bonsaiTALK Community - View Single Post - California Live Oak (Coastal)

I have a few Q. agrifolia (Calif coastal live oak), and agree, Joanie, that they do show spurts of growth. Mine seem to put out growth in the spring, and the fall, primarily. The collected trees seem to have take a couple of years to get comfortable with pot culture, then put out huge amounts of new growth - again in spring and fall. Collected trees have done well, even with few feeder roots.

I have done both fall and early spring repotting with success, although around here the difference between the two is not huge. I do fall repotting around Thanksgiving, and spring repotting in early February. In my climate, for most of my trees, it seems that I can start repotting in Nov, and continue on through March without stop. I do save most of my major root pruning for later in that time period.

Standard pinching techniques seem to increase ramification OK. I have also defoliated healthy Q. agrifolia prior to their spring or fall growth spurts (not both on the same tree). The defoliation gets rid of malformed and discolored leaves (always an issue with these), but doesn't seem to reduce leaf size much. I think it helps with ramification, but apparently the efffect is not dramatic, since I still only THINK it helps.

I'm sure others with more experience can add to this thread.

Cheers
Brian

8-Oct-2005	#3
BrianBay9 Trunk Collector Join Date: Sep-2003 Location: Loveland, CO Country: USA USDA Zone: 4 or 5? AHS Heat Zone: ? Posts: 1,362	I have a few Q. agrifolia (Calif coastal live oak), and agree, Joanie, that they do show spurts of growth. Mine seem to put out growth in the spring, and the fall, primarily. The collected trees seem to have take a couple of years to get comfortable with pot culture, then put out huge amounts of new growth - again in spring and fall. Collected trees have done well, even with few feeder roots. I have done both fall and early spring repotting with success, although around here the difference between the two is not huge. I do fall repotting around Thanksgiving, and spring repotting in early February. In my climate, for most of my trees, it seems that I can start repotting in Nov, and continue on through March without stop. I do save most of my major root pruning for later in that time period. Standard pinching techniques seem to increase ramification OK. I have also defoliated healthy Q. agrifolia prior to their spring or fall growth spurts (not both on the same tree). The defoliation gets rid of malformed and discolored leaves (always an issue with these), but doesn't seem to reduce leaf size much. I think it helps with ramification, but apparently the efffect is not dramatic, since I still only THINK it helps. I'm sure others with more experience can add to this thread. Cheers Brian __________________ There's a difference between taking your art seriously, and taking yourself too seriously.