Found this little spruce on a recent trip.
It’s either white or Red spruce but I’m struggling to figure out which.
Either way I have read nothing but negative things about spruce.
Did I make a mistake in collecting?
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What exactly are you hearing about spruce? Mirai has lots of great collected spruce.
And good news, Mirai Live has spruce videos that can help you get up to speed. They are mostly englemann and Colorado blue spruce, but most things should be applicable for your new spruce.
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The Mirai videos are fantastic! I have lots of catching up to do after a short hiatus from Bonsai.
Reading that spruce do not respond well to wiring and it is a constant battle to maintain your desired shape. This tree is going to need some major creative wiring.
The other worry is winter storage. The closest greenhouse storage is 3.5 hours away. This is not the piece of material to gamble with throwing in my cold storage. My larches dont seem to mind the frozen feet.
The Mirai team has inspired me to push the limits of my local species and embrace, shall we say, American Bonsai.
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Good luck! It does look like a very nice tree.
In terms of winter storage, how far do you live from where it was collected? If it’s close to the same climate, I assume it’ll be good simply placed on the ground where you are.
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Maybe this Picea identification PDF snipped from a Maine Forest Guide will aid you!
Let us know what you find out. Looks like you and Picea “X” will have a great journey!
-M-
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request a friend on facebook if you want to get ideas for future styling or check out his web site.
Todd Schlafer - First Branch Bonsai
Todd collects many blue spruce in Colorado and has a large number of spruce and other collected trees he sells and styles. Todd recommends watching the tree for at least a year to ensure it is healthy and getting strong before any styling or transplanting. My spruce, do well in the winter with container surrounded by decomposed granite and landscape blocks surrounding them. They are protected from desiccating winds by a fence and surrounding plants. Keeping the new collected trees in a cold building like a garden shed or garage is also a possibility. My spruce are Colorado blue and Birds nest spruce. Picea pungens and Picea abies ‘Nidiformis’.
You can go to the MIRAI gallery and use the search feature to filter for spruce. The natural forms of alpine spruce are my inspiration. The movement of the branches in your little one and the natural dead wood are great!
Keep learning all you can.
Ryan has stated often that the bad reputation that species have been tagged with is a result of not knowing what the horticultural needs of that species are, and using bad practices that have been repeated over and over again from wrong knowledge. ( my sentences are too long) My life goal is to attain the knowledge that keeps the tree strong and healthy, and then the skill and technique to make it an example of his or her examples in nature.
I love your little tree!
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Thanks Bob.
I’m excited to branch into a new species.
I also winter my trees here in Vermont half buried in the ground protected from sun and wind. My larches do great as do a few other species. I’m not exactly a beginner with 15 years experience but the Spruce has always been a bit intimidating to me. I’ve participated in many workshops with David Easterbrooks and Suthin as well as study groups and club meetings. Nobody I know personally even has a local spruce and I’m not sure why. Ryan has inspired me this year to collect one and give it a try. So I’m always looking to obtain insight from more knowledgeable people. The Mirai sight is fantastic and everyone seems so enthusiastic to see others succeed.
Refreshing from the early days of Bonsai forum banter.
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Good luck with your new adventure! My experience with spruce is that they grow roots slowly.
Also some risk of needle cast, (Rhizosphaera kalkhoffii). So I keep fungicide handy in case I see symptoms. Chlorothalonil - Wikipedia is the recommended one. I am careful to only water the soil and keep the foliage as dry as possible. The health of the tree is your priority so resist the temptation to trim or wire until it is super healthy and growing with vigor.
Each November I bring about 12-13 trees to a bonsai nursery that’s a 4 hour drive from my house; pick them up in April. Balance (18-20 trees) are kept in an unheated garage. Well worth the journey if the tree means enough to you and requires a more controlled winter environment.
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