Oak Bonsai: Branching
I started this bonsai experiment in September 2022 by collecting acorns from a local oak. Since then the little oak have grown into a majestic 40cm high baby oak!
Quick recap
As mentioned, we began the bonsai journey in late 2022 by sprouting a local acorn on a damp paper towel in a cabinet in our kitchen. They were about 10 at this time, of which about 7-8 actually grew some roots. From these 7-8 we only managed to get 2 to actually start to grow leaves. One of them unfortunately went under from mold and, perhaps our inexperience.
January 13th, 2023.
The One
One them managed to get through the rough birth, and onward into childhood!
This is the One Oak that we currently host on our glassed-in balcony facing eastward. It was a rough ride during those first couple of months before summer hit. We kept it in our kitchen during the cold Swedish winter months (December to ~April), only taking it out on the balcony during the sunny days to let it collect the few precious sunrays. It seemed to work as it sprouted a few first leaves and started to grow in height to about 10-12 cm.
February 4th, 2023
Summer hits
Of course, once the temperature hit a stable 10°C even during the nights it was living permanently on the balcony.
During this first year it managed about 15-20 leaves in total and grew in height to ~40cm. It seemed to really enjoy itself!
June 19th, 2023
Winter arrives
Once the leaves started to fall off we stopped watering it almost completely. Perhaps pouring some in the plate underneath the pot to allow the water to evaporate upwards into the soil. Nothing much really happened during this time, except for some small buds starting to appear in early spring.
Spring breaks
The small buds that started to appear in late winter now grew slightly and made themselves ready to pop. This happened March 29th. The buds started to slightly change colour to green and you could really see things where getting serious!
March 29th, 2024
Oak goes all in
Last weekend we had our, perhaps first, real spring weekend. Warm enough for going outside with no jacket. This was the time the little oakling decided to go for it! Branches went out, leaves started to unfold - it was incredible to watch!
April 9th, 2024
In just one week since, it has managed to go from buds to about 7 new branches and 30 leaves! However, everything is happening halfway up the stem, like a half-way crown, so we’re expecting quite a bit more from the little guy!
Today, April 14th, 2024
To be continued…