Shohin crabapple, ‘sargentii’

[Brian Van Fleet]

This one came from Evergreen Gardenworks in 2016. Good movement for a small crabapple. Here is a shot from it as received.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Repotted into a Roy Minarai pot in 2017. It required drastic reduction of the root ball to get it into this small pot, so I didn’t prune the top too hard in 2017.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

It bloomed though...

And leafless in the winter. No fruit.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

2018, repotted again, this time much easier repot, so I was able to prune back the top much harder. Spring:

And pruned even harder in the early summer:

Obviously no flowers, but I’m trying to develop primary branches.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Repotted tonight, lightly wired, and beginning to tame the branches. This year maybe some ramification, next year fruit?

 

[quietobserver]

Repotted tonight, lightly wired, and beginning to tame the branches. This year maybe some ramification, next year fruit?
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Great little tree. What’s your shohin soil mix on this guy if you don’t mind me asking. I can see akadama and what looks to be some lava.

 

[Carol 83]

If you don't mind me asking, what is the best time to prune them, without sacrificing blooming? I got two little ones from evergreen garden works last spring. Even though it has been a cold winter here, they woke up early and are inside blooming (still cold here). I put them in larger grow pots when I got them. Would they benefit from root work, or is it best to just let them grow? I apologize, if I am messing up your thread.

 

[Smoke]

This one seems to be playing nice. I like the Roy pot, but its too deep for my taste. But probably good for development work with the larger reservoir. Crabapple is one that I have always wanted but could never find the right tree. They look good in a box stand and I decided to bite the bullet on this one. it has a long way to go and will take many years but I think the bones is there. Its just a trunk now, but that won't last long.

 

[Owen Reich]

Repotted tonight, lightly wired, and beginning to tame the branches. This year maybe some ramification, next year fruit?
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It’s a lot easier to make a good bonsai if you cut off anything that will cause problems .

 

[LanceMac10]

Hot Crab!!!!

Ramification can be a bit slow, but I ain't no expert!
I think they appreciate a bit of a "deeper" container, too....

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Great little tree. What’s your shohin soil mix on this guy if you don’t mind me asking. I can see akadama and what looks to be some lava.

I used Aoki blend last year and it wasn’t retentive enough, so its in straight akadama this year.

 

[coachspinks]

I used Aoki blend last year and it wasn’t retentive enough, so its in straight akadama this year.

Brian, I think I am seeing the same thing in some of my smaller trees. You use straight akadama in smaller pots? Because it would otherwise dry out way to fast? Being relatively new to bonsai I am still experimenting but would not have thought to use 100% akadama.

 

[davetree]

I used Aoki blend last year and it wasn’t retentive enough, so its in straight akadama this year.

Do you use small size akadama ?

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

If you don't mind me asking, what is the best time to prune them, without sacrificing blooming? I got two little ones from evergreen garden works last spring. Even though it has been a cold winter here, they woke up early and are inside blooming (still cold here). I put them in larger grow pots when I got them. Would they benefit from root work, or is it best to just let them grow? I apologize, if I am messing up your thread.

Still learning this one. They produce blooming spurs, and will bloom at those spurs year after year. Once you identify those, be sure to not prune them away. The best way to avoid that is to do pruning just after flowering I think. I’m still building branches and trying to keep short internodes, so I haven’t preserved any. It’s not a young tree, so I expect it to produce more pretty easily over the next few years.


I bought 2 other crabs from Brent last year, did some heavy root work on them, then planted them in the ground. Since they were in 1-gallon pots, the roots needed to be pruned hard to establish the base on a single plane. Here is what I did, but probably wouldn’t do it this year if yours are already leafed out.
‘Sugar thyme’

‘Seiboldi’

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Brian, I think I am seeing the same thing in some of my smaller trees. You use straight akadama in smaller pots? Because it would otherwise dry out way to fast? Being relatively new to bonsai I am still experimenting but would not have thought to use 100% akadama.

Do you use small size akadama ?

Yes to both. I really like Medium akadama for pines and larger junipers, however.

 

[Carol 83]

Still learning this one. They produce blooming spurs, and will bloom at those spurs year after year. Once you identify those, be sure to not prune them away. The best way to avoid that is to do pruning just after flowering I think. I’m still building branches and trying to keep short internodes, so I haven’t preserved any. It’s not a young tree, so I expect it to produce more pretty easily over the next few years.
View attachment 230840

I bought 2 other crabs from Brent last year, did some heavy root work on them, then planted them in the ground. Since they were in 1-gallon pots, the roots needed to be pruned hard to establish the base on a single plane. Here is what I did, but probably wouldn’t do it this year if yours are already leafed out.
‘Sugar thyme’
View attachment 230841View attachment 230842View attachment 230845
‘Seiboldi’
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Thank you, and they are leafed out, so another year in the pot, but I appreciate the information. I will prune carefully, taking note of where they are blooming since the flowers are the primary reason I bought them.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Growing pretty good now. If it will produce just a little ramification this and next year, I can start concentrating on fruit...

 

[LCD35]

Awesome progression!

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Awesome progression!

Thanks. Here is a recent shot. Keeping it trimmed short to get some ramification going.

 

[LCD35]

Thanks. Here is a recent shot. Keeping it trimmed short to get some ramification going.
View attachment 244179

I moved to Idaho in October. This place is covered in crabapples. I've got some ideas what cultivars they are, but can't be certain. I've got two clear storage bins with cuttings outside. Seeing progressions like these helps me understand what I'll be getting myself into any of these strike.