"Kobai" Flowering Apricot from William Valavanis

[Alex DeRuiter]

I got a couple of these seedlings from Mr. Valavanis last year after reading a post from several other happy customers of his. When I first got this (in late winter, 2011), it stood maybe about one foot tall -- if that. It has since grown quite well, considering the length of the growing season in my climate. In that past two weeks, it has pushed out a TON of new growth.

Nothing terribly special to look at yet, but perhaps this thread will turn into something interesting some day.

PS- Yes, that's a Makita flash light, and it's by far the best damn flashlight I've ever owned. haha

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Was actually admiring the half full bottle of bubbles...don't think my son has managed to keep one upright that long yet! Just threw away another empty bottle today....

Nice ume too. I got one from Brent and put it in the ground 3 years ago. It was about half the size of yours. It's 12' tall now with a 2" trunk happening.

 

[William N. Valavanis]

Alex,

Glad your 'Kobai' Japanese flowering apricot is developing nicely!

I suggest trying to wire the trunk to create some movement before it gets too thick. By the way, your plant is a cutting, not a seedling. The only way to get true cultivars is asexual propagation- cuttings, grafts, air layers, division or tissue culture.

Keep up the good work and let us know later on how your tree develops.

Bill

 

[DaveV]

I bought some japanese maple cuttings from Bill about five years ago and they are doing quite will. Bill, hope you have some more apricot cuttings next year, I'd love to have some too!

Dave V.

 

[kakejiku]

Alex,

Glad your 'Kobai' Japanese flowering apricot is developing nicely!

Bill

Sorry to jump in without a comment on the bonsai itself. I was wondering if Bill or someone else knows the character for "ko". 小梅、子梅、古梅 Just interested to know first character for the meaning given to the tree...And I assumed that the second character was Ume (bai) based upon the post above stating it was an ume.

 

[milehigh_7]

A year and a half ago I bought 15 UME cuttings from Bill I don't remember the varieties I got 5 of 3 different kinds. ANYWAY 14 promptly died and the 15th lost all of it's leaves but the trunk remained green. So I just kept watering along with my other trees. It just stayed totally leafless all through summer. Well this spring, would you believe it pushed flower buds? It has now leafed out and is doing pretty good. It still looks weak but it is growing. Weirdest thing I ever saw...

 

[Alex DeRuiter]

Was actually admiring the half full bottle of bubbles...don't think my son has managed to keep one upright that long yet! Just threw away another empty bottle today....

Nice ume too. I got one from Brent and put it in the ground 3 years ago. It was about half the size of yours. It's 12' tall now with a 2" trunk happening.

Hah! She's surprisingly careful with them...though she's learned through her mistakes. My only advice to you is never, ever, ever get those Crayola dyed bubbles...they will stain EVERYTHING. I actually spilled (pored) those out on "accident."

I hope I can get this one that size in the same amount of time. I've been learning how to fertilize properly, so I'm probably pretty far behind you. I'm very envious of your ability to plant stuff in the ground. Life won't currently allow me to own any property (waiting to finish school and figure out where we want to live), but I've been strongly considering some escape-potting, at least. We'll see. ;-p

Alex,

Glad your 'Kobai' Japanese flowering apricot is developing nicely!

I suggest trying to wire the trunk to create some movement before it gets too thick. By the way, your plant is a cutting, not a seedling. The only way to get true cultivars is asexual propagation- cuttings, grafts, air layers, division or tissue culture.

Keep up the good work and let us know later on how your tree develops.

Bill

Thanks for the advice and the information, Bill! I never knew that about getting true cultivars, though I've never really even thought to research it. Very interesting stuff.

I'm pushing to get some low growth to help develop some movement if possible. I got a couple buds to pop out strong this year and I'm hopeful for next season, but wiring would certainly help with its movement.

I pinched the flower buds this season so more energy would be put into growing the tree. Trust me...this was hard to do since I was so excited to see them...but there will be time for that later.

A year and a half ago I bought 15 UME cuttings from Bill I don't remember the varieties I got 5 of 3 different kinds. ANYWAY 14 promptly died and the 15th lost all of it's leaves but the trunk remained green. So I just kept watering along with my other trees. It just stayed totally leafless all through summer. Well this spring, would you believe it pushed flower buds? It has now leafed out and is doing pretty good. It still looks weak but it is growing. Weirdest thing I ever saw...

Actually, I believe it was your thread that made me want to contact Bill to purchase some. That's horrible! Did you disturb the roots when you potted them? That's amazing that the one tree actually survived -- congratulations! You should definitely pinch any flower buds so you can direct more energy into leaf/branch/root development.

 

[fore]

I bought a 'Nicholas' Ume from Bill this spring. It was growing great until one of my dogs ran into the stand it was on (don't ask how lol), during that 100F hot spell we had, and by the time I got home and repotted it, it never recovered. I'll try again next yr.

 

[milehigh_7]

Actually, I believe it was your thread that made me want to contact Bill to purchase some. That's horrible! Did you disturb the roots when you potted them? That's amazing that the one tree actually survived -- congratulations! You should definitely pinch any flower buds so you can direct more energy into leaf/branch/root development.

I have no doubt it was my fault entirely. ;-) It was just so cool how the one I have left was dormant for an entire season. It seems to be puttering along.