The mighty English Oak

don · White Belt Joined: 14 Jun 2006 Posts: 23 Location: Devon

Hi

I have a mighty Oak tree (think big) which is about 2 inches tall with 4 leaves on it (its only about 6 months old). At the moment it is in an ordinary 2 inch pot but i would like to put it into a proper tray. Should i wait until spring or could i do it now? I also have a Beech tree which is about an inch tall if it stands on its tiptoe with 2 leaves on it. Any tips on growing this please.

Also i remember reading that you can use compost and cat litter for the soil, is this correct?

Thanks

Don

jimothy · Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2007 6:45 pm Post subject: Re: The mighty English Oak

Don't bother putting them in another pot, Don.

Plant them out in your garden somewhere for a few years, where they will grow much faster, and will become suitable for turning into bonsai much quicker. Kept in pots, they will barely grow at all, and will remain immature trees in pots, rather than something worthy of the name bonsai.

PS - i editted your two threads into one, as they essentially deal with the same topic.

keithmart · Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2007 7:36 pm Post subject: Re: The mighty English Oak

Hi Don,

there is an old saying regarding oak trees:

they take 300 years to grow

300 years to mature

300 years to die

so you could be in for a long wait!

steve · Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2007 1:14 am Post subject: Re: The mighty English Oak

I just want to reinforce Jim's advice about planting it out for a while. You'll get more growth out of three years in the ground than you will out of 20 in a pot.

imholte · Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2007 1:27 am Post subject: Re: The mighty English Oak

And I want to reinforce Steve's advice as this will go for all species and not just oaks, why wait for years when you can get the results in months.

don · White Belt Joined: 14 Jun 2006 Posts: 23 Location: Devon

Thanks for the information, the trouble is i dont have a garden to put them in which is why i have them all in pots.

Don

jimothy · Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2007 6:52 am Post subject: Re: The mighty English Oak

don · White Belt Joined: 14 Jun 2006 Posts: 23 Location: Devon

I do have a concrete area outside but just no garden and they are outside at the moment.

jimothy · Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2007 8:00 am Post subject: Re: The mighty English Oak

Oh, i see.

in that case, you'll want to invest in some big, wide pots that will allow the maximum, unrestricted root growth of your trees, which will, in turn, support the maximum growth of of the trunk and branches.

Old wooden fruit crates work well, or washing-up bowls with holes drilled in the bottom....

don · White Belt Joined: 14 Jun 2006 Posts: 23 Location: Devon

Thanks for that, I now have two pretty grey washing up bowls outside my door

imholte · Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2007 7:13 pm Post subject: Re: The mighty English Oak

Does this mean that you repotted your trees today?

don · White Belt Joined: 14 Jun 2006 Posts: 23 Location: Devon

My mighty oak tree is now sitting happily in its grey washing up bowl and is a massive 6 inches tall with about 8 small leaves on it Very Happy

The Beech tree is about 2 inches tall with a small bud on the top Sad

steve · Posted: Sat May 03, 2008 5:06 pm Post subject: Re: The mighty English Oak

Glad to hear it. At least they won't get away from you at this rate. Wink

Thanks for keeping us updated.

don · White Belt Joined: 14 Jun 2006 Posts: 23 Location: Devon

At this rate I'll soon be able to build my tree house Very Happy

Surrey John · Posted: Sat May 03, 2008 9:54 pm Post subject: Re: The mighty English Oak

Don - do your grey washing up bowls have drainage holes? If not, make sure they get some, otherwise you run the risk of drowning the roots. Welcome, by the way, to the seedling in a pot club, of which I am a founder member. Wink

SJ.

don · White Belt Joined: 14 Jun 2006 Posts: 23 Location: Devon

Yes it does have drain holes in it thanks

I also planted a Hawthorn last year which is now 3 inches tall with quite a few leaves on it Very Happy

Crazeegang · Posted: Sun May 04, 2008 12:43 pm Post subject: Re: The mighty English Oak

I have over 20 trees in pots. If I plant them in the garden, the dogs run over them and break them. I think I need an allotment or maybe just better behaved dogs and kids!

Toni