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Where I live we have amazing spruce (picea) yamadori that are calcicole (they live entirely on chalk/lime rocks/soil). You can see the lime rock and vegetation in the attached image.
What would you say is the best soil mix for collected calcicole spruce yamadori? What is the expected survival rate? I've seen somewhere that some people say one shouldn't collect calcicole yamador, is that entirely true?
Would very much appreciate your expert feedback on this topic!
/AndyN

Several questions you have in there. The closest I can come is this.

Soil Mixture:
Our local junipers thrive in limestone, which is alkaline. But the only adjustment I make to their soil mixture from my other trees' is to add a little bit of garden lime. No other differences - just coarse good-draining soil. It also doesn't hurt that my well water is hard & alkaline, too. Downside: makes it hard to keep azaleas. If & when I set up a rain collection system, I will consider again (Have had them before in a different living location with neutral water).

Survival Rate:
That depends on many factors, including time of year, ability to viably collect, & experience in care. I've found early to mid-spring to be best where I am. Collecting trees is different than buying stock from a nursery, and the survival rate is lower already. Find a local bonsai club or hobbyist with experience in collecting trees. May I advise to start with small young trees first before you kill larger good material. Experience is extremely beneficial to the survival of the plant. Learn to keep those alive, then work your way to better stock.

Collect or No Collect:
I think it has more to do with ethics. Are you experienced enough as a collector & caretaker of trees to risk killing one? The tree was doing fine without you, so you should hopefully give it an even better existence. Can you provide an environment that will meet its needs and keep it alive & in good health?
Here's the kicker: how do you gain experience without killing trees? I don't think you can. I've killed several, and most I know do as well. That is why I suggest you wait until spring, ask for help, and go for the small ones first.

Thanks for your good answers! I take it that there is no fundamental issue with collecting spruce on lime rocks then.
What local junipers do you have and where in the world are you? (I'm in Europe, on the edge of the alps)
Soil Mixture: I lean towards starting with Kaizen 名媛直播 Soil Mix No2 and might add a little garden lime (as you advice).

Survival Rate: I will start with a couple of young trees in the spring to build experience. I will use an automatic watering system to hopefully increase survival rate.

Collect or no collect: well, what qualifies as a good yamadori has been naturally 'almost' dying its entire life. Where I plan to collect all trees die unnaturally small so I see it as helping the trees.

You're welcome.
I'm in the Appalachian mountains of Virginia, USA. The juniper is Juniperus virginiana, known locally as red cedar. There are many cultivars out there, many very suitable for bonsai (Auk has a beautiful one!) The wild stock can fussy to work with because of needle vs scale foliage (better solved by using cultivars), but I love collecting them anyway.

For soil, go for it. If you ever want to mix your own, loads of different advice out there, and if it works for you & your trees, yes. Some advice about soil mixtures from Walter Pall:


I wouldn't use an automatic system. Rather, water the tree when it needs it. Takes time to learn what that is.

Best of Luck!

Thank you, wish I had Red Cedar here! But the needles turn into foliage with age don't they? That is not the case with Juniperus Communis which we have everywhere here.
I will try and use an automatic system that always is there unless I'm home and turn it off and water manually. In this way there will at least always be water.
Are there many from Central Europe (Alps region) in this forum?