Pruning Basics - Q & A Format
tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
6 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (73)
Nita T
5 years agoNita T
5 years agoRelated Discussions
Pine & Juniper Bonsai Q's
Comments (6)I don't think there is any advantage in waiting for the sake of waiting before repotting. It's one thing if you're waiting for a more opportune period in the growth cycle to repot, or if you're waiting to let the tree recover from recent stress strain, but if I were to purchase a healthy juniper today, I'd be repotting it at my earliest convenience. A pine, I would wait on until August, when most bonsai practitioners repot them in our neck of the woods. I think too, that it's not a no-no to move plants into bonsai containers, but most inexperienced growers are in too big of a hurry, moving trees to small containers when they should remain in large containers, or even in the ground to develop some caliper and in most cases, taper through a series of trunk chops. Once you move a plant into a small container, the rate of development is hampered specifically. Bonsai containers are for trees that have already been sufficiently developed & have something of a framework or basic structure, but are in need of refinement. While you can successfully use the 5:1:1 mix in deeper pots, like nursery cans, for growing material on, the material will develop faster in a soil like the gritty mix that doesn't support perched water. This is especially true of plants like pines & junipers that tolerate wet feet poorly. Everything I'm growing on as future bonsai candidates goes in the gritty mix at the first repot, and I've had excellent results with Foliage-Pro 9-3-6 supplemented with a little ProTeKt 0-0-3. How much top growth you can remove is very dependent on species, state of vitality, and timing, so there is no one size fits all answer. We aren't restricted in bonsai by the same rules that are applied to trees in the landscape, so the 10 to whatever %s we often see suggested for landscape trees are often very light. It's not at all unusual to see trees completely defoliated in June, or to have a nice fat trunk 2-3" trunk chopped back to a 2" stump in spring with nary a branch or leaf to be found. Again, what you can do or get away with depends on species, state of vitality, and timing, and a better 'feeling' of what's appropriate comes with time or the advice of an experienced practitioner. Joining a club will propel you along the learning curve far faster than you could hope to move on your own. Conifers are CAPABLE of carrying on a small degree of photosynthesis when soils are not frozen, but they don't need light. What they do need is cold. I over-winter a few plants on the bench outdoors, but most over-winter on tables in the attached garage or on the garage floor. You can also bury the pots in the ground, preferably on the north side of a building out of sun and wind. There are hundreds of potential species that will tolerate soils that are frozen solid. A copy/paste job from a previous post - forgive me if it seems to stray a little: Commonly, each species of plant has a general range of cold-hardiness. Within species and cultivar, cold-hardiness is genetically determined. That is to say that a plant that is propagated from cuttings or tissue culture will have the same ability to resist cold as the parent plant. Plants cannot "develop" a greater degree of cold-hardiness by repeated or prolonged exposure to cold, even after 100 years (trees). If we pick any plant at random, it may or may not be able to withstand freezing temperatures. The determining factor is the plants ability to prevent freezing of bound water. Bound water is the water inside of cells. There are actually three kinds of water to consider when we discuss "freezing". The water held in soil - When this water freezes, and it can freeze the soil mass solid, it doesn't necessarily kill the plant or tissues. Then there is free or unbound water, also called inter-cellular water. This is water that is found in plant tissues, but is outside of living cells cells. This water can also freeze solid and not kill the plant. The final type of water is bound water or intra-cellular water. If temperatures drop low enough to freeze this water, the cell/tissue/plant dies. This is the freeze damage that kills plants. Fortunately, nature has an antifreeze. Even though temperatures drop well below freezing, all plants don't die. In hardy plants, physiological changes occur as temperatures drop. The plant moves solutes (sugars, salts, starches) into cells and moves water out of cells to inter-cellular spaces in tissues. These solutes act as antifreeze, allowing water in cells to remain liquid to sometimes extremely low temperatures. The above is a description of super-cooling in plants. Some plants even take advantage of another process to withstand very low temps called intra-cellular dehydration. The roots of your trees can stay frozen for extended periods or go through multiple freeze/thaw cycles w/o damage, so long as the temperature does not fall below that required to freeze intra-cellular water. If roots remain frozen, but temperatures remain above killing lows, dessication is the primary concern. If the tree is able to take up water, but temperatures are too low for the tree to grow and make food, stored energy becomes the critical issue. Dormant and quiescent trees are still using energy from their reserves (like a drain on a battery). If those reserves are depleted before the tree can produce photosynthesizing mass, the organism dies. There are a number of factors that have some affect on the cold-hardiness of individual plants, some of which are length of exposure to seasonal cold, water availability (drought stressed plants are more cold tolerant), how recently planted/repotted, etc No one can give a definitive answer that even comes close to accurately assessing the temperature at which bound water will freeze that covers the whole species. Unbound water is of little concern & will usually freeze somewhere around 28*. Some material will be able to withstand little cold & roots could freeze/die at (actual) root temperatures as warm as 25-27*. Other plants may tolerate much colder actual root temperatures - as low as 10*. There's just no way of knowing unless you have a feeling for how cold-tolerant the genetic material the plant was derived from might be, and finding out is expensive (from the plant's perspective). ;o) Another example of this genetic variance is that trees found growing and fruiting well closer to the equator need no chill time, while other trees, derived of genetic stock from a more northerly provenance may need a period of chill to grow with optimum vitality in the subsequent growth period/cycle. It's wise to remember that root death isn't instantaneous at one particular temperature. Roots succumb to cold over a range of chill with cultural conditions affecting the process. The finest roots will die first, and the slightly thicker and more lignified roots will follow, with the last of the roots to succumb being the more perennial and thickest roots. Since any root death is a setback from an energy allocation perspective, and root regeneration takes valuable time, it's probably best to keep actual root temperatures in the 25-40* range as long as we can when the tree is resting, even though the organism as a whole could tolerate much lower temperatures. Even well established trees become very much like cuttings if all but the roots essential to keep the tree viable are lost to cold. Regeneration of roots is an expensive energy outlay and causes the trees to leaf out later than they normally would and shortens the natural growth period and reduces the potential increase in biomass for the next growth cycle and perhaps beyond. and We know that when trees are exposed to freezing, the finest hair roots - the ones that do the lions share of the work are the first to die. In many woody plants, these roots begin to die as soil temperatures drop below 30-32*. As temperatures drop further, larger and larger roots succumb to killing low temperatures. The point is - that many trees that SURVIVE are left with only the largest roots to support them because much of the rootage has frozen. These trees are slow to respond in the spring because they need to utilize stored energy to regenerate lost rootage before they can move sufficient water and the nutrients dissolved in water to support either growth or the flush of foliage that makes the food that allows the tree to grow (this, in the case of deciduous material). So, while trees might survive exposure to borderline killing low temperatures unprotected, we KNOW it is better for the tree, especially from an energy management perspective, if we give them protection that ensures actual root temperatures don't drop low enough to kill even the finest roots. For most temperate trees, that means we should strive to keep low root temperatures in the upper 20s at their lowest, and below 42* to keep them from growing until spring when we can get them into good light w/o worrying about frost/freeze. I think that Juniperus sargentii 'Shimpaku', aka Shimpaku juniper is the queen of junipers. You won't find it at nurseries, but it is worth ordering from mail order nurseries & putting in the ground. I have them growing everywhere (from cuttings) because it's such a beautiful plant and so forgiving - a joy to work with. That said, each of the junipers brings its own attributes and challenges to the table. J procumbens 'nana', aka Japanese garden juniper is probably the most commonly found beginner's tree, and is also pretty forgiving & malleable. Al...See MoreAnother pruning Q (Wisteria)
Comments (4)From the sounds of it, I think you have the wrong plant...! If it's only recently planted, getting rid of it is likely the smart thing to do. I gather that, for whatever reason, wisterias are not as rampant spreaders in the UK as they are in some parts of North America, but they are vigorous growers everywhere- as you've found out ;-). Is it a Chinese or a Japanese wisteria? I have one of both, and both are grown as 'trees'. We planted the Chinese one 15 years ago and keep it to ~8-9'. We planted the Japanese one in 2007 and are keeping it shorter - ~6'. I ignore the complicated pruning instruction you see everywhere and just whack back into the desired framework all whippy new growth as it arises - can be an almost daily task when it is in active growth! All root suckers and growth from below the graft union (assuming there is one) get ripped off (not cut off - I'm trying to remove bud wood...). The Chinese wisteria virtually stopped producing root suckers after 5-6 years of age, but the Japanese one is still producing lots, so it is the more rampant grower in my experience....See MoreNeed very basic cell phone
Comments (44)I can't possibly imagine being without a means of communication at any time, regardless of where I am and that's what I grew up with personally. Yes, I know humans survived for thousands of years without phones, they also survived without the internet, electricity, modern plumbing, etc. It doesn't mean I want to live that way. I was 17 when I had my first ticket and wreck because I rear ended someone on a country road. The deputy said he could drive me to the city line but that's it. I lived almost 10 miles out of town and had no cash for a payphone. The guy I rear ended was so kind to me. He had a mobile phone and let me use it to call my mom. Unfortunately, she happened to be in the middle of one of her 2 hour gabfests with her sister and call waiting was disabled due to dial up internet. This man was kind enough to wait with me til the tow truck showed up and then he gave me a lift home. I swore I would get a cell phone as soon as I was able to sign a contract, and I did. I've followed and upgraded my phone continuously as the technology has improved. I remember having to stop at a local gas station to buy a map for the town to find out where I was going, having to find a phone book and look through it to find the right business to call, having to call businesses to find out their hours of operation. No more, thanks to smart phones. I truly don't understand the vitriol some have towards evolving technology. I get lost on vacation, I don't need to stop and buy a map and ask the locals, I don't need to buy a fancy GPS device, I use the power of the internet in the palm of my hand to get my answers. I'm not "glued to my phone" BUT it is a tool, a very powerful one at that, why would I purposefully NOT use it? I switched to Project Fi from Google a few months ago and it has been the cheapest phone plan I've ever had and provides everything I want. We were previously with Sprint and we paid 150 a month for 2 phones with unlimited data. We now pay less than 70 for 2 phones. The downside is you have to purchase a current gen phone (either the Nexus 5x or the Nexus 6P) at full price. (Not a problem for us as our old phones WERE old and outdated) The upside is our unlimited cell costs only 20 bucks a month per line, plus 10 dollars per gig of data. If you don't use all the data, you are credited back on the next bill for the unused data. Almost all our data usage is at home over our own Wi-Fi so we have received a credit on every bill since we signed up. Google's Project Fi works over wireless, Sprint and T-Mobile networks so we have better coverage than we did with only Sprint. If you think you might ever use data (aka the internet) from your phone and you can afford the upfront cost of a new smartphone, I strongly encourage you to look at Project Fi....See MoreFicus benjamina question - recognize issue?
Comments (11)I've been at bonsai for close to 30 years, and I often have trees I'm certain hold a LOT of potential, but I just can't see it. 2 of my best trees were not pruned to achieve a particular end I envisioned until many years after I acquired them. I probably scrutinized both of them 100 times until something just absolutely jumped out at me in an 'eureka moment'. Sometimes that happens as you walk past a tree I've been considering for a year or more. Not only that, but more often than not I end up revising what I had envisioned as the future style or design of a tree because the tree vetoed my plants by revealing a more interesting path I hadn't considered. If you learn the basics of pruning, like what happens when we prune, when to prune, and a few basics like where to concentrate most of your pruning efforts and how to pinch, what's left is removing the problematic branches. By problematic, I mean the ones that don't contribute to your vision of what the plant wants to be. I think I'll start a Q/A thread about pruning and see where it goes. Al...See Moretapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
5 years agoNita T
5 years agotapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
5 years agoFerdinan USDA zone 9
5 years agoNita T
5 years agoNita T
5 years agoNita T
5 years agotapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
5 years agoFerdinan USDA zone 9
5 years agotapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoNita T
5 years agotapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoNita T
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoval rie (7a - NJ)
5 years agoTreegeek Z6a (Boston)
5 years agotropicofcancer (6b SW-PA)
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agotapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
5 years agoTreegeek Z6a (Boston)
5 years agoTreegeek Z6a (Boston)
5 years agotropicofcancer (6b SW-PA)
5 years agotapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
5 years agoTreegeek Z6a (Boston)
5 years agotropicofcancer (6b SW-PA)
5 years agoTreegeek Z6a (Boston)
5 years agotapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
5 years agoTreegeek Z6a (Boston)
5 years agotropicofcancer (6b SW-PA)
5 years agoTreegeek Z6a (Boston)
5 years agoTreegeek Z6a (Boston)
5 years agotropicofcancer (6b SW-PA)
5 years agoTreegeek Z6a (Boston)
5 years agotropicofcancer (6b SW-PA)
5 years agotapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a) thanked tropicofcancer (6b SW-PA)Treegeek Z6a (Boston)
5 years agotapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
5 years agotapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
5 years agoTreegeek Z6a (Boston)
5 years agoval rie (7a - NJ)
5 years agotapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agotapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
5 years agoLantana zone 5b/6a
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agotapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
4 years agoLantana zone 5b/6a
4 years agoMichele Rossi
8 months agoMichele Rossi
8 months agotapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
8 months ago
Related Stories
MATERIALSInsulation Basics: What to Know About Spray Foam
Learn what exactly spray foam is, the pros and cons of using it and why you shouldn’t mess around with installation
Full StoryART10 Broad-Stroke Ideas for Choosing and Displaying Art
Conquer bare walls with these easy, unintimidating basics for picking meaningful artwork and hanging it right
Full StoryMOST POPULAR12 Key Decorating Tips to Make Any Room Better
Get a great result even without an experienced touch by following these basic design guidelines
Full StoryBOOKSCan Tidying Up Result in Life-Changing Magic?
Organizing phenom Marie Kondo promises big results — if you embrace enormous changes and tough choices
Full StoryMOST POPULAR8 Ways to Improve Your Grill Setup
Rethinking the old grilling station? Here’s how to pack more function and style into your backyard cooking zone
Full StoryREMODELING GUIDESTop 10 Tips for Choosing Shower Tile
Slip resistance, curves and even the mineral content of your water all affect which tile is best for your shower
Full StoryWORKING WITH PROSYour Guide to a Smooth-Running Construction Project
Find out how to save time, money and your sanity when building new or remodeling
Full StoryLANDSCAPE DESIGN10 Questions to Ask a Landscape Designer
Discover how to choose the best designer for your yard and avoid surprises down the line
Full StoryLIFE'Not My Precious Books!' — Pain-Free Ways to Declutter Your Library
Have your books and neatness too, with these ideas for paring down and straightening up a beloved collection
Full StoryTASTEMAKERSPro Chefs Dish on Kitchens: Michael Symon Shares His Tastes
What does an Iron Chef go for in kitchen layout, appliances and lighting? Find out here
Full Story
Rockdale (RI Z6)