Picea Abies (Norway Spruce) #1

Tree this morning looks good. Ready to prune. Kind of rethinking that new leader... will make some decisions in the upcoming weeks. Going to wait for the tree to finish extending all buds.

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Really happy with health of tree this year. Probably the best season so far for it. I did prune a little earlier to buds and got a nice second flush of growth. Lots of bud set for next year as well.

Current front
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Slight front adjustment on next repot
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Right branch needs wire to flatten it out
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Some closeups of healing on some cuts which i thought were interesting.
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Ive used different things over the past few years. Osmocote slow release, miracle gro organics, plant tone... last year I had good success with miracle pro organics in baskets and will likely continue in that direction next year. Once my current stash is gone I plan to switch up to microlife after a recommendation by Bob Mahler:
 
Great dedication Orion. I've noticed on all my young Picea that if they get a bigger pot, the extensions really get long and straight and the internodal distance stretches out. That's OK if it's bulking up, but the growth is much more interesting when it's slow.
 
Thanks Jeff. Yes. I agree in the slow approach. Small pots for small material. Large pots for large material. There is not rule that a great bonsai needs to be big or small or fat or thin... just needs to look good.
 
These trees must really accelerate their growth at some point in their life. I have seen huge specimens in gardens. It would take 1000 years to get as big at the rate I've seen them grow.
 
These trees must really accelerate their growth at some point in their life. I have seen huge specimens in gardens. It would take 1000 years to get as big at the rate I've seen them grow.
They grow much faster in the ground. This is in a very small pot. Everything is restricted. Over time it makes a difference.
 
Nice growth!

Norway has become my favorite Spruce. I have several healthy Shohin-sized.
 
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