Spruce Seedling in Minnesota

[Willster]

I'm new to bonsai, and I found a spruce seedling in my yard that looks promising. I dug it out and got about 2/3-3/4 of its roots. It's already pretty big (about 9 in. tall) and has a fair about of branches growing from it. I potted it in a mix of bonsai soil (lava rock, pin bark, calcined clay, and pumic) and black dirt. I'm thinking I would water it once every 2-3 days. It gets about 3 hours of direct sunlight and 3-4 hours of indirect sunlight. I'm looking for advice on how to care from it from here. I've noticed a couple days later that a couple branches that were already slightly yellow have gotten more yellow. It's now been about 3 days since I potted it. When should I start training it? Is it strong enough to train this winter already or should I wait a year or 2? Is there away I can help it recover from being potted? Being autumn in Minnesota, should I still apply fertilizer and if so what kind? Attached is the sapling as of today. Thanks ahead of time.

 

[Willster]

I'm new to bonsai, and I found a spruce seedling in my yard that looks promising. I dug it out and got about 2/3-3/4 of its roots. It's already pretty big (about 9 in. tall) and has a fair about of branches growing from it. I potted it in a mix of bonsai soil (lava rock, pin bark, calcined clay, and pumic) and black dirt. I'm thinking I would water it once every 2-3 days. It gets about 3 hours of direct sunlight and 3-4 hours of indirect sunlight. I'm looking for advice on how to care from it from here. I've noticed a couple days later that a couple branches that were already slightly yellow have gotten more yellow. It's now been about 3 days since I potted it. When should I start training it? Is it strong enough to train this winter already or should I wait a year or 2? Is there away I can help it recover from being potted? Being autumn in Minnesota, should I still apply fertilizer and if so what kind? Attached is the sapling as of today. Thanks ahead of time.
View attachment 572864View attachment 572865

Sorry about the duplicate thread. The first one I made didn't show that it was made, so I figured I must have forgotten to submit it. Now, the next day I can see it. Just ignore it.

 

[Eckhoffw]

Welcome fellow Minnesotan.

First off, I hope your spruce lives!

I’m a little concerned that there’s needles turning brown so suddenly.

Definitely let this one chill for at least a year to regain health and vigor. Transplanting is a huge stress. You’re not going to want to add any more stresses until you’re sure it’s healthy. Good luck.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

What @Eckhoffw said. Do nothing for the next year or 18 months. For the winter just keep pot set on ground, do not bring it inside for winter. Set pot in a spot that is bright shade and then leave it. No fertilizer until spring and then only very dilute if liquid or small amount if cake or pellet type.

Best times for repotting spruce are early spring, and middle-late summer. Most prefer spring. With experience the other time is an option. I live near Lake Michigan, within "Lake effect" zone, so I can get away with the summer repotting. Simmer repotting is only for those who have cool summers, with average night temps well below 70 F.

Spruce are a tree that do not like their roots to be "messed with" more than once every 2 to 5 years. If you can go more than 2 years between repotting, your spruce will appreciate it. Do not do any pruning for 12 months after repotting. Wiring is okay, but no pruning. The tree needs time to recover from repotting.

 

[jszg]

I'm pretty sure that is not a spruce. I can't enlarge the pictures, but it really does look like juvenile Eastern Red Cedar foliage.

 

[Aaron the Great]

Don't try to turn it into a proper bonsai tree in a year or two. Right now your only concern is to keep it healthy and alive for a few years. You can't create a bonsai out of a dead tree. Take your time and study everything you can about the species of your tree and study your tree, it will give you hints on what it can do. Also this part is VERY IMPORTANT use this forum to your full advantage. There are countless tidbits of advice that are within these threads. Still if you can't find your answer do just like you did here and start a thread and ask your question. The members of this forum are Bonsai Nuts and they love to help people and expand their experience.

 

[Orion_metalhead]

Also agree it is Juniperus Virginiana (Eastern Red Cedar).

At this point, just give it as much sun as possible, water when the soil is dry about an inch down, and wait and see how it does.

 

[Aaron the Great]

I really want another ERC or three. They grow like weeds around here so its just a matter of time before I get some.

 

[Willster]

I'm pretty sure that is not a spruce. I can't enlarge the pictures, but it really does look like juvenile Eastern Red Cedar foliage.

Yeah, I realized a few days after the post that it had to be some kind of juniper. I originally thought it was a spruce because it was near my neighbor's spruces, but I then realized that the foliage was too different. I didn't, however know the exact kind of juniper, so thanks to you and the others who responded to the post for helping me find the exact species.