AusBonsai

I know that some have talked about putting coarse gravel or shadecloth over the top of germinating seed so that the new shoots do need to wander around looking for a way through but I suspect the new tip will just grow straight through the spaces so the wire won't actually create any bends.

don't mind me my missus rolls her eyes at me too

Keep the ideas coming though. That's how we progress and sooner or later you're bound to come up with a good one

no idea wrote:Or just cut the wire Shibui i was just thinking that as it grows it will hit the wire, then try to find a way thru, giving you a natural bend,

that one looks like it is gunna go straight thru the hole with no bend,
Put something solid over it to get it to bend around or pull it across to another wire hole to add the movement

Ken

[quote="shibui" Keep the ideas coming though. That's how we progress and sooner or later you're bound to come up with a good one [/quote]

Hahahahaha we can only hope

Ahh .... this thing is growing faster than I can decide what to do:


Ok ... might just cut the wire around it as it's looking through. Maybe the 2nd one I'll get fancy and interrupt it's shape.

- Daniel

let it go, see what it does

no idea wrote:let it go, see what it does

Like most Quercus (and other species) it wil grow straight and tall without intervention.
per se, that is not a problem as you can just grow a broom style, or chop and regrow the new leader. but the do need movement straight out of the ground unless a formal style.

Ken

Regarding those seed-raising trays with the transparent cover from Bunnings- I've had the same problem whenever I've used mine . I think those things are a waste of money.

I'm going to collect some acorns today, *excited*

By now you may find that some have already started to germinate under the leaves on the ground. You can collect them with the roots already growing, just pop them in a plastic bag until you can pot them up.
It does not hurt if the root gets broken or if you cut it. New small roots will grow from the cut end and will actually give a better lateral root system.

Would it be best to grow them straight off a tile/rock/flat surface or give it a year?

Growing on a tile from germination will usually just make the main root bend. Cutting the root will force extra lateral roots. You can position lateral roots after 1 or 2 years if needed. A tile will work but is not a replacement for good root pruning.

There was nothing really left except the top shells, nothing had germinated under the fallen leaf litter, perhaps it's too late here. My partner who is from here took me to his old family house where there are oak trees everywhere out front and said if it was the right time of year they should be everywhere. This was all I managed to find that still had a seed.

Just looking at the original post being in March, no wonder I couldn't find any. I swear I only saw this post about a month ago. Oh well.

Birds love to eat the acorns. King parrots spend a lot of time under the oaks at this time of year so acorns can be hard to find after a few weeks but I can still normally find a few hidden under leaves etc. Maybe you did not look hard enough or the parrots over there are hungry.