Larix decidua

[jo1975]

Hello, very new on here, I only have been doing bonsai for couple of years so consider myself very new!... I managed to pick up this larix decidua as nursery stock for a very cheap price, however I am very stuck as what to do next so I am reaching out for lots of advice and what would be the best way to go with it.. everything will be appreciated..

 

[August44]

Nice larch! The next move would be to repot the tree in the spring before buds start to turn green. Larch are very, very touchy with root work, so be easy. It might take a couple of repots to get rid of enough roots so it will fit in a smaller pot. Assuming it's summer there, you could chop the top down, do some branch selecting, and maybe cut the branches back some if you want a smaller tree in the end. You could also wire the trunk to put some more movement in it. Always remember, one insult (like repot, heavy wiring, branch and trunk chopping etc) per year. Everything you do affects the tree and you can easily kill it by trying to do to much at one time and/or rushing things.

Get the correct, free draining soil and don't over-water!

Sounds like you need to join a local club and get help if you are going to be successful.

 

[jo1975]

Thankyou, yes it's summer here, I am thinking branch selection but my concern is the lower branches don't have any buds on . This being one of the issues that have thrown me a bit in doing the selection.

 

[August44]

Thankyou, yes it's summer here, I am thinking branch selection but my concern is the lower branches don't have any buds on . This being one of the issues that have thrown me a bit in doing the selection.

Do a scratch test on branches...it they are dead cut them off. Those trees, like most conifers are apical dominant, so you're going to have to chop the top some to push growth to the bottom. Either chop it off down a ways where it would look good, deadwood the top portion, or just chop the growth back some. Same with the branches...chop branches back to push growth inward where you want it to be. Always chop at a bud and if chopping close to the trunk, leave 2-3 live buds. Those little lower branches will probably never be used anyway by the way. Gunna take some time to get this where it needs to be. GET HELP!

 

[pandacular]

This is a really lovely piece of nursery stock. I love larch, which I could grow them here.
For branch selection purposes, those lowest branches aren't likely to be used regardless of whether they are strong currently, so I would not worry too much about them lacking buds. Part of branch selection is to remove weak branches anyway.

 

[queenofsheba52]

Agree with @pandacular : very nice piece of nursery stock! Love that curvy trunk!

 

[caffeinated]

This is a really lovely piece of nursery stock. I love larch, which I could grow them here.
For branch selection purposes, those lowest branches aren't likely to be used regardless of whether they are strong currently, so I would not worry too much about them lacking buds. Part of branch selection is to remove weak branches anyway.

Why can't you grow larches here? They're pretty happy in the PNW climate. I have a vigorously growing little Japanese larch I'll be selling this weekend at the PNBA picnic thingy.

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Well, there is another way of thinking about this tree… chop the top and use the bottom branches, just like developing a JWP. This will push the energy down the tree, which will cause it to backbud low. It will make a design to take advantage of the thicker lower trunk.

cheers
DSD sends

 

[pandacular]

. I have a vigorously growing little Japanese larch I'll be selling this weekend at the PNBA picnic thingy.

The one up at Haller Lake on Sunday? I might try to get to that one, we'll see how I feel after two days at the Gorge, and how early I can get home.

I know they can technically live here, but given we're 2 zones off, I'm not confident in my ability to keep one alive in the age of anthropogenic climate change. Perhaps I should instead emphasize what was written above: I wish I could grow larch here.

 

[caffeinated]

The one up at Haller Lake on Sunday? I might try to get to that one, we'll see how I feel after two days at the Gorge, and how early I can get home.

I know they can technically live here, but given we're 2 zones off, I'm not confident in my ability to keep one alive in the age of anthropogenic climate change. Perhaps I should instead emphasize what was written above: I wish I could grow larch here.

Yup. Haller Lake. As long as they're kept well watered I don't need to protect my larches until we're in the upper 80s (like tomorrow And they do fine in shadow or under shade cloth for the duration. They seem to have about the same tolerance as stewartias, in my yard anyway. Larches are pretty prolific here in the Cascades.

 

[pandacular]

I know they're around here in the highlands, but that's a pretty far cry from the lowlands of Seattle. I'm sure I'll give it a shot at some point, perhaps when I'm more accustomed to loss. I'm gonna try to get a few summers under my belt first.

Got any pictures of the tree? It's encouraging to know that they can do well around here, and I'd love to see it, tho I doubt I'll be at the bazaar early enough to see it in person.

 

[caffeinated]

picked it up from Portland, Oregon last year, which gets even hotter than around here, along with the eastern Cascades. Not a great pic, but the only one I have.

 

[jo1975]

Thanks for all the advice so far, just out of interest where would be the best place to chop to make a smaller tree?..

 

[Paradox]

I know they're around here in the highlands, but that's a pretty far cry from the lowlands of Seattle. I'm sure I'll give it a shot at some point, perhaps when I'm more accustomed to loss. I'm gonna try to get a few summers under my belt first.

Got any pictures of the tree? It's encouraging to know that they can do well around here, and I'd love to see it, tho I doubt I'll be at the bazaar early enough to see it in person.

Note: @caffeinated said it was a Japanese larch. They are from a little bit warmer climate than American larch.