White Spruce
Picea glauca
Age ± 2016
Height - 20cm
Origin - UK
Training pot
 
This is a nice little tree rooted on a piece of Italian black volcanic lava.
Initial styling has been done but there is plenty of scope for more work.
 
The spruce needs a place in full sun during the growing season. In winter it should be placed in semi-shade and frost protection is recommendable when the tree is planted in a bonsai pot, because frozen roots can't provide water while the evergreen foliage continues to transpire and can desiccate.
Watering
Water the spruce thoroughly as soon as the soil gets dry, but don't keep the roots soaking wet all the time. In winter water less but never let the rootball dry out completely.
Fertilizing
Apply solid organic fertilizer every four weeks or use a liquid fertilizer every week during the growing season. Spruces also benefit from leaf feeding which makes a nice dark green leaf color. You can use a good liquid fertilizer with chelates and iron for spraying it over the foliage.
Pruning and wiring
Pinch new shoots in spring when they are still soft. If you want to prune back long branches, shorten them to smaller twigs near the trunk. Remember that the spruce will not backbud from old wood, so always leave needles and buds on a branch you want to keep.
Repotting
Repot the spruce every three to five years, very old specimens can wait even longer. Prune the roots of a spruce only slightly, especially old trees will not tolerate loosing larger roots. Use a well-draining soil mix with structurally stable grains. Spruces are not demanding on the pH value of soil and water.
Pests and diseases
Green spruce aphids, spruce spider mites, gall adelgids, spruce needle miners, spruce budworms, diverse caterpillars and several fungal diseases like rust or needlecast can harm the spruce. Use a specific pesticide or lime sulphur winter spray.
 
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