Foresteria Neomexicana Forest Progression

[rockm]

Very well done and presented. Placement of material is ok, "incredible" when taking your level of experience into consideration.

Looks nice from both sides shown, but I would agree with @rockm that your current front is your best option

Only thing that catches my eye is the slender tree planted in front of the more developed "clump" on the viewers left. Usually crossing trunks are to be avoided. I think in this circumstance, it's messing with the nice perspective you have created. Perhaps it could be moved closer to the edge of the planting or just behind some of the bigger material?

All in all, a great job and enjoy your efforts with an ice-cold beverage!!!

I thought the same about that crossing trunk...

 

[Hartinez]

I thought the same about that crossing trunk...

You and @LanceMac10 are both absolutely right on that one. It really needs to be moved all together. It’s too slender to be right out front like that, and the fact that it crosses those prominent trees makes me question what I was even seeing! Maybe too many cold beverages through the making of this one clouded my vision. ?

 

[LanceMac10]

too many cold beverages through the making of this one clouded my vision. ?

............I usually go with, "not enough beverages"..........


really, just a minute criticism.

 

[Lost2301]

Nice forest. I have about 6 of these and one Cheyenne privet. These make good Bonsai trees. My first tree is a wind blown tree. It was the second New Mexico I bought. My second tree is an exposed root, third is a weeping style, 4th extremely tall literati, other two nothing done with them yet. I have found that these trees will take a lot of abuse. You can basically take them right out of the nursery pot, bare root them, root prune them and stick in a Bonsai pot with not troubles at all. Now this was done before leaf out, would not try it when they are in leaf. A club member has had one for 25 years. He says scars do not heal at all. He is an advanced club member so I take his word on this. I just jin things on these trees. First two photos were friends tree taken with tree in training 18 years. Next photo is my wind blown around 5 years in training, last is the literati with about 6 months of training. No photo of the weeping tree, it is going to be the best tree. I found the tree at the Longmont tree farm with perfect trunk, roots and branches. Basically a no-brainer tree. No photo of the exposed tree right now. Another no-brainer find. I actually like Cheyenne privet better. They look the same except Cheyenne blooms much latter and the flowers smell really nice. Problem is finding a good sized trunk one, actually find even a small is really hard. I just styled my Cheyenne and waiting to see how it handles this. There is a wholesale nursery north of Santa Fe that carries a lot of NM natives including 15 gallon NM Privets. Don't know how strict they are selling to retail customers. Have not been there myself but would like to go. A local nursery here has Cheyenne's in 15 gallon pots, basically a really large clump! No way to get one home! Great forest!! Last photo of club members picking out a NM Privet, must of been over 500 of them to pick from. That is where I got my wind blown tree from.

 

[Hartinez]

Partially rebuilt this forest. Left the position of several but moved a few of them and tightened up the composition. I also took most of the lean out of each tree. I’m much happier with it. Each tree still needs branch selection and maybe a bit of wire.

 

[Hartinez]

Glad that crossing branch is moved. You can see it just to the right of the main clump now.

 

[Mike Hennigan]

Wow looks great man!

 

[Hartinez]

Wow looks great man!

Hey Thanks Mike! I think once it fills in it’ll creat a great composition. I’m glad I re-worked it though.

 

[Hartinez]

Getting a bit over grown already. The trees I moved and reduced their roots are slow to fill in, one of which is stagnant, alive, but stagnant. It may not be the best spot for it anyways. Hoping it makes it through the year.

also, this was the first year I used a dormant oil spray on all of my New Mexico privet, and I’m glad I did! Strongest pest free growth I’ve had in several seasons.

needs a trim already!

here is the struggling tree, seen front left with wire on it.

 

[Hartinez]

haven’t updated this thread in a bit. Cannot quite seem to keep this species happy in a pot. The season always starts well, but very quickly all of the ones I own get this leaf curl issue. Any landscape versions I have seem to be prolific and tough as nails with very little curl present. I’m wondering if I should consider a different substrate mixture? I’m going to transfer all of these to a box next year and possibly add a few more trees. Then let grow as much as possible.

 

[Shogun610]

haven’t updated this thread in a bit. Cannot quite seem to keep this species happy in a pot. The season always starts well, but very quickly all of the ones I own get this leaf curl issue. Any landscape versions I have seem to be prolific and tough as nails with very little curl present. I’m wondering if I should consider a different substrate mixture? I’m going to transfer all of these to a box next year and possibly add a few more trees. Then let grow as much as possible. View attachment 400438

You said this grows along the banks of the rio grande? Interesting concept by your question of changing the substrate. You used pumice and DE. I have never used DE so I can’t speak first hand on performance… Could it be possible that the substrate does not hold enough water ? Since this grows along the banks of river , in my experience those types of trees love water , tolerant of flooding so soil mediums that have higher moisture holding capacity help out .

 

[Hartinez]

You said this grows along the banks of the rio grande? Interesting concept by your question of changing the substrate. You used pumice and DE. I have never used DE so I can’t speks First hand on performance… Could it be possible that the substrate does not hold enough water ? Since this grows along the banks of river , in my experience those types of trees love water , tolerant of flooding so soil mediums that have higher moisture holding capacity help out .

Kind of what I’m thinking also. I’ve stopped using DE all together and I may transfer to 75% maybe more akadama. Or mix in some fir bark With the pumice and akadama.

 

[Mike Hennigan]

Find a large enough and deep enough tray, stick the pot in it, fill tray with water so the water is about half way up the pot. Let it just sit like that, refresh water when it gets icky or low. Try that out for a couple weeks and see if you see a return of health. Bill Valavanis will do this with a number of his trees especially if they are rootbound and difficult to water. Seems like a species that could tolerate this treatment.

 

[PiñonJ]

I'd use straight akadama.

 

[Hartinez]

I

I'd use straight akadama.

think I’ll try that with both of these I’ve got.

 

[Hartinez]

 

[Hartinez]

This tree has started off the year very well. I added a few more trees to the comp as well.

 

[Carol 83]

Looking good.

 

[Mike Toy]

Looks nice! I just picked up a couple from a local nursery. I'm up in Idaho, zone 6b. I am told they are cold hardy. Does anyone know that to be the case?

 

[Hartinez]

Thank you.

Looks nice! I just picked up a couple from a local nursery. I'm up in Idaho, zone 6b. I am told they are cold hardy. Does anyone know that to be the case?

unfortunately, though, I gave up on this project. I have tried these in a pot on at least half a dozen occasions. I have yet to have a full growing season where the tree/trees looks and stay healthy. They just do not seem to like being in a pot. I’ve seen other folks have good luck, but I just haven’t.