Quercus Faginea (Portuguese Oak)

[ConorDash]

So for now, I have looked to airlayer the top of this tree off. With plans to follow the second plan, above. Hopefully the airlayer will only take a few months. I waited for the leaves to unfurl first. Its now setup, so heres hoping!
The resultant tree from the air layer would be not bad at all, will have some good thickness in the trunk, and a few primaries already setup, will be a neat little tree for a 4-5 year project, hopefully.
I also removed a few long leggy branches from the tree below the air layer, to get going for its next stage. Foil is wrapped around it to avoid light getting in and burning the new roots, as they grow.
I am happy with the work done on the air layer, root powder on it, sphagnum moss, keeping it moist. Could be a bigger amount of moss but this should be ok.

 

[Potawatomi13]

Problem remains with drastic cut back of tree will negate future upper trunk thickening. Can easily buy another small tree instead of layering top if this is even a viable effort.

 

[ConorDash]

Problem remains with drastic cut back of tree will negate future upper trunk thickening. Can easily buy another small tree instead of layering top if this is even a viable effort.

Oh for sure, that is because thickening of the trunk has been abandoned mate. Posts above are the next plans for it now. I could have left to grow in the ground for many years to thicken, but over 2 years, I have decided not to. I will proceed with one of the other plans instead, which means removing this section of trunk. So instead of removing and throwing, I am going to make something of it by layering. Delays the tree final image but no big deal + get a free tree out of it which I can work on. This is an uncommon species for me, so it will be useful.

 

[ConorDash]

The above air layered failed and a month or so ago I put in place a new one, cutting back deeper and further in the bark.
I used a yogurt pot as it was a perfect size and shape, used mostly molar clay substrate with moss as a stuffing in the bottom to stop substrate going through but retaining drainage holes.


The tree seems unaware of the fact that 75% of its trunk had its bark stripped back. It’s growing well, pushing a second flush, without any pruning. Also growing acorns for first time since I’ve had it.





I’m hoping for a successful air layer, soon.. rather not keep it on through winter but will if I need to. The air layer will make a nice little tree and I can then work on the main tree.

 

[penumbra]

I wasn't aware that oaks could be air layered. I will be watching this one.
Acorn production might well be a sign of stress in this instance.

 

[ConorDash]

I wasn't aware that oaks could be air layered. I will be watching this one.
Acorn production might well be a sign of stress in this instance.

Yeah, there is a thread on the forum with a myth about them not being air layer-able, but many posted their success.

I thought that, about the acorn. As trees tend to try and push out seeds to reproduce, in times of stress. This would make sense, given the air layer but it has also grown very well and is continuing to push out new growth. It would surprise me if this is a result of stress too?
Either way, I'm not worried. The tree's roots are good, just looking to get the air layer off now

 

[Woocash]

Yeah, there is a thread on the forum with a myth about them not being air layer-able, but many posted their success.

I thought that, about the acorn. As trees tend to try and push out seeds to reproduce, in times of stress. This would make sense, given the air layer but it has also grown very well and is continuing to push out new growth. It would surprise me if this is a result of stress too?
Either way, I'm not worried. The tree's roots are good, just looking to get the air layer off now

Would it not have flowered before you put in the layer?

 

[ConorDash]

Would it not have flowered before you put in the layer?

Never seen it flower before.. do they flower? Lol. I know I can simply google that.
I put the first layer on, once it had fully leafed out.

 

[Woocash]

Yes they flower with catkin type jobbies in spring, just after leafing out. Though, I know nothing really of Q Faginea, so they could be winter flowering or goodness knows. Nice to see acorns on such a diddy tree though!

 

[ConorDash]

Yes they flower with catkin type jobbies in spring, just after leafing out. Though, I know nothing really of Q Faginea, so they could be winter flowering or goodness knows. Nice to see acorns on such a diddy tree though!

Interesting.. Ill look it up. It is Portuguese, so, who knows.
I've a better image for this tree now, in my head. Finally.... I've had it for a few years now and essentially done nothing with it because I just didn't have the vision.
I do now.

And the air layered section should make a nice little tree, got plans for that. Would love to get acorns in the future, on a better developed version of this tree.
Maros S is a good bonsai artist when it comes to Oaks, I've watched a number of his videos.

 

[penumbra]

Yeah, there is a thread on the forum with a myth about them not being air layer-able, but many posted their success.

I thought that, about the acorn. As trees tend to try and push out seeds to reproduce, in times of stress. This would make sense, given the air layer but it has also grown very well and is continuing to push out new growth. It would surprise me if this is a result of stress too?
Either way, I'm not worried. The tree's roots are good, just looking to get the air layer off now

Absolutely, the tree looks very healthy and I don't think for a second that it is in danger. But I do think the stress of the air layer may have contributed to the seed production. If it was covered with acorns and did not look healthy I would be concerned but that is not the case here at all.

Interesting story about this plant response to anyone wanting to read it. A bit over 40 years ago I ran the tree section for what is probably the most well known retail nursery in Northern Virginia. There was a fellow that worked there who had more academic credentials than me whom I frequently talked to. One day we unloaded a truckload of 5 to 6 foot dogwoods and while most of them had a few flower buds here and there, one tree stood out because it had over 60 flower buds. Imagine a 5 foot tall tree with that many buds. Anyway, I jumped all over it and tagged it. My friend told me outright that the tree was probably going to die. I refused to believe that and took it home and planted it. It came out weakly and died early summer. Make of this what you will, but this tree appeared to be every bit as healthy as the others which did just fine.

 

[ConorDash]

Absolutely, the tree looks very healthy and I don't think for a second that it is in danger. But I do think the stress of the air layer may have contributed to the seed production. If it was covered with acorns and did not look healthy I would be concerned but that is not the case here at all.

Interesting story about this plant response to anyone wanting to read it. A bit over 40 years ago I ran the tree section for what is probably the most well known retail nursery in Northern Virginia. There was a fellow that worked there who had more academic credentials than me whom I frequently talked to. One day we unloaded a truckload of 5 to 6 foot dogwoods and while most of them had a few flower buds here and there, one tree stood out because it had over 60 flower buds. Imagine a 5 foot tall tree with that many buds. Anyway, I jumped all over it and tagged it. My friend told me outright that the tree was probably going to die. I refused to believe that and took it home and planted it. It came out weakly and died early summer. Make of this what you will, but this tree appeared to be every bit as healthy as the others which did just fine.

Thanks, that is good info. Backs up what we know of the trees response. Although, if we ever did spot a tree in that kinda stress and at that stage, do you think there would be enough time to act, to resolve the issue?
Knowing what you know now, going back to that story 40 years ago, do you think you could have saved the tree or was it too late?

 

[penumbra]

Knowing what you know now, going back to that story 40 years ago, do you think you could have saved the tree or was it too late?

I do not believe I could have saved that particular dogwood. I think it was dying when it set flower buds. It was I believe an extreme case.

 

[ConorDash]

I do not believe I could have saved that particular dogwood. I think it was dying when it set flower buds. It was I believe an extreme case.

Fair enough. Just a shame that a tree can reach a point of no return but still “live” for months later. Worst fear of mine is caring for a dying tree and watching it slowly die, not knowing if it was my fault, or anything I could have done to save it.

I guess same can be said for a dying person... but let’s stay on what’s important, the trees

 

[ConorDash]

I've never quite felt so bummed out and down, after working on a tree, that I did with this one. It is a long way away from something I am happy with, but hopefully this is at least a start. I am trying to not disrespect that great trunk but the leader on it is a problem (probably the reason why Kaizen sold it for the price they did, not cheap but not expensive). I am essentially developing a trunk, whilst it is in a small pot. Not saying its impossible, I see many professionals keep trees in pots for decades and fully develop them from there. Not my preference but this can be my tree I do that with... maybe.

Next steps is to let it grow and see how it reacts to the drastic prune. The current leader requires back budding then it will be chopped back further.

I think, if by the end of the season I am not happy with it and do not see its future, I'll either let it go wild and keep in that pot, or I'll put it in a grow box or the ground and forget about it.

The air layer failed (second attempt).
(bear in mind the tree is wet in the pics, so the coloration is off)

DSC_2796 by Conor Dashwood, on Flickr
DSC_2799 by Conor Dashwood, on Flickr
DSC_2800 by Conor Dashwood, on Flickr

DSC_2803 by Conor Dashwood, on Flickr
DSC_2804 by Conor Dashwood, on Flickr
DSC_2805 by Conor Dashwood, on Flickr
DSC_2811 by Conor Dashwood, on Flickr

A rough ... idea. It needs a lot of growth and developing of .. everything. I can either develop larger branches so it outweighs the deadwood and trunk to a degree, or let the deadwood and trunk be the larger factor and keep the foliage smaller and simply ramify, when the time comes. At the moment I'd rather a smaller branch structure and have the trunk be the key, as it is the best feature of this tree.

 

[ConorDash]

Well I did nothing with this tree during this year, same as most of my trees, as I just didn't do much tree work. This grew surprisingly well and put on a lot of growth even though it remained in the same pot which is quite small.
It's trunk has thickened well and also has a very strong new branch too.

I'm curious to know what people think should be it's next steps.
Originally I planned to put it in the ground and continue thickening the trunk to have it transition better from the main large stump. This is probably still the best plan for long term but in thinking there might be other plans just as good instead, so I'm interested in people's thoughts.

As you can see, perfectly nice movement so that's not a problem and healthy so I could do any work to it and be content it'll respond well.

Can see the stretch marks all over the trunk from its growth, which tells me it grew fast. It also came with deep wire scars in the main trunk which are closing well, still noticeable but in years as the bark develops I think it'll be almost invisible.

 

[Potawatomi13]

Why'd you remove the upper part. Did it die?

 

[KiwiPlantGuy]

Why'd you remove the upper part. Did it die?

His first post on page 1 says it all.
Nice development @ConorDash !!
Charles

 

[Julio-Rufo]

Nice Quercus!

This tree is very common in Spain and there are many Spanish bonsai artists that have good ones, like Luis Vallejo. In its natural environment, when they are old they are kind of fat and wide, with very powerful trunks.

There are many different varieties depending on how the climate is in the region where it comes from. We call it Roble Quejigo in the central and south regions of Spain, you can go ahead and google “Roble Quejigo bonsai” and you will see cool examples. There is also one close tree variety which is “Encina” (quercus ilex) that has tiny leaves, and is evergreen, there are amazing examples of that in many bonsai collections in Spain (Luis Vallejo has booth amazing yamadoris of quejigo and encina). There are some regions where they “meet” and it is hard to tell if it is a Quejigo or a Encina, the leaves are sometimes very similar and they can be almost evergreen depending of the specimen.

Roble Quejigo (quercus faginea) from Luis Vallejo collection in Madrid. (Bonsai empire)

This Encina (quercus ilex) is from the collection at the bonsai collection of the “Real Jardín Botánico” in Madrid
The encina can also be known as Chaparra, Carrasca, etc.

Julio

 

[ConorDash]

Why'd you remove the upper part. Did it die?

No, just bad for the tree mate. Was a long S shapes lack of taper trunk, needed removing. At that point I was thinking of salvaging something from the tree but then I gave up on that and let it grow instead. It's now grown well but am thinking of what next.

Nice Quercus!

This tree is very common in Spain and there are many Spanish bonsai artists that have good ones, like Luis Vallejo. In its natural environment, when they are old they are kind of fat and wide, with very powerful trunks.

There are many different varieties depending on how the climate is in the region where it comes from. We call it Roble Quejigo in the central and south regions of Spain, you can go ahead and google “Roble Quejigo bonsai” and you will see cool examples. There is also one close tree variety which is “Encina” (quercus ilex) that has tiny leaves, and is evergreen, there are amazing examples of that in many bonsai collections in Spain (Luis Vallejo has booth amazing yamadoris of quejigo and encina). There are some regions where they “meet” and it is hard to tell if it is a Quejigo or a Encina, the leaves are sometimes very similar and they can be almost evergreen depending of the specimen.

Roble Quejigo (quercus faginea) from Luis Vallejo collection in Madrid. (Bonsai empire)

View attachment 413658This Encina (quercus ilex) is from the collection at the bonsai collection of the “Real Jardín Botánico” in MadridView attachment 413657
The encina can also be known as Chaparra, Carrasca, etc.

Julio

Thanks for the info and the pics. I will look that up yes, I have seen Luis's trees before. I think maybe part of my problem is this tree is a bit more unique with its large stump and deadwood, then that smaller caliper trunk. So finding the right style or real world tree to model it after, has been hard. There are trees here in this thread, pics posted before which are similar. Just things aren't that simple.

So I'm simply looking for ideas and thoughts. Hoping this gets more attention.