Japanese Black Pine longitudinal study; Collaborators needed

[Neli]

Then I shall start on friday to fertilize both...That is my day for fertilizing. ...I am contemplating repotting them both today since you said they must both be repotted.

[Gerard]

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Candles are developing quickly

[Neli]

Waw! I think the big pot must be contributing...When did you repot them last? What is your soil mix?

[Gerard]

Potted a year ago into 50% diatomite 25% coco peat and 25% pine nuggets
(a very conventional mix for many growers in this region)

[Gerard]

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[Grant Bowie]

I am over in SA at the moment; demo last Tuesday night and 4 workshops this weekend.

This JBP is already elongating noticeably. Photo taken on 2nd Sept.

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Grant

[kcpoole]

Tree number 1 showing much greater vigour and many more small candles. The small candles are quite plump and green tips of needles apparent
The only long candles ones are on a sacrifice branch which is good.

Tree number 2 has much fewer candles and all are small. None of these look like opening yet.

Ken

[Neli]

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Sorry to say that but with me is the same...pictures to follow. I have visible candles! Not fertilized tree bigger candles.
Ken which one do you call tree number 1?

[kcpoole]

Tree number 1 is the one fertilised thru winter, wich is the second photo I posted

[Neli]

He! We are getting some conflicting and unexpected results...

[Neli]

This are mine as of Sept 1...candles are bigger now.
1 fertilized:

Both trees...left unfertilized

This is a new variety JBP in Japan, type of kotobuki with short needles...given to Oyakata to experiment with...I managed to wiggle one out of him...he he he

2 not fertilized

This friday I fertilized both.

[Ray M]

Hi Grant,
Here are some current photos.

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Both trees grew well, but you will notice that Tree No 2 is a little lighter in colour. I started fertilizing Tree No 2 on 8 September 2014.

Tree No 1

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Tree No 2

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Regards Ray

[Grant Bowie]

Thanks for the pics.

My number one about the same colour as number 2; but number one is moving but still hasn't really started to elongate.

We still have cold mornings.

Grant

[Grant Bowie]

Update.

Here in coolish Canberra (at the moment) the buds are very slowly elongating. Both Pines 1 and 2 are about level pegging in their growth (bud elongation). They seem to vary not by whether they were fertilised or not over winter or not; but on the degree of flowering they have had.

Let me explain. One foible of Pines I hadn't controlled for was flowering of the pines. Because the 32 pines I recently bought are both old and relatively untrimmed they have flowered heavily this year. Because I will be now fully removing the new candles in late November I don't expect them to flower next year.

Anyhow the ones that have flowered the most heavily are the slowest to elongate and the ones that flowered the least are the ones to be elongating the most at the moment.

So my major no 1 tree (which flowered lightly) is elongating more than my no 2 tree ( which flowered heavily). In my two back up trees it is the reverse. The number 2 tree which flowered lightly is elongating more quickly than the no 1.

Anyhow; thats what experimenting is all about.

Grant

[Gerard]

Hi Grant,
Can you tell us what to look for and when to decide that the new candles have "hardened off"?