Japanese Black Pine from seed after 21 years

[Bretts]

Don was just telling me the other day that Pines roots fuse to the base very well I guess this is part of the reason this technique works?

[Grant Bowie]

Don was just telling me the other day that Pines roots fuse to the base very well I guess this is part of the reason this technique works?

Guess where Don first learnt about root fusing. Anyhow it works with Figs, Corky bark Elms, Ash, Black Pine. Most things that work well with Root over Rock techniques.

Don't bother with smooth barked things like Maples.

[alpineart]

Very impressive Grant ,if in 21 years my yet to sprout seeds look half as impressive i will be a happy camper .Cheers

[MasonC]

WoW! Thats a beauty. I still don't completely get how this technique works? Doe you put the root ball into where the trunk will be?

[mick]

Hi Grant.

That is my goal!
I am yooung enough that once I am at a reasonable retirement age, I should have some old stock like that to keep me occupied
That is a wonderfull looking tree.
Would love to hear some techniques you used over that period

I am after a bit of info in another post about pine seeds.Graet to see someone grow a specimen like that from a seed. On ya Grant! Dad is giving up a bit of his yard for some in ground growing on, and he is keen to get some black pines going ( as well as a lot of others ) so would love to hear anything for referance.

Cheers
Mick

[Jamie]

Don was just telling me the other day that Pines roots fuse to the base very well I guess this is part of the reason this technique works?

Guess where Don first learnt about root fusing. Anyhow it works with Figs, Corky bark Elms, Ash, Black Pine. Most things that work well with Root over Rock techniques.

Don't bother with smooth barked things like Maples.

just curious, why not the smooth barked species? dont figs have smooth bark? they fuse well, trident maples are known for there fusing abilities over rocks.?
not to mention the fusing of maples by dug on this site.

http://www.dugzbonsai.com

he wraps them around a cage and they fuse over a period of a few years, i am going to be trying this technique as soon as i get my seeds to germinate

regards jamie

[MasonC]

wouldn't that leave the wire inside?

[Grant Bowie]

First kill your rabbit; oops sorry wrong recipe.

First find a source of Pine seed, plant them, germinate them, trim roots and pot up when very young.

Put into a long seedling tube for one year to get numerous but long roots.

After one year take out of tube, completetely bare root and comb out roots.

Get some plastic, rubber, aluminium foil ,whatever, and form a cone.

Insert the pine seedling through the hole in the top of the cone.

Invert the cone and fill up with potting medium.

Turn the cone over so that the broad part of the cone is now facing downwards and place on a pot full of potting mix.

You now have a cone full of roots and soil that will fuse into a trunk over about five years.

Feed the heck out of it, keep as many sacrifice branches as possible and let it grow.

Eventually remove the outer material of cone, roots will have fused into a trunk.

Slowly remove sacrifice branches over next five years and voila; a short, fat trunk piece of nursery stock ready to work on.

I will do some sketches and post when I can.

On the actual tree in the photo the original root level is where the trunk narrows about 1/4 of the height of the tree. a neat trick!

But you must carry on for the whole 10 years or so feeding, feeding, feeding and just keep a few short vigorous branches to eventually cut back to for your future trunk line.

The upper trunk in the photo was a small side branch 10 years ago.

Grant

[Grant Bowie]

Don was just telling me the other day that Pines roots fuse to the base very well I guess this is part of the reason this technique works?

Guess where Don first learnt about root fusing. Anyhow it works with Figs, Corky bark Elms, Ash, Black Pine. Most things that work well with Root over Rock techniques.

Don't bother with smooth barked things like Maples.

just curious, why not the smooth barked species? dont figs have smooth bark? they fuse well, trident maples are known for there fusing abilities over rocks.?
not to mention the fusing of maples by dug on this site.

http://www.dugzbonsai.com

he wraps them around a cage and they fuse over a period of a few years, i am going to be trying this technique as soon as i get my seeds to germinate

regards jamie

Slightly different technique for Maples, Pyracantha, ordinary Chinese Elm

[Jamie]

does it matter if it is? its copper wire or aluminium anodised wire, it will never brak down or anything like that, i think it would be posible to remove the wire if you wanted to, but i dont see the need

and grant this is an amazing idea and technique, so this has been grown from the 1 seedling which is even more amazing. well done to all of you that come up with it


regards jamie.

[Jamie]

i see that now that you have posted the process of it mate thanks

once again well done

[Asus101]

It is about time I record the technique and the tree so I will do so. It will take a while so feel free to ask questions in the mean time.

I wouldn't mind knowing more.

Disregard that...

Its a good technique to know, good to add to other techniques for fattening trunks.

[mick]

The cone you made, what are the dimensions?

Also, how tall is this tree now?

Excellent technique Grant. I am going to give it a go myself. Just have to find some seeds first

Cheers
Mick

[Grant Bowie]

The cone you made, what are the dimensions?

Also, how tall is this tree now?

Excellent technique Grant. I am going to give it a go myself. Just have to find some seeds first

Cheers
Mick

You could start with a cone approx 150mm high and a bit broader or narrower at the base depending on what you are after.

Also you could make the cone bigger and taller a year or two later and build a massive trunk if you want.The bigger the trunk the longer it will take.

Keep moving it into bigger pots every two years or so and I eventually got it up into a 500mm pot I think. I used industrial amounts of fertilizer as well to keep it going at full speed.


You could also experiment with trying to bend the cone with 8mm wire for instance.

It is just a technique to experiment with.

[Grant Bowie]

Hi all,

I finally got around to doing some work on my pine.

Root Wrap Black Pine 1.JPG

After needle plucking and before wiring April 2010.JPG

As I now wire I will also be reducing further some of the number of buds, weak branches at bottom and strong branchlets at the top etc.

I have been wiring it on and off for a couple of days and it is getting there. Some photos of it wired soon and then final placement.

Grant