Ilex serrata

Starting in 2005, BIB member brought this tree over to work on. we repotted it in January. it was bare root and put back into the pot that it came in. flowers started to come out in April. we pull all of them off. then let it grow till May. it was time to wire.

the process was repeated - let the branches grow - then wire in May - rewire in June or July and then again in August. - 2-3 times a year during training. wire cut in very quickly when you let the tree grows. wire was removed and it is rewire. in fall, it is cut back. only 2-4 buds are kept on each branch.
In 2007, we repot it into a show pot. we were planning to show it in 2009
At the end of April 2007, we wired it again.

in 2008, we let it bloomed and pollinated. we place small male tree right next to it when it bloom. there is not wire this year. after it grow out 6-8 leaves were kept at the end of each branch. the tree was very full. we have no idea how many berry do we have. November is the time to remove old leaves. After it change color, we pulled all the leaves off. we were surprised to see the number of berry that it had. We showed it in Jan 2009. it received 'Member Choice Award'

we cut it back and repot after the show. the flowers were removed. we wired new shoots again. this is the pic of the tree taken in July, 2009

Hey Boon,

Thats awesome looking tree. love the progression. thank you

Hi Boon,thank you for showing this
I have also a Ilex,this will be styled in a raft style.
And I will use your information how to style this species
I will post a photo from the tree that will be styled for the first time by me
Greetings Ed

.

Heshian wrote:Hey Boon,

Thats awesome looking tree. love the progression. thank you

Thank you Heshian,

[quote="Ed van der Reek"]Hi Boon,thank you for showing this
I have also a Ilex,this will be styled in a raft style.
And I will use your information how to style this species
I will post a photo from the tree that will be styled for the first time by me
Greetings Ed

it looks healthy. it is time to wire. it is one of the most brittle tree though. wire application and the bend has to be exact. otherwise branches will break. one nice thing is that, it will bud again if it break. I wire only 4-5 inches from the base of the branch. there is not need to wire all the way to the tip. at the end of growing season. i cut all branches short. I keep triangle shape.

Sankofabonsai.com wrote:Most beautiful ilex i´ve ever seen.

Congratulations.

Thank you,

here is the picture taken today,



flower buds start to form

Beautiful Ilex serrata! Do you know which male Ilex variety was used...I tried pollinating with Ilex serrata "Apollo" with berries that were not very long lived...perhaps it was related just to growing conditions.

John, if you are looking for a very good and inexpensive male, Chris Kirk at Telperion Farms in Oregon has a good one. The original was grown from seed for stock plant and used for propagation. It's the only pollenator at the nursery and does a great job. A 1gal male can fertilize the world
Wood

John Quinn wrote:Beautiful Ilex serrata! Do you know which male Ilex variety was used...I tried pollinating with Ilex serrata "Apollo" with berries that were not very long lived...perhaps it was related just to growing conditions.

the male tree is alos Illex serrata. it is a cutting less than a pencil size. like Gary said it can fertilize the world.

Really great Boon!

A short question: I've heard that it should be possible to...."attach" a branch from the male to the female so that you need the male not longer. Have somebody heared about this? Still I got the male and the female for some month close together but this thing seems for me the better solution.

Martin

This is just a great tree

Martin S wrote:Really great Boon!

A short question: I've heard that it should be possible to...."attach" a branch from the male to the female so that you need the male not longer. Have somebody heared about this? Still I got the male and the female for some month close together but this thing seems for me the better solution.

Martin

Yes, you can graft a male branch on it. but it may look funny when you have a few branches without fruit when you show it.

Nik Rozman wrote:This is just a great tree

Thank you, Nik

boon wrote:.....
Yes, you can graft a male branch on it. but it may look funny when you have a few branches without fruit when you show it.

Boon, this is a really good argument! Thx..
M

boon wrote:in 2008, we let it bloomed and pollinated. we place small male tree right next to it when it bloom. there is not wire this year. after it grow out 6-8 leaves were kept at the end of each branch. the tree was very full. we have no idea how many berry do we have. November is the time to remove old leaves. After it change color, we pulled all the leaves off. we were surprised to see the number of berry that it had. We showed it in Jan 2009. it received 'Member Choice Award'

I like this one a lot!
Great nebari, movement and branchstructure!
Allso lovely red fruits!

Best regards,
Yannick

Hi Boon.
It's really a beautiful tree!! Congratulations.
Greetings.
Edson.

thank you, Yannick and Edson.

one question about ilex serrata
did you proceed to a defoliation ?

thanks a lot to sharing thise beautifull tree

petit-arbre wrote:one question about ilex serrata
did you proceed to a defoliation ?

thanks a lot to sharing thise beautifull tree

No, i never defoliate fruiting and flowering trees. they need energy from spring leaves.

work on it again today with the owner. thining, some pruning( to 6-8 leaves) and wiring

before


flowers


finish