Lars Grimm
Chumono
I think a heavy tilt is in order and likely remove the smaller trunk. This went from a large nursery container to this small one, so I'm excited to see what buds I have to work with this year.
Shohin crabapple, ‘sargentii’
- Thread starter Brian Van Fleet
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I think a heavy tilt is in order and likely remove the smaller trunk. This went from a large nursery container to this small one, so I'm excited to see what buds I have to work with this year.
Lars Grimm
Chumono
On many levels I completely agree with what you are saying, but I also think one challenge is that so many people express very strong opinions about the 'right' or 'wrong' way to do things. One metric of whether that opinion carries weight is if that person has put those opinions into practice and can show promising results.
I 100% agree that tone and nuance cannot be conveyed in a forum, although @sorce probably comes the closest to expressing his mind fully =)
just.wing.it
Deadwood Head
Psychological Nudity
Brian Van Fleet
Pretty Fly for a Bonsai Guy
Mossy shot from tonight.
JudyB
Queen of the Nuts
Did this one flower for you?
Brian Van Fleet
Pretty Fly for a Bonsai Guy
Not this year. It has, but I’ve been pruning it trying to develop some branch structure.
JudyB
Queen of the Nuts
I have an old thread that @Martin Sweeney gave me this advice for ramifying crabapples, it worked well for me... You probably use this technique, but thought I'd copy and paste it here anyway.
For building ramification, you can cut back any time during the growing season. Just be aware that this can inhibit flowering on those branches for several years. The best practice for ramifying crabapples, and getting them to flower, is to nip the terminal buds early in spring when the new shoots are about an inch long. Then let them run for the remainder of the growing season, and in the fall, cut this year's shoots back to where you nipped them in the spring in. The next spring you should get 2 or 3 new shoots in those areas.
After you have nipped the early shoots, feel free to trim shoots that may be thickening too much and/or defoliate them to allow light to the inner parts of the plant. These branches are going to be cut off anyway.
For building ramification, you can cut back any time during the growing season. Just be aware that this can inhibit flowering on those branches for several years. The best practice for ramifying crabapples, and getting them to flower, is to nip the terminal buds early in spring when the new shoots are about an inch long. Then let them run for the remainder of the growing season, and in the fall, cut this year's shoots back to where you nipped them in the spring in. The next spring you should get 2 or 3 new shoots in those areas.
After you have nipped the early shoots, feel free to trim shoots that may be thickening too much and/or defoliate them to allow light to the inner parts of the plant. These branches are going to be cut off anyway.
Martin Sweeney
Chumono
Judy,
Sounds like good advice. May have to start using it. But it didn't come from me!
Regards,
Martin
JudyB
Queen of the Nuts
That's funny, I guess the advice came so long ago I don't remember who it came from! I'll have to go look it up to get it correctly attributed now. I just cut and paste good advice into a word document that I keep...
It was from @Stan Kengai duh...
Brian Van Fleet
Pretty Fly for a Bonsai Guy
Repotted this crab yesterday, as it is breaking bud...along with the other couple crabs planted in the ground. Long-range forecast still holding up!
Unpotted, showing good root growth over the last 2 years:
Combed out, and sprayed with a hose to remove old soil:
Roots trimmed back:
Secured into the pot:
Fresh soil, topped with a little sphagnum, watered well:
Unpotted, showing good root growth over the last 2 years:
Combed out, and sprayed with a hose to remove old soil:
Roots trimmed back:
Secured into the pot:
Fresh soil, topped with a little sphagnum, watered well:
discusmike
Omono
Any issues keeping leaves from getting to big? Do you do partial defoliating?
Brian Van Fleet
Pretty Fly for a Bonsai Guy
I’m not too worried about leaf size. I have cut large leaves in half to get light inside the tree, and they’ll probably always be on the large side. They may reduce with ramification, but the fruit is the prize. They’re small.
misfit11
Omono
Looking great Brian. I'm wondering about what your plans for the roots are. It looks like youve got two (maybe more but difficult to tell from the picture) large roots that are somewhat problematic. I have very little experience with crabs but I think I have typically seen them in deeper pots so maybe it's a non-issue. That being said are you hoping to chase the roots back toward the base?
Brian Van Fleet
Pretty Fly for a Bonsai Guy
Plan is to keep it in a deep pot so it’s a non-issue.
Moridin
Shohin
Very nice Brian.
I think a crab may be my next tree and Brent seems to have some nice ones.
I think a crab may be my next tree and Brent seems to have some nice ones.
Brian Van Fleet
Pretty Fly for a Bonsai Guy
Night shot with some flowers. Been gone all week, so I can’t tell if they’re opening or closing! Good news is that they’re in close, so I can prune back the crazy growth and keep any fruit that sets.
Brian Van Fleet
Pretty Fly for a Bonsai Guy
JudyB
Queen of the Nuts
I have that convo saved, I can cut and paste if you'd like. Looking wonderful and it is so nice the combination.
LanceMac10
Imperial Masterpiece
Water well and they won't drop.....birds will pluck 'em off once they get some color...at least the birds around here.
Nice lil' crab.
I have a larger crab that apples start out purple and turn a bit burgundy. Since I don't enjoy the color as much, the birds don't bother with them.
Nice lil' crab.
I have a larger crab that apples start out purple and turn a bit burgundy. Since I don't enjoy the color as much, the birds don't bother with them.
