leave outdoors but PROTECTED as already mentioned. 3 months----baby trees. Once new growth hardens off wire in any movement desired. After next growth happens can remove wire from first section and move on to new section. Personally have wired twice in one growing season. If wanting to develop bigger trunks will need to grow out sacrifice trunk to remove later.

 

[dbonsaiw]

we are expecting a baby, so I could have a tree that would literally have the same age as my son / daughter / thing. Even he / she / it could continue taking care of it if he / she / it is one day interested in bonsai.

Great idea. Unlike bonsai development where time seems to move so slow, kids grow up in a hurry. Perhaps that will make the bonsai development of these trees feel like it's going faster.

 

[Alcam]

Love this. Congrats!

I did the same kind of thing last year when my grandparent passed away. Driving home from the funeral, me and my family stopped by to see my grandparent's old house (theyre both gone now), and I collected a handful of walnuts from the tree they planted decades ago. From the handful collected, two survived (go figure, two, ha!). The sentimental value of your soon-to-be trees is priceless. Enjoy!

 

[Potawatomi13]

Blessed Spring and new little trees just around the corner.

 

[Linn01]

I am elaborating a system that each of my four kids, and my wife, have a affiliated tree (preferably chosen or grown by themselves), plus a scroll with their names in Chinese characters. My oldest daughter made the scrolls. This was a try out by my son:

 

[Juanmi]

Some progress

 

[Paradox]

Missed this thread.
Cool idea and congrats on the Lil one

 

[Tieball]

Congratulations on your anniversary! Very cool idea for the your expected child and the tree development. I’m confident that your child will appreciate the story and the tree in future years. You’ll get a lot of…”tell me the story again” requests. So write down some details (sometimes time fades the details) and take photos along the journey.

 

[Juanmi]

For some reason I forgot to update on this. So I'll just do it now.

Here they are on march 2024


And those are today


And the little monster is growing strong also (1 year already)

 

[Dabbler]

Awww - there so fun at that age - nice car btw if thats yours!

 

[Juanmi]

Awww - there so fun at that age - nice car btw if thats yours!

Yes he is a lot of fun, although, he doesn't seem to respond well to traditional techniques such as wiring, clipping or defoliating... and no.... unfortunately that's not my car (I wish), there was a little car exhibit at a family music festival.