Silver Birch Bonsai

Neo · Posted: Tue May 31, 2005 12:30 pm Post subject: Silver Birch Bonsai

got a 2 year old silver birch today, gonna try and bonsai it, any one done one before? and any tips?

cheers

John P · Posted: Tue May 31, 2005 2:07 pm Post subject: Re: Silver Birch Bonsai

Silver Birch make nice bonsai. They respond well to pruning and back-bud quite readily. The leaves will reduce nicely too. They don't like to dry out too much though.
I have a Silver Birch, but it lives in the growing bed at the moment awaiting drastic hard pruning.
Best wishes.
John.

Neo · Posted: Tue May 31, 2005 3:05 pm Post subject: Re: Silver Birch Bonsai

nice one, i'll keep you posted of its progress

Stymie · Posted: Tue May 31, 2005 7:07 pm Post subject: Re: Silver Birch Bonsai

I have several including one with a hollow trunk. Bear in mind that they seem to require strong light and a modicum of age to achieve the bark colouration. I have grown Betula jermins from seed which are turning silver/white after fourteen years.

Neo · Posted: Tue May 31, 2005 7:35 pm Post subject: Re: Silver Birch Bonsai

12 years to go then lol

John P · Posted: Tue May 31, 2005 8:13 pm Post subject: Re: Silver Birch Bonsai

I wonder if they turn silver quicker if left to grow in the ground. Mine turned in two seasons using that method. It may be because it fattened up rapidly perhaps. I'll see if I can post a photo tomorrow.
Best regards.
John.

Neo · Posted: Tue May 31, 2005 8:24 pm Post subject: Re: Silver Birch Bonsai

yeah lets see it Wink

Zemiakova brigada · Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2005 1:05 pm Post subject: Re: Silver Birch Bonsai

I haven’t begun to train mine yet, but it seems hardy enough. I live at the top of a 3-storey block of flats. Two years ago, a pigeon (who nests in the eaves just above my balcony) dropped a silver birch seed into my planter box. All I did was shift the seedling to the centre of the box for reasons of aesthetic balance. I’ve never had the thing indoors, although it spends the winters in a makeshift “cold house” where I keep all of my cold climate plants and bonsai. Any road, the birch is growing rapidly and it has acquired a strong stature - and the natural shape it’s taking on is very gratifying. Now if I could only convince the birds to drop more seeds and less of the other thing …….. Rolling Eyes