Pruning Chaenomeles Sinensis for flowers

15-Jun-2005	#1
tom_termine bonsaiTALK Artisan Join Date: Sep-2004 Location: Sudbury, MA Country: USA USDA Zone: 5b AHS Heat Zone: ? Posts: 139	Pruning Chaenomeles Sinensis for flowers Hi - So I have acquired a quince pre-bonsai and was looking for some experience advice on pruning it during the growing season for flowers next year. I have read to let the new growth grow until the fall(!), then prune it back to a couple of leaves. If so, the tree is going to look pretty un-tree like by September... Sound right? One more question - why, in New England, does it have to be 95 degrees for 2 weeks, then 50 degrees for two weeks? My trees are quite confused... Thanks! __________________ Tom

Sponsor Message	Pruning Chaenomeles Sinensis for flowers
Advertisement Forum Sponsor	<a href='http://adserver.bonsaitalk.com/adclick.php?n=ac8bc944' target='_blank'><img src='http://adserver.bonsaitalk.com/adview.php?what=zone:4&n=ac8bc944' border='0' alt=''></a>

16-Jun-2005	#2
tom_termine bonsaiTALK Artisan Join Date: Sep-2004 Location: Sudbury, MA Country: USA USDA Zone: 5b AHS Heat Zone: ? Posts: 139	No Quinces or Opinions?? Hi - I can't believe that nobody on this forum has a quince bonsai or an opinion. C'mon aren't opinions like....what's the rest of that saying? Any input would be appreciated. __________________ Tom

16-Jun-2005	#3
Joanie Enthusiast *MODERATOR GROUP* Join Date: Feb-2005 Location: Carlsbad, California..coastal desert Country: United States USDA Zone: 11 AHS Heat Zone: 2 Posts: 5,461	Tom, I took my little quince to a meeting a couple nights ago. The advice that I got, from an experienced nurseryman, is to prune in dormancy, and then to pinch new growth until August at the latest. The tree doesn't like to be pruned too much when active. The flowers seem to develop on older wood (please someone correct me if I'm wrong) so even with a decent pruning you should still get some flowers. But prune with an eye to the future of the tree FIRST, then later when you have the structure you want you can worry about flowers. Sort of like working toward good taper/nebari before worrying about branches. Love those quinces! I have four now, one is contorted. Even the little roots are contorted. Good luck! Joanie

16-Jun-2005	#4
Joanie Enthusiast *MODERATOR GROUP* Join Date: Feb-2005 Location: Carlsbad, California..coastal desert Country: United States USDA Zone: 11 AHS Heat Zone: 2 Posts: 5,461	OH, here's an excellent article too: www.evergreengardenworks.com/quince.htm Joanie

16-Jun-2005	#5
heymikey(deceased) bonsaiTALK Master Join Date: Oct-2002 Location: East bay, Ca. Country: USA USDA Zone: 9 AHS Heat Zone: 7 Posts: 400	heytermite; Flowering quince is generally considered to be Chaenomeles Japonica most of which have red flowers and smallish fruit. There are many varieties. Chinese quince used to be called Cydonia Sinensis (a separate specie) or Cydonia Oblonga. I believe Cydonia has been reclassified to Pseudocydonia. This species is known for having white or pinkish flowers and large fruit. Again there are several varieties. As far as I know both flower on "last years" growth.

16-Jun-2005

tom_termine

bonsaiTALK Artisan

Join Date: Sep-2004

Location: Sudbury, MA

Country: USA

USDA Zone: 5b

AHS Heat Zone: ?

Posts: 139

Quote:

Originally Posted by heymikey

Flowering quince is generally considered to be Chaenomeles Japonica most of which have red flowers and smallish fruit. There are many varieties.

Chinese quince used to be called Cydonia Sinensis (a separate specie) or Cydonia Oblonga. I believe Cydonia has been reclassified to Pseudocydonia. This species is known for having white or pinkish flowers and large fruit. Again there are several varieties.

As far as I know both flower on "last years" growth.

heymikey - pretty sure I am dealing with Chinese "Quince" here, or as you point out, Pseudocydonia sinensis. Pic attached.

Attached Images

quince 6-16.jpg (64.4 KB, 34 views)

__________________
Tom