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Live oak seedling bonsai training help needed

14 years ago

Has anyone grown/trained a quercus virginianna (live oak seedling) to Bonsai Form? I have grown one from "acorn" that is very special to me and am looking for any help in how and techniques you've used to train yours. I am looking for the "perfect grow light" (so far an LED with blue lights seems most affordable & best kind of light for optimum bonsai growth). Also, I am very concerned about when it comes to root pruning the tap root....I've gathered plants/seedlings from the ground,thought I'd dug most correctly, and somehow just a tip of the tap root was amiss and the seedlings didn't make it with all the "added care" given afterward. All help/suggestions appreciated !!

Comments (2)

ryan_tree
14 years ago
Well oak trees can be very difficult to bonsai. Most Oaks leaves are far too big to reduce. The Live Oak, I'm not so sure about. The tap root is also another thing that would have to be reduced as well. Good luck,

Ryan
greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
14 years ago
Live Oaks reduce well, from what I've seen. I've been eyeing one on the side of the road for a while now...it keeps getting run-over, year after year, and has turned into a very compact specimen.

With my other oaks, I cut the tap-root the first year - during the winter, after the plant loses its leaves. Even though Live Oak is "evergreen," I think you still re-pot during the period in which northernmost specimen would be shedding leaves (i.e. winter).

Josh
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