AusBonsai

This tree has filled out nicely again after the candle cut and if looking full of health.

I have been reading a lot both here and across the web lately and I have come to the conclusion that it is smart to repot pines in autumn, providing the tree is in great health.

A lot of very experienced growers seem to do this, and the theory behind it makes sense to me (at least for my climate), I feel it is better to work the roots when they are growing and allow the tree to get itself set up a little before the winter (hardly harsh for these trees where I am) and it also allows the tree to explode once spring rolls around rather than having to find it's feet again after major work.

With this in mind, I have decided this tree needs its first pot It was a really nice surprise while digging down to uncover what this tree had to offer, and it seems that the initial twin trunk wouldn't have worked anyway so all in all I am very pleased.

Once it settles in and finishes pushing the last of the second flush I will remove last years needles and select the candles that will be kept then its to bed for winter for this tree.

Any thoughts most welcome

Kerrin

Looks great to me Kerrin.
A picture of health!

A few degrees to the left next repot maybe?

Hey Kerrin,

Great job getting this to where it is now.

I agree that the twin trunk wouldn't have worked given the base and height of the split.

Having said that, I would be looking to carve some movement into the Jinned trunk in the future (i.e next autumn). It feels a bit heavy at the moment.

I'd also be looking to move the apex a little more to the left of the tree as it seems out of balance at the moment (leaning too far to the right).

This is really nit picking though because the tree has recovered well and looks great.

Cheers,
Mo


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

bugger.... no offence, but I loved the look of that twin trunk.

Hi Kerrin,

I reckon you made the right decision, this looks better to me than the twin trunk. Well done on making a bold move and getting a bold tree. I'll also agree with Mo with improving the base by jinning down to the trunk and moving the apex in line with the base.

It look healthy too, great colour.

Matt.

2 and a half years since I updated this tree

Pushing a bunch of new growth for the year Kerrin

My Strip that jin completely.

Great progress in 2 years. I really admire red pine bark as it ages. Im in 2 minds on the Jin

im on team twin trunk

nice follow up picture

Simon

I am all for keeping the second trunk, but think that it needs to be lightened and given a little character. What I mean is to half-hollow it out, to take away a bit of the (currently) static bulk. You can also use the opportunity to add some sinuous (i.e. non-straight up/down) hollowing to give the appearance of more and softer motion in that part of the tree.

Some examples of what I mean on some other bonsais below and on the dead trunk in the foreground of the landscape photo. The images 'Jin Shaping 1' and 'Jin Shaping 2' are a before and after. Unfortunately, they are all poached off the inter web and none are my work.

Another update

Did some work cleaning and refining this tree over the last 2 days,

I have always loved the way this tree drops away to the right, but its always been a bit empty on the back side, and the dead straight trunk was always a sore point that I got sick of trying to look past. I decided that with the growth this tree has put on in the last 5 years, 2 of which have been largely untouched, that I would shift the front and re-build

Here it is before the clean up and restyle And here it is now, not a drastic change, but I think a much better trunk line and there's more branches around the back now Next step is to follow Nate's lead and work on the jin

Kerrin

Bit of work on the dead wood Kerrin