Woocash
Omono
Wait for this one, it’s a beauty. Keep on with recovery and get some other cannon fodder to practice on. No point in ruining the good ones until you know why you ruined it. 
Help with apex shortening/design
- Thread starter Big Country Bonsai
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- oak quercus quercus buckleyi redoak
Big Country Bonsai
Shohin
Thanks! Yeah I think thats the best route for now.Wait for this one, it’s a beauty. Keep on with recovery and get some other cannon fodder to practice on. No point in ruining the good ones until you know why you ruined it.
Big Country Bonsai
Shohin
Just wanted to update. Tree made it through winter and a small trim. It’s pushing lots of buds now. One question. Do you clip and grow new growth?Potawatomi13
Imperial Masterpiece
Personally; Let grow out until hardened off about June. This puts positive energy into roots. Then can do trimming of new growth as well as some older stems if desired. Also suggest removal of biggest leaves especially if shading weaker growth. Second growth and back buds should ensue from stored root energy
. Allowing all sprouts to mature creates traffic of food/H2O through trunk and limbs adding some bit of growth of wood affected. Generally all wood added is great thing. Also generally do not trim the second growth until after growth next Spring. This is how personal Oaks done presently and is developmental training regimen, not necessarily refinement regimen. Love to see your results as seasons progress.
. Allowing all sprouts to mature creates traffic of food/H2O through trunk and limbs adding some bit of growth of wood affected. Generally all wood added is great thing. Also generally do not trim the second growth until after growth next Spring. This is how personal Oaks done presently and is developmental training regimen, not necessarily refinement regimen. Love to see your results as seasons progress.
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sorce
Nonsense Rascal
Nice!
I feel like you're still in a position where a wrong move, a pest, a bad wind, can upset your happy balance.
I wouldn't mind watching this grow for 2 years or more.
It'll only get better.
I kinda wanna layer it above the straight part.
That low branch can be a new lead.
In 5 years!
Sorce
I feel like you're still in a position where a wrong move, a pest, a bad wind, can upset your happy balance.
I wouldn't mind watching this grow for 2 years or more.
It'll only get better.
I kinda wanna layer it above the straight part.
That low branch can be a new lead.
In 5 years!
Sorce
River's Edge
Masterpiece
I must admit that I have a tendency towards slower development. With that being said I really like the progress to this point. I would be tempted to cut back in two locations and then proceed to grow out and manage the branch thickness and node length going forward with selective pruning.
My thinking is to manage the overall trunk and branches to keep a bit shorter and more powerful presentation as it extends. Letting it grow out in its entirety at this point may create a leggier, taller format and thinner trunk. Managing the apical sections more frequently may thicken the lower portion and retain a better balance. Just one persons idea, not set in my ways over this approach.
My thinking is to manage the overall trunk and branches to keep a bit shorter and more powerful presentation as it extends. Letting it grow out in its entirety at this point may create a leggier, taller format and thinner trunk. Managing the apical sections more frequently may thicken the lower portion and retain a better balance. Just one persons idea, not set in my ways over this approach.
World Bonsai Police
Sapling
You know how I hate to be picky, but golly, this is going to be something in 5 years if it isn't killed by lopping and chopping and air-layering a new extra starter so you'd have two starters instead of one great tree. Boo Hiss Just continue your plan of refining what you got.
Big Country Bonsai
Shohin
Just some more growth popping up everywhere! I think I will keep course and create a more elegant naturalistic tree than a masculine beast. It just seems right with this trees bark and wonderful foliage. I do plan to bring the silhouette in some more but that will happen with time. If it grows good this season I will probably chop back a bit by next season and the focus on refined growth. It does seem to push fast course growth after a cut back so I will have to figure out how to slow it down a bit at some point. 
Just some general comments...
The tree was pulled out of the ground, bare rooted. At first, it worked to replace all the damaged roots. Now, the new roots have found themselves in a rather large, deep pot with new, coarse soil. They’ll grow fast! When roots grow fast, the top will grow fast. Over time, the roots will fill the pot. And slow their growth. The top will ramify, and the coarse growth will slow down, creating finer twigs, and smaller leaves.
Repotting less often, and using a soil with smaller particles will aid in the development of smaller twigs and leaves.
But that’s not where this tree is. This tree is still in the recovery stage of being collected. As stated above, this process takes several years. It is far to early to be even THINKING about concepts like “naturalistic” and “masculine”. The focus at this point should be on health, and the best way to promote that is by focusing on developing healthy roots.
I don’t like colanders for deciduous trees. They generally don’t like getting dried out, and the purpose of using a colander is to have dry soil. But, it’s in what it’s in, and it’s too late to change it this year. Next year move it to a shallower pot or grow box.
At this point, let it grow out. Get it strong, hopefully it’ll back bud.
The tree was pulled out of the ground, bare rooted. At first, it worked to replace all the damaged roots. Now, the new roots have found themselves in a rather large, deep pot with new, coarse soil. They’ll grow fast! When roots grow fast, the top will grow fast. Over time, the roots will fill the pot. And slow their growth. The top will ramify, and the coarse growth will slow down, creating finer twigs, and smaller leaves.
Repotting less often, and using a soil with smaller particles will aid in the development of smaller twigs and leaves.
But that’s not where this tree is. This tree is still in the recovery stage of being collected. As stated above, this process takes several years. It is far to early to be even THINKING about concepts like “naturalistic” and “masculine”. The focus at this point should be on health, and the best way to promote that is by focusing on developing healthy roots.
I don’t like colanders for deciduous trees. They generally don’t like getting dried out, and the purpose of using a colander is to have dry soil. But, it’s in what it’s in, and it’s too late to change it this year. Next year move it to a shallower pot or grow box.
At this point, let it grow out. Get it strong, hopefully it’ll back bud.
