AusBonsai

Asus101 wrote:Was there a reason to quote me?

purely an accident all fixed now.

Asus101 wrote:One thing I noted that to me is interesting, you did not wire the tips upwards on all of the branches. It does not really have that layered feel to it, like many other European pines have.

Was there any reason for this?

I will be cutting out all of this years growth and some, if not most, of last years growth in November or December(early summer) this year so the setting of the tips upright was unnecessary or irrelevant. I was and am still treating it as potted advanced stock at the moment but will certainly set the tips after I have done the hard cut back in Summer.
As I said I was concentrating on the health of the tree and encouraging the back budding etc by allowing sun into the centre of the tree, at least to start with.
Very few of the branches actually died or went backwards in health but the candle elongation was still very modest, despite the bushy look now. I am not sure how long it had been in that pot but it certainly benefited from the repot.
I am confident it will respond well this year but it is certainly not vigorous like the Black Pines are.
It should be showable by Autumn 2010 and could be at the Illawarra AABC convention.

Grant

One way I have heard of to restore vigor to black pines is to withhold feeding for one year. Would that be suitable or does the tree currently have enough to not warrant such a drastic measure?

(it has been said that Black pines as well as others cant actually take up a great deal of nutrient so feeding more does little to help.)

Asus101 wrote:One way I have heard of to restore vigor to black pines is to withhold feeding for one year. Would that be suitable or does the tree currently have enough to not warrant such a drastic measure?

(it has been said that Black pines as well as others cant actually take up a great deal of nutrient so feeding more does little to help.)

Quick answer is I don't know and I am allways doubtfull about these witholding techniques. Withold water in spring to get short needles in Australia and what you get is a dead tree. I fertilize regularly and frequently with lowish dose liqid fertilizer like Maxicrop and have Osmocote in the potting mix for the first season.
Certainly over feeding is over feeding no matter what the species and under feeding is underfeeding. Each microclimate and soil mix is different as well so we do our best.
Never rely on the supposed "Magic Bullet"that will cure all ills.

Hi all,

Tree is is in good health now and ready to take further. I want a smaller tree so here is what I have started. Grant

I love it Grant, there's some great character in the trunkline.You seem to have a weakness(passion) for cascade/semi-cascade pines Grant. Looking forward to the next stage, Craig

Craig wrote:I love it Grant, there's some great character in the trunkline.You seem to have a weakness(passion) for cascade/semi-cascade pines Grant. Looking forward to the next stage, Craig

i must admit that semi cascade is my favorite style. It has lots of movement and excitement about it.

And if you get tired of it cut of the semi cascade bit and you have a very interesting and convoluted upright tree.

I have almost finished wrapping and am about to bend it tonight.

grant

Good work grant, thats a nice tight bend,i like where your going with this one,. Can't wait to see more Craig

Does this tree ring a bell with anyone?

Grant

Was this the tree workshopped with boon?

Gerard wrote:Was this the tree workshopped with boon?

Yes.

Grant, you are obviously doing good things with this tree.

I really like the styling even though the lower branch is a bit unusual. I like it and it keeps me wanting to look at the composition. Definitely one that must be good to see in the bark so to speak.

Are there future plans for this branch at all? Longer, shorter etc? Part of me wants to see it extend to the viewers right, yet part of me likes it how it is and then I'd like to see what it would look like as a left branch. Definitely an interesting tree.

A few more years worth of candle pruning and once the canopy fills in I am sure this will be a stunner!

Nice work.

Joe.

Jow wrote:Grant, you are obviously doing good things with this tree.

I really like the styling even though the lower branch is a bit unusual. I like it and it keeps me wanting to look at the composition. Definitely one that must be good to see in the bark so to speak.

Are there future plans for this branch at all? Longer, shorter etc? Part of me wants to see it extend to the viewers right, yet part of me likes it how it is and then I'd like to see what it would look like as a left branch. Definitely an interesting tree.

A few more years worth of candle pruning and once the canopy fills in I am sure this will be a stunner!

Nice work.

Joe.

Hi Joe,

As usual you have a good eye.

The lowest branch was the only one that really gave me any problems.
I first tried it where it is; then to the right; then to the left; then to the right but broken into two slightly distinct layers(lowest to the left) ; then back to where it is and how it is.

No specific plans to change it but as you say after a few years of ramification it will look better and give more options.

Grant

That trunk bend was inspiring, what season did you perform this drastic bend?