Hornbeam, #2326
Sold as Korean Hornbeam, young tall and healthy. SBBK Show 2023 for $15. Val believed the leaf color implied Japanese over Korean. Will see over time. Was straight with many branches, so added some movement lower.
After 3 months of healthy growth, it was tall. Did not defoliate, rather topped off and allowed a new leader. Likely could have defoliated and allowed to be tall and push lower branch growth but not yet in ramification phase (may still defoliate some upper leaves, but possibly too late). Instead, to encourage lower branch growth and attempted cuttings from the pruning. Healthy plant.
Admittedly impatient. If I left the top 1/3 to continue to add energy—May not have helped lower branches, but defoliating or pruning (in late Aug) May slow growth the rest of this season some.
I am very much favoring the Korean Hornbeam as a vigorous growth tree and delicate foilage—but hardened branches are brittle.
Oct 2024
Cycling between healthy and ill, possibly from too much Osmocoat (salt) fertilizer and or fungus. Removed fertilizer, flushed with water, let dry. 5229 fungicide on the soil.
Leaves coming back.
Sep 2024
Val M: I don’t think they are a naturally strong tree. Several posts by Jonas on hornbeams (I’m thinking of one where he wanted to grow new roots and it took a long time to get strong).
Brown leaves on margin: overwatering, over fertilizing, sunburn (but usually burning in the vein area not edge).
If you were able to overcome, could be plant will be better next year and is just acclimating to your place.
Returned from a week away, having been loosely wired for about 3 weeks. Inspected and found light wire bites at a few points. Will hope they grow out, but shows the trunk growth in a short span of time.
Propagation / Bonsai Mirai
Korean hornbeam bonsai are propagated through semi-hardwood and hardwood cuttings, and they will readily root when laid down in a raft style.
Pruning / Bonsai Mirai
Korean hornbeam bonsai trees do not need to be pinched unless there are abnormally strong areas. Even then, it's best to prune and partially defoliate in the direction of the energy and orientation of the tree. Korean hornbeam is very responsive to simply rotating and exposing the weaker branches to the sun. When you come back and prune to partially defoliate in the post-flush harden phase, energy will be driven back into the tree.
In hindsight, I should have let it GROW OUT until lead fall then prune to a new leader. Hardwood cuttings did not take but greenwood did.