Restyled a Black Pine (3)

[daiviet_nguyen]

I bought this black pine about 10 years ago. When it was a 2 years old seedling. I paid about $4.00
for it then. One of the first pines that I bought. Due to my lack of experience, 10 years have passed
and this pine still has a lot of faults.

The following photos were taken on 03/November/2007:


View 1-1

The third branch that points to the right has been severely cut, because it was developing rather too
strongly. It is already as thick as the one immediately below it. I wanted to slow it down a bit.


View 2-1

The tree was positioned right in the middle of the pot. I could not see this at the time of repotting.
I wanted to move it to the right. The distance is half the length between the right surface root (trunk)
and the right end of the pot.


View 3-1


View 4-1

I did realise at the time of potting that the tree was not worth to be in this pot. But I thought if it was
in a proper bonsai pot, it would give me more motivation to tend to it.

At this stage, this pine did not have an apex. It had two leaders forming a slingshot. Quite a few of
my early trees have been growing like this. The top was heavy, and the whole tree was unbalanced.
I realised that I have to get rid of one of the leaders.

The pot is Tokoname. It does not have either author's stamp or author's signature. It was love at first sight
with this pot. I bought it in July, 2007 for $190.00.

* Pot's measurements:

• Pot length: 38 cm.
  
  Pot width: 30 cm.
  
  Pot height: 8 cm (including the "legs".)

*
* *

I could not recall when I cut off one of the leaders. The one that I retained gives enough branches to make
the tree more balanced.

The following photos were taken on 27/April/2008:


View 1-2


View 2-2


View 3-2


View 4-2

I also did some re-wirings sometime before the photos were taken.

*
* *

I repotted it in August/2008. I also repositioned it as discussed earlier. The followings photos were
taken on 22/November/2008:


View 1-3


View 2-3


View 3-3


View 4-3

* Tree's measurements:

• Tree height: 60 cm. Measured straight up from the pot's surface.
  
  Trunk diameter: 3.5 cm.
  
  Spread of surface roots: 6 cm by 20 cm.

*
* *

As I have mentioned above, this pine has too many faults. But at this point, I think I can live with the
faults. From View 3-3 and View 4-3, the two lowest branches appear opposite -- and they actual are due
to the sharp bend of the main body. It is an eyesore, but most of the times I pretend not to see this.

It is still immature, but its skeleton is in place. More ramifications, shorter needles etc. It still has a long
way to go.

(If later on, I found any misspellings or grammar errors I would edit this post directly. I will not change the content.)

[aaron_tas]

nice progression viet

love the pot too

have you considered shohin for this one??

i love the angle the tree comes out of the pot, and the kinky bottom it has. but in a bonsai pot, the trunk wont get much fatter. if it was my tree (which it isn't of course) and i wanted to keep the height, i would consider a season or two in a growing pot.

just food for thought

[Jon Chown]

This one just doesn't do it for me Viet - not one of your better ones. Perhaps some air layer practice and work on a semi-cascade somewhere in here.

Viets Black Pine.jpg

Jon

[Bretts]

Viet I am not great at online styling so I don't comment much but I think that the first two branches are an issue. With the best fronts a branche comes straight at the viewer. This does not allow us to see the trunk and is off putting. The other branch as stated is directly behind it. Maybe a cascade is the option but I also think there is a possibility of a more upright tree if one branch is removed and somehow the tree is rotated so the other bottom branch is slightly to the side so the trunk is visible from the front.
How this can be done I would not be able to say online. I may not be able to say if I saw the tree in person, the only way to solve this is to realise it is an issue and keep thinking of a way to solve it. I find that the faster my trees grow the quicker I find a solution

[aaron_tas]

i thought of something similar to jon, although i would probably have another canopy.

for the cut...

vietsblackpinecut.jpg

then grow canopy...

vietsblackpineedited_edited-1.jpg

[daiviet_nguyen]

Hi everybody,

Thank you for taking the times to give comments on this tree. I appreciate the honest comments like these.

Hi Jon,

At one stage, about a year ago, another person has actually suggested a solution like yours. Please see
the photos of the bend below. If we turn it into cascade, the joint between the new leader, and the main trunk
is not very smooth. There is an emotional issue too, Jon... unfortunately, instances such as these we
have the luxury to let the heart rules...


The bend from "front" showing the two lower branches


The bend from "back" showing the two lower branches


Hi Aaron,

I did think about reducing the height, but we would not enough branches -- and the problem with the two
lower branches still remains. I like your suggestion about making it fatter with a growing container. I think
I will build a box with treated pine and replant this August.

Hi Brett,

I think you are right about the two lower branches. I do not know how to solve it yet. And as you say, I will
keep the problem in mind, might be something will come out later on.

(Brett, for some reason I thought you are in South Australia , that is why I asked you about the timing in
SA before... )

I hope you do not feel wasting your times with me because I am not implementing of your suggestions.

Thank you and best regards.

[Jon Chown]

There is an emotional issue too, Jon... unfortunately, instances such as these we
have the luxury to let the heart rules...

Hey Viet - not a problem, often what we see and suggest from a photo may well be impractical or even impossible, they are mearly discussion about possibilities.

Jon

[daiviet_nguyen]

It was burnt off on 8/02/2009, a 46 degrees day. The below photo was taken on 15/02/2009.


Burnt off!

And shortly afterward, it was put onto the ground. I had given it for death, but it survives... during the growing season of 2010,
it showed some small and very weak buds. It seems to be much strong this season.

The following photos were taken on 27/08/2011:


Recovery


Recovery - 1


Recovery - 2