Picea species/ Spruce Species Guide
Picea are a difficult tree species to style as bonsai. Their habit of throwing out whorls of branches leads to bar branches and trunks can have poor taper unless care is taken in training, backbudding from bare mature wood is rare so it can be difficult to keep the foliage mass close to the trunk.
There are many Picea species that are suitable for Bonsai cultivation, most have short needles and respond well to Bonsai cultivation. Probably the Most frequently used Picea species for Bonsai include P. abies, P. orientalis, P. glauca and P. sitchensis/ Sitka spruce.
Ease of Cultivation 7/10 Suitablity and Ease for Bonsai Styling 5/10
Position Outdoor tree only. Full sun with shade from the mid-day sun during the Summer. Fully hardy to at least -10°C.
Repotting Every two years in early to mid Spring just before bud-break. Older trees require less frequent repotting. Use a fast-draining soil-mix. Protect from full-sun after repotting.
Pruning New growth should be pinched out after shoots have extended to 2-3cm long, leaving 4 - 5 needle-clusters. Hard prune only in Autumn to reduce sap loss/bleeding.
Wiring Wire only in Autumn and Winter as wiring during the Spring and Summer can result in dieback of branches.
Propagation Sow seed outside in Spring. Take ripewood cuttings in late Summer. Cuttings can take a very long time to strike.
Pests and Diseases Aphids and red spider mites.
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