I love working with unusual species, and making bonsai that defy the normally accepted rules for design. Here are a few examples of current projects.
First off is a Red oak, Quercus nuttallii, that I collected in East Texas a couple of years ago. (East Texas lies at the extreme western end of the range for the species). This is another example of a tree that decided to only bud low on the trunk. I let it get strong last year, and this year chopped the trunk way back. It’s nothing to write home about at present, but I have a leader I let grow that was cut back hard earlier this season. My original thought was to just grow it out. However …
Considering how big the leaves of a Red oak are, it struck me that making a shohin bonsai out of this specimen will absolutely fly in the face of bonsai orthodoxy. Imagine a tree only 8-10 inches tall, with pretty big oak leaves. That’s got to be something pretty cool, if I can pull it off. the base of this one is 2.5″ across, so it’ll taper pretty dramatically when all is said and done. I’m thinking it’ll make a nice statement.
I’ve blogged before about edible fig, Ficus carica. I made this one from a cutting a couple of years ago, and it’s now grown into a decent shape. The base is up to 1″ at the soil, and as you can see it produced a good bit of fruit this year. I may pot it next year, if I think it’s ready.
Edible fig is one of those species you can’t make much headway wiring. It’s best to just prune them to shape – with the understanding, of course, that they decide which branches to keep and which to shed.
I’m posting this Boxelder (Ash-leaf maple), Acer negundo, with trepidation. I know, it’s a terrible species for bonsai and I don’t hesitate to share my disdain for them. At the same time, what’s bonsai without a challenge? So I lifted this one in August(!), and defied it to live. Naturally it did. Had it been a prize anything else, it would have audibly croaked as I lifted it from the ground. But not Boxelder!
Let me know what you think of all this.
I live on a lot with 13 live oaks on the east coast of Florida. Throughout the 15 years I’ve been interested in Bonsai, I’ve cut back and shaped several in hopes they could be lifted out of the ground. Some trunks are about 2 inches and I’m getting myself psyched to do the job in the spring. They are 24 inches tall. Should I wait longer?
Jane, if the trunks of your live oak specimens are as thick as you want them to be, forever, go ahead and lift them. Once in a pot they won’t thicken appreciably. Live oak is not the easiest species to lift successfully, so keep that in mind. For me it’s been hit or miss, and I don’t have any special tips I can give you.
Chop off the last specimen like you did with the first. The last one will develop a handsome taper with a straight growing trunk.
Good alternative, but I’ll stick with the existing trunk. That will make this tree a two-year project vs five or six.
What fertilizer do you use on the fig? Do you ever use any lime on the fig?
I just use the all-purpose shake n feed from Home Depot. No lime. Have you had experience with lime?
I’ve been wondering about boxelder as bonsai as I have several these growing my yard (without the bugs). Why is Acer negundo “a terrible species for bonsai”?
The wood gets brittle so any wiring has to be done when the shoots are supple. And then it tends to shed branches without warning.
I have a similar shorty oak….from my backyard. I chopped it once to get the tree out of the way of the mower. The root spread was lower in the ground though. Over a few year the mower kept cutting the branches that grew. The base is about 2-1/2” with solid roots all around. Last year I dug it up and put it in a box. Oaks….they just continue to grow it seems. Buds everywhere….low, middle and high. So….I’m interested in what you do with your shorty oak. Carving should be in my oak’s future also.