Wulfskaar's Dwarf Alberta Spruce

[Wulfskaar]

I got this DAS in Dec 2024. Hoping to make it into a formal upright.

Pruned off a few low branches, but left as many as I could. No hurry on that.

It will probably get repotted in spring 2026. The soil is currently well draining.

Wiring... Not great in parts. Ended up crossing wires in a couple places. The lower part of the trunk is a mess. Definitely need to fix that.
Not sure if I should keep wiring up on a few of the smaller branches in the upper part or let them grow and do it down the road.

BEFORE and AFTER

 

[Wulfskaar]

Buds are starting to pop!

 

[Carol 83]

I got a little one in December as well, at a grocery store, no less! Mine has been in my detached garage all winter and we have had some really cold temps. I haven't paid it much attention except to water. I'll give it a closer look tomorrow. Very interested to see what you do with this one. My husband told me to get it because it looked like a bonsai tree, he thinks my tropical trees do not.

 

[Eckhoffw]

Buds are starting to pop!

View attachment 585657

View attachment 585658

Wow.very cool. Going to he another month + before I plan on seeing new growth on mine.

 

[Wulfskaar]

Lots of buds popping open, but still many more left. It's interesting to see the bud tips acting like little caps that keep the needles together. Once the bud tips pop off, the needles are left to spread open.

 

[Eckhoffw]

Lots of buds popping open, but still many more left. It's interesting to see the bud tips acting like little caps that keep the needles together. Once the bud tips pop off, the needles are left to spread open.

View attachment 588121

Yeah. It’s very cool! The little green cap pops off and the needles stretch out.
It will be awhile till I see that on mine!

 

[Wulfskaar]

Yeah. It’s very cool! The little green cap pops off and the needles stretch out.
It will be awhile till I see that on mine!

I bet yours will be much healthier in the long run though. I fear our mild winters aren't cold enough.

 

[plantmansam]

I think it looks great! How tall is it? Are you planning to keep it that height or chop it shorter? I really want to try my hand at a tree this size , but I think I’d better learn more first.

 

[Wulfskaar]

I think it looks great! How tall is it? Are you planning to keep it that height or chop it shorter? I really want to try my hand at a tree this size , but I think I’d better learn more first.

I haven't actually measured it, but it's pretty tall, maybe 30" or so.

At some point, it will be cut a little shorter, as I definitely don't want to let it keep growing vertically.

I definitely plan on reducing the number and length of branches over time. I'll repot probably in spring 2026 into a grow box as I reduce the roots over a couple repottings.

My wiring got way out of hand, so I'll have to redo that at some point. None of the upper branches have been wired yet.

Here's my inspiration. It's an Ezo spruce, but still a spruce.

 

[Wulfskaar]

First flush is done and it's putting out a very weak second flush.

After the first flush, I pinched off the growing tips of the longer branches. I've heard this is a good way to get more inner buds next spring.

Removed a branch up high that was way too thick and long.

PLAN:

• Only minor pruning until fall.​
• Remove some of the lowest branches.​
• Reduce the longer branches back.​
• Redo wiring in fall. It's currently out of hand.​
• Repot into grow box in Feb 2026 or so.​
• Figure out what to do with the top.​

 

[Wulfskaar]

Removed all the wire. I was surprised how much it bit in. Next wiring will be much cleaner.

I want to drastically shorten the lower branches, or even remove them.

@Leo in N E Illinois Regarding adventitious buds lasting 3 years, I possibly found buds of differing ages. Should I avoid cutting back to the older looking ones?

These look fresh.


These look iffy.


These look old.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

I don't know for certain. Those old buds look nearly dead. But they might be able to activate. If this is a medium or low value tree, give it a try. If this is a tree you have been working a long time and value highly, I would not risk it. You still have live needles in the area of these dead looking older buds. Green needles is a good sign. Maybe they will activate.

@Dav4 - you have any thoughts?

 

[Dav4]

I’ll agree that the buds in the first picture look good, but the others look dried out. Truthfully, my only experience with spruce Bonsai is through the collected Colorado blue spruce trees I’ve had now for four years. In my experience, they do tend to bud back on old wood, but only sporadically. Granted, my trees are pretty old… Guessing 70 or 80 years. For best success, let branches grow very vigorously, then cut back in late summer or early fall. At least, that’s my experience in getting back budding.

For what it’s worth, I’m surprised you can grow Alberta spruce in Southern California if not at significant elevation

 

[Wulfskaar]

I’ll agree that the buds in the first picture look good, but the others look dried out. Truthfully, my only experience with spruce Bonsai is through the collected Colorado blue spruce trees I’ve had now for four years. In my experience, they do tend to bud back on old wood, but only sporadically. Granted, my trees are pretty old… Guessing 70 or 80 years. For best success, let branches grow very vigorously, then cut back in late summer or early fall. At least, that’s my experience in getting back budding.

For what it’s worth, I’m surprised you can grow Alberta spruce in Southern California if not at significant elevation

I don't know for certain. Those old buds look nearly dead. But they might be able to activate. If this is a medium or low value tree, give it a try. If this is a tree you have been working a long time and value highly, I would not risk it. You still have live needles in the area of these dead looking older buds. Green needles is a good sign. Maybe they will activate.

@Dav4 - you have any thoughts?

I appreciate it. It was cheap and a good learning tree for me to play around on, so I'm not too afraid of pushing it a bit. It definitely needs branch shortening, so that's what I'll be trying to do without going too far.

Time will tell how long I can keep it healthy in this climate, elevation about 950'. I'd had a smaller one for the last 4 years and it still grows, albeit slowly.