To ponder a Ponderosa

rlist

Well then I say it is time for a new thread. If you have pictures at time of purchase, incrimentally and now, and discribe what you did to the roots and the substrate, I am sure Da King and I can bang heads together long enough to give you a benchmark.

As John mentioned many people have had issues previous issues with keeping Ponderosa alive. East coast people had trees die over 4-6 years. Dale has issues with trees dropping limbs over the first 3 years. Now John mentions issues in the south. (note, these are some bad results - but I am sure there are countless positive results out there that contridict this) In discussions with various people in the know - I think it relates to handling of the tree post collection and what is done with native soil/substrate. Removing as much as possible in as short of period of time as possible (i.e. over the first 2-3 years following collection) and getting them into an ideal substrate is key to long term health and survival.

So, if you went in and removed a majority of this native soil and put them into a good mix, then I see no reason why they won't thrive in your climate. In nature they are truly a hardy tree - that with good care over the long term I think we will see that we must treat them somewhat JBP to actually keep them in check.

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Dale Cochoy

Nice styling Tom.
What was collection date on this tree?
Dale

__________________
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If you want to be Different....
You have to DO something Different!
__________________________________________

Some people NEVER take the time to do a job right the first time....
but, they always seem to make the time to do it over again...
____________________________________________
Dale Cochoy
Wild Things Bonsai Studio
Yakimono no Kokoro Bonsai Pottery
Hartville, Ohio

tachigi

Thanks Dale,

If memory serves me it was 2004 or at least thats what I think Andy said as we were packing up.

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Tom

Shady Side Bonsai
Bonsai Vault
4MAAT

Dale Cochoy

Thats good...
Otherwise.....

Dale.

__________________
________________________________
If you want to be Different....
You have to DO something Different!
__________________________________________

Some people NEVER take the time to do a job right the first time....
but, they always seem to make the time to do it over again...
____________________________________________
Dale Cochoy
Wild Things Bonsai Studio
Yakimono no Kokoro Bonsai Pottery
Hartville, Ohio

Vonsgardens

I believe that the real issues with ponderosas in the south are independent of collecting and post collection handling. They seem to do well down to Austin or San Antonio in Texas and over to Shreveport or so in Louisiana. I beleive that a few people may have kept them alive in New Orlreans area, but I have not seen them at Guy Guidry's place in the past. I believe it is the principally coastal areas that cause problems in the south, the temperature, the humisdity in conjunctio with the temp, the lack of nighttime cooling, etc. They seem to get "exhausted".

But, I hope that Graydon (a true afficienado of plants) has good luck over the long haul and can instruct us. Every plant has its limits, I won't mention my Mountain Hemlock's and my smugness after two years of live trees.... Mine have all moved on. John

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"Wiring is simple; However, it is not easy to do it right" Boon

tachigi

Hans,
Thank you for the kind words. I value them as your work is fantastic.

I didn't want to submit this to the contest because, while it was fun and thought provoking to design, it wouldn't of won. I believe if you take the time to enter a contest you enter with the belief that your tree will win. This piece would not have won so I'd rather share it here.


Rich I started a new thread for you input based on your last post. SeeHELP! My Ponderosa is dieing or is it just being ornery

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Tom

Shady Side Bonsai
Bonsai Vault
4MAAT

Dale Cochoy

Ha! Funny John!
In my opinion, MANY buyers of collected plants often buy plants not sufficiently established! and then, after moving to a new climate often HUNDREDS of miles from where they were collected, placed in different soil, repotted, watered with different water at different intervals, etc, etc the plants then die and....the people think "I killed it! I guess I just did something wrong".
Well, you did! You bought a collected tree that wasn't established!
D.

__________________
________________________________
If you want to be Different....
You have to DO something Different!
__________________________________________

Some people NEVER take the time to do a job right the first time....
but, they always seem to make the time to do it over again...
____________________________________________
Dale Cochoy
Wild Things Bonsai Studio
Yakimono no Kokoro Bonsai Pottery
Hartville, Ohio

Vonsgardens

Well Dale,
I guess five years after collection, at least two years after completing the removal of forest soil, and residing in training containers might be freshly collected, but these trees were very well established. Anyway, two years then off to the mountains.

We bring ponderosas down the year they are collected from Andy, after longer periods from others, and a few days after we collect them.
John

__________________
"Wiring is simple; However, it is not easy to do it right" Boon

Dale Cochoy

That all sounds good,and the correct way to do it.
But, I fear that is not the "norm" with most folks.
But, as always, I could be wrong.
D.

__________________
________________________________
If you want to be Different....
You have to DO something Different!
__________________________________________

Some people NEVER take the time to do a job right the first time....
but, they always seem to make the time to do it over again...
____________________________________________
Dale Cochoy
Wild Things Bonsai Studio
Yakimono no Kokoro Bonsai Pottery
Hartville, Ohio