Xref: news7 rec.arts.bonsai:62810

Greetings,
I purchased a nice Fagus sylvatica the other day at our club
sale/swap that, upon transplanting, proved to have almost no roots at all.
Leaf buds were swelling, but the rotted roots fell-off in big clumps. Anyone
out there with experience on how much energy beech trees can pull from their
trunks? It's basically a giant cutting right now -- I've pruned the rotten
roots away (there might be a few living feeder roots); placed it in a free
draining, peaty mix; and pruned a few of the swelling buds so they don't
over-tax the moisture content of the tree (if any of them happen to open). I
have the sinking feeling that this may prove to be a big waste of time, but
feel duty bound to do what I can to save it. Thoughts? Words of hopeful
encouragement? Expressions of impending doom?
-joe
ottawa

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Greetings,
I purchased a nice Fagus sylvatica the other day at our
club
sale/swap that, upon transplanting, proved to have almost no
roots at all.
Leaf buds were swelling, but the rotted roots fell-off in big
clumps. Anyone
out there with experience on how much energy beech trees can
pull from their
trunks? It's basically a giant cutting right now -- I've pruned
the rotten
roots away (there might be a few living feeder roots); placed
it in a free
draining, peaty mix; and pruned a few of the swelling buds so
they don't
over-tax the moisture content of the tree (if any of them
happen to open). I
have the sinking feeling that this may prove to be a big waste
of time, but
feel duty bound to do what I can to save it. Thoughts? Words of
hopeful
encouragement? Expressions of impending doom?
-joe
ottawa

Hmph. You may want to have a "gentle talk" with whoever sold you
that tree.

You've done what you can. Keep it in the shade. Water
sparingly. And don't be too hopeful.

Jim Lewis - - Tallahassee, FL - Our life is
frittered away by detail . . . . Simplify! Simplify. -- Henry
David Thoreau - Walden

************************************************** ******************************
++++Sponsored, in part, by Evergreen Gardenworks++++
************************************************** ******************************
-- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ --
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++

Xref: news7 rec.arts.bonsai:62818

At 07:35 AM 5/2/03 -0400, Joe St. Lawrence wrote:
Greetings,
I purchased a nice Fagus sylvatica the other day at our club
sale/swap that, upon transplanting, proved to have almost no roots at all.
Leaf buds were swelling, but the rotted roots fell-off in big clumps. Anyone
out there with experience on how much energy beech trees can pull from their
trunks? It's basically a giant cutting right now -- I've pruned the rotten
roots away (there might be a few living feeder roots); placed it in a free
draining, peaty mix; and pruned a few of the swelling buds so they don't
over-tax the moisture content of the tree (if any of them happen to open).

Joe

This is not an uncommon occurance with Fagus sylvatica in containers.
Recovery is possible, but certainly not guaranteed. I'm a little worried
about the 'peaty' mix. Peat mixes have a habit of holding a lot of water,
even if they appear to drain well, and little air, which is the thing you
need most to generate a new root system. I have had a good deal of success
saving plants with depleted root systems by using a bonsai type mix, half
bark, half inorganic and only a little peat (5% by volume). This requires
that you watch the water carefully so they don't dry out. The nice thing is
that you can water very often, which in general is very good for the plant,
keeping it clean, humid, and pulling a lot of air into the mix. In a peaty
mix, you won't be able to water as often.

Keep it in light SHADE, only a few hours of very early morning direct
sunlight if any at all. No direct sunlight if the temperature is going to
be above about 70F. Keep it humid as possible by wetting the ground around
it and protecting it from wind. You can partially enclose it with a plastic
tent, but leave large openings so the air can circulate and it doesn't heat
up from greenhouse effects. Start a light feeding program right away.


Brent in Northern California
Evergreen Gardenworks USDA Zone 8 Sunset Zone 14

http://www.EvergreenGardenworks.com

************************************************** ******************************
++++Sponsored, in part, by Evergreen Gardenworks++++
************************************************** ******************************
-- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ --
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++