Shohin Japanese Black Pine.

[PeterW]

This tree was given to me in July this year. I have always wanted a small Pine and i have had lots of difficulty finding one. This one has had its first candle work and needles plucked today. I done another tree about 3 weeks ago (to see what to expect from this one) and it has new buds all over it, so i decided to this one. The leader you see in the pictures will be removed in Winter next year and some branch selections will also take place. Once i get buds appearing it will be quite an easy process to select the keepers and cut the others. The roots need a lot of work also, i have it growing in 100% akadama and are hoping for a nice fiberous root system to enable me to do some severe cutting back in Winter. The tree is never going to be a great tree because it has some pretty serious past issues, such as whirls have left some nasty swelling and being pot bound has created a bad surface root structure. I hope to at least improve the tree and with what i will learn from this tree and a few others that i am growing, be able to grow a nice Japanese Black Pine in the future. The tree as it stands now is 30cm tall but i will get it down to just under 20cm when finished.
Peter

[anttal63]

good work peter well done. dont underestimate it just keep plugging at it.

[daiviet_nguyen]

Hi,

I wish it was mine

[Ash Barns]

G'day Peter Love this tree since first I clapped eyes on it a couple of months back in Pine Class. The thing that amazes me is it is growing so well in Queensland. How does that work?

Ash

[PeterW]

The thing that amazes me is it is growing so well in Queensland. How does that work?

Ash

If i told ya Ash, i'd have ta kill ya!.....hahaha
No secret mate, just the three magic ingredients. Healthy tree is a happy tree and a happy tree is a vigorous grower!
I would be interested to hear your thoughts as to why they may not grow so well in Queensland though. Is it a humidity thing maybe?
Peter

[Ash Barns]

Peter it may the precept that you don't have the seasons like we do in the south. I am thinking dormancy etc and probably wrongly identifying Queensland like Florida in the US. However I am delighted that you are able to grow JBP successfully up north. Also that you do it so well.

Ash

[PeterW]

Peter it may the precept that you don't have the seasons like we do in the south. I am thinking dormancy etc and probably wrongly identifying Queensland like Florida in the US. However I am delighted that you are able to grow JBP successfully up north. Also that you do it so well.

Ash

They certainly dont "stop" growing up here, as in dormancy, it must have some bearing on how they react, i know someone who has grown them up here for about 25 years. I wish we would get a good cold winter every year. For the maples as well as the Pines!
Peter.

[anttal63]

the black pine in japan is a lower ground tree. quite common around thier coast's. not as dependant on dormancy just happy to slow down.

[Jon Chown]

Great little tree Peter - you realy are working out the issues and I think it is going to be one hell of a keeper.

Jon

[PeterW]

Lots of buds appearing in nice and close to the trunk.
Peter

[anttal63]

beautiful pete !!!