New raw stock play material (spruce)

[D'Angelo]

Heres another video......Question!!...If I stay away from the main trunk area and just work on the deadwood, is that ok? [video=youtube_share;VC94HpZo_CE]http://youtu.be/VC94HpZo_CE[/video]

 

[D'Angelo]

Another by Graham... [video=youtube_share;pvs3RmuNk5E]http://youtu.be/pvs3RmuNk5E[/video]

 

[Vance Wood]

I really didnt think I was over doing it that much but I will take your guys experience and Knowledge and go with that. Graham Potter does a tremendous amount of work on his...... [video=youtube_share;INiuFEItu44]http://youtu.be/INiuFEItu44[/video]

Yes he did but did you notice that the amount of growth removal was not so much on the active growing tips of the branches? Did you also notice near the end of the video how large and corpulent the buds seemed to appear. It is obvious this tree is very vigorous. You can go ahead and do all of this but I don't think this particular tree will survive it. I would rather have you call me a whimp than claim I directly or indirectly killed your tree. Also and this is the problem with demonstrations and videos alike: You do not know for sure if the tree survived.

 

[D'Angelo]

Yes he did but did you notice that the amount of growth removal was not so much on the active growing tips of the branches? Did you also notice near the end of the video how large and corpulent the buds seemed to appear. It is obvious this tree is very vigorous. You can go ahead and do all of this but I don't think this particular tree will survive it. I would rather have you call me a whimp than claim I directly or indirectly killed your tree. Also and this is the problem with demonstrations and videos alike: You do not know for sure if the tree survived.

I hear ya!!

 

[Vance Wood]

I hear ya!!

Don't misunderstand me. I love Graham Potter's work. I think I have viewed everything he has put on the net at least three times. It never gets old seeing his kind of artistry. The trouble with bonsai when doing stuff like this you seldom see followups of this kind of work. It's nice to say you can walk on water when no one can watch you drown.

 

[Vance Wood]

Heres another video......Question!!...If I stay away from the main trunk area and just work on the deadwood, is that ok? [video=youtube_share;VC94HpZo_CE]http://youtu.be/VC94HpZo_CE[/video]

Great work on the Spruce but again, look how vigorous the growth is in the beginning and look at how much of that vigorous growth is left at the end.

 

[D'Angelo]

Great work on the Spruce but again, look how vigorous the growth is in the beginning and look at how much of that vigorous growth is left at the end.

Agreed!!....This tree is very strong as was evident of the tons of back budding onto old wood and even on the trunk. I pulled this tree, root ball and all out of the pot to inspect the root system, it is compacted with new fibrous roots everywhere. I also have seen all of Grahams videos several times over and agree with not knowing how well the tree is doing afterwords.

 

[Vance Wood]

Agreed!!....This tree is very strong as was evident of the tons of back budding onto old wood and even on the trunk. I pulled this tree, root ball and all out of the pot to inspect the root system, it is compacted with new fibrous roots everywhere. I also have seen all of Grahams videos several times over and agree with not knowing how well the tree is doing afterwords.

To put it differently: After losing the tree I did a couple of years ago I am a bit hesitant to recommend a brutal treatment of a good tree for anybody else. If you want to take the chance go for it----but it is a chance. If you are convinced you can pull it off don't let me stand in your way. If the circumstances were switched I might do the same thing.

 

[bonsaiBlake]

its like a cliff hanger thread.

What happened to the tree, did it get the deadwood work, is it still alive?? the suspense is killing me.

 

[Vance Wood]

I agree! How is the tree doing? Anticipating the worst, having been there a time or two, if the tree has passed on to bonsai Heaven you really should be willing to discuss what happened and where you think you lost it. If the tree has survived, which is my greatest hope, you should be willing to brag and gloat over the fact that you did all that stuff and still have a living tree.

 

[jeanluc83]

Any updates?

 

[D'Angelo]

Any updates?

The tree is recovering from what I believe to be Rhizosphaera needlecast, not sure if this was due to the stress that it went thru or if it was already infected when I bought it. however, I have been treating it accordingly and it is sprouting new buds but its very slow going. time will tell. Should i keep this in the shade during treatment or sun?...any input would be appreciated.

 

[fourteener]

I think giving it a good amount of morning sun would be a good idea. I am a proponent of only protecting trees for only a short time after collection. Most trees are healthiest with lots of sun. The only thing that would change that advice is your location and how warm it is. Full sun for me, still only means 60-70 degrees right now.

 

[Vance Wood]

The tree is recovering from what I believe to be Rhizosphaera needlecast, not sure if this was due to the stress that it went thru or if it was already infected when I bought it. however, I have been treating it accordingly and it is sprouting new buds but its very slow going. time will tell. Should i keep this in the shade during treatment or sun?...any input would be appreciated.

How about a photo or two?

 

[october]

The tree is recovering from what I believe to be Rhizosphaera needlecast, not sure if this was due to the stress that it went thru or if it was already infected when I bought it. however, I have been treating it accordingly and it is sprouting new buds but its very slow going. time will tell. Should i keep this in the shade during treatment or sun?...any input would be appreciated.

Spruces can be prone to needle cast, especially around the time when the new grwoth is emerging. The new growth can be very susceptible. If there is any sign, the tree should be sprayed immediately or possible a preventative spray. It should be sprayed a couple of times during the Spring. Right before the new growth emerges and then when it starts extending. If the new growth emerges and then starts dying, you have problems. I usually keep trees sprayed wit hfungicide out of sun and rain for a few days. After which, I give them as much sun as possible. They need to be in the sun.

Rob

 

[D'Angelo]

Some quick pics here

 

[larlamonde]

D' Angelo you have some of the nicest material I have seen on this site. I am relatively new to this site but all your trees are awesome. I would love to see all of your collection.

 

[october]

Not to be negative, but I am not sure this tree can sustain itself on such a small amount of weak foliage. I really hope it does pull through. One thing is for sure, the design is ruined. It might take many years to create a new design.

I have mentioned, many times, of the problems we have been facing here in the Northeast. The fungal issues, scale and mites are just out of control. Sometimes it is difficult to do bonsai. One must be prepared to do inspections on all their trees like twice a week. Also, to not mind constantly having to spray fungicides and pesticides. At one point, it seemed like all I was doing was spraying and watering.

Rob

 

[Vance Wood]

Not to be negative, but I am not sure this tree can sustain itself on such a small amount of weak foliage. I really hope it does pull through. One thing is for sure, the design is ruined. It might take many years to create a new design.

I have mentioned, many times, of the problems we have been facing here in the Northeast. The fungal issues, scale and mites are just out of control. Sometimes it is difficult to do bonsai. One must be prepared to do inspections on all their trees like twice a week. Also, to not mind constantly having to spray fungicides and pesticides. At one point, it seemed like all I was doing was spraying and watering.

Rob

If this Spruce has made it this far it has a chance of making it provided the temptation to do something with it is avoided. Haste has killed more trees than any single event. It needs at least one year to recover its strength. The trouble is, and that is what killed the Spruce I talked about earlier in this post, the tree's promise and appearance are it's enemy, almost compelling someone to kill it by trying to turn it into a bonsai too soon. It's a great tree and deserves a little more respect than what it has been getting.

 

[D'Angelo]

If this Spruce has made it this far it has a chance of making it provided the temptation to do something with it is avoided. Haste has killed more trees than any single event. It needs at least one year to recover its strength. The trouble is, and that is what killed the Spruce I talked about earlier in this post, the tree's promise and appearance are it's enemy, almost compelling someone to kill it by trying to turn it into a bonsai too soon. It's a great tree and deserves a little more respect than what it has been getting.[/Q

The tree is going to hopefully recover and regain strength over the next couple of seasons. all that is being done to it is fungicide preventive treatments along with some light feeding. no additional work will be done on this tree if it recovers for at least 3 years.