Ryan Neil video: Leaving some old needles on 2 needle pines

[LLK]

Scott wrote:

So it seems it is not to do with needle plucking/cutting or back budding just general tree health. Maybe we just need to give our pines a break and let them be trees once in a while .

Remembering what our Pine Guru, Mick Balzary. with 45 yrs of experience below his bonsai tool belt, once told me about pine maintenance, I e-mailed him and got this reply:

Lisa

Yes, (...) Constant pruning, needle removal, decandling will eventually weaken the tree. They need a rest from time to time. The tree usually tells you, in that needle growth is not strong and green, candles are weak, etc.
There is no precise date to give the tree a rest.
I do not return them to the ground, but if necessity dictates, I will repot into something larger – a pot – a box, etc. The rejuvenation will help trunk and branch development, bark, and overall health. Like us trees suffer from burn out too!

Regards

Mick

[LLK]

Scuse me! The message below didn't appear on the board index for some reason, so I'm taking the liberty of bumping it.

by Gareth » 17 Feb 2013, 09:03

When is it? I really can't miss this one

It's in May. See 26th AABC National Bonsai Convention - 2013 Canberra on viewtopic.php?f=25&t=13392
Note: enrolments have been coming in fast. The workshops with Ryan Neil are full as far as participants go, but there are still observers' places and there are also open places at workshops with other headliners.

Lisa

[LLK]

Apologies again! I wonder what is happening... After one of the above posts made it to the Board Index, the other still didn't, and I think it would be a pity if the Pine Guru's message wasn't read by as many people as possible. It does give food for thought! So here it is again:

by LLK » Today, 08:37

Scott wrote:


So it seems it is not to do with needle plucking/cutting or back budding just general tree health. Maybe we just need to give our pines a break and let them be trees once in a while .

Remembering what our Pine Guru, Mick Balzary. with 45 yrs of experience under his bonsai tool belt, once told me about pine maintenance, I e-mailed him and got this reply:

Lisa

Yes, (...) Constant pruning, needle removal, decandling will eventually weaken the tree. They need a rest from time to time. The tree usually tells you, in that needle growth is not strong and green, candles are weak, etc.
There is no precise date to give the tree a rest.
I do not return them to the ground, but if necessity dictates, I will repot into something larger – a pot – a box, etc. The rejuvenation will help trunk and branch development, bark, and overall health. Like us trees suffer from burn out too!

Regards

Mick