AusBonsai

The only flaw I can see with the theory of throwing it in the back corner and forgeting about it is that it will put on extrended lengths of growth and I will loose what ramification I already have plus the foiliage my shed too far from the trunk for me to cut back hard. How have you found this scenario when you have used this technique?

Squizz

I find that if you have patience it all works out. Seasons one and two I forget it, season three I repot but dont cut the roots much, just give it more soil to grow and bring it out in the sun and chop back the candles early, so around now. This then causes more needles to bud back and they are still spring candles, this gets me some good growth. Season four I start the design.

About 10 years ago I lost three JBP to disease/poor watering/going on a three month holiday etc etc. I stopped doing bonsai for a while, I started again about five years ago and did so mostly with starter trees. With two exceptions which managed to survive. I have started styling two of these this year. (one was at the AABC in Melbourne)

I like Jow idea. I have tried this before with the "Lions Tail", didnt give me as thick a trunkline but certainly helped and I have an elegant line for a bunjin.

I personally have trees in various stages. So perhaps you should "style" this tree for now because you have invested in its design. Then go and get some starters and plant them in large boxes and FEED them. Leave some untouched, maybe turn them around once or twice in summer. Use the "Lions Tail" approach on others. Three years time you will have a whole different set of design questions on these other trees and you will know what works for you.

Thanks ChrisH,

I have many other pines growing with this same technique you have reffered to. I only worried that this particular pine was allready creeping away from the trunkline so I didnt want to get any further away. I too have just had a bad experience with trees dying whilst away. its soul crushing isnt it.

I hope that some of your new pines are cracking along. I will try and find some of your threads and have a look at them.

Squizz

I am very much interested to learn more about JBP

And even after reading (which i probably have to go over again many times) I still feel like I have gained little

Apparently this is a very good article: http://ofbonsai.org/species-specific/tw ... are-basics

With sacrifice branch, you should only have 1 and that 1 needs to only have strong candles? So remove the needles and weaker candles ?

What about the other 2 or 3 main branches (probably not part of the design) should they be left alone ?

Hackimoto wrote:All looks good except for the thick, top, right hand branch. I'd get rid of it as it is too thick for the top of the tree and the angle at which it leaves the trunk is not consistent with the other branches . It has a great shape and a good future otherwise. Just my worth.

Agreed. That branch is going to be a taper killer in the future too.

Cheers,
Mojo

I have a burning inquiry..

As I have recently bought a JBP, there are some branches with a bundle of needles at the first internode.. can I cut these back now or not ?

Needle plucking.. should I think it out a little ?

Just leave all candles to grow freely now till mid summer ?

THanks!

Ok,

Like I said with all these questions I am asking and answering its seems pointless unless I have a bit of a design in mind. I have tried to take on board what I have learnt here and a few key points have been considered in the design of this tree.

I beleive that hackimoto pointed out the right hand branch was to thick and at the wrong angle to be a branch that fits with the tree in its current upright position but I was keen to keep it. I have turned that into the new leader on my virt. The first left branch will stay for now and become the sacrifice branch for the lower half of the tree. Later this branch may become a jin? I am unsure as to using a jin as a first lower branch in the new design is legit but in the drawing it seems to work. I will leave the tree untouched this spring and summer and cut off all existing candles with the exception of the sacrifice branch next winter.

Here is the design open to critique. thanks in advance for any feed back. Its a lot like one of my other trees in design but its working with the existing branch locations. Cheers

Squizz

So a quick update on this tree.

As I said with the design I was struggling with that thick branch and the decision wether to cut it or not. The new design I sketched shows it as the new leader so I have gone with that option for now but I am one to change my mind many times before the final call.

Would love to hear some thoughts. The lower left branch is a sacrifice at the moment. Squizz

So here is the new shape. The tree had plenty of strength and I think the trunk is beginning to get to a reasonable thickness. I have trimmed and placed some branches as per my design. I am moving quicker than I suggested I would because I am just bloody impatient. A bad attribute I know . There are two branches I am considering moving but have held off due to wanting some opinions. Should this design become cascade?The first left branch falls nicely to this design. Does that first back branch warrant keeping and wiring out to the right of the tree?

Any thoughts or lectures happily received.

Squizz

A little bit more fiddling around with this JBP in the past few weeks. I have kept all branches for now but may remove some in the future. I like the look of the three top branches and the apex but they don't give the tree a great 3D sense so the bottom ones fill out the space a bit and add some depth. Does anyone have an opinion on wether they fit the design? It will get much the same treatment for the next twelve months to see if I can get a tad more girth in the trunk but I feel I can achieve some basic shape at the same time without compromising this too much That bottom left branch is heavy isn't it

Squizz

Here's the spring candle update. Growing strong again. Might give this tree a break this year. Lets see if I can be patient.

Squizz

Love the shape of this tree but have a few questions re some branches. In particular the mass of back branches on the right at the back. Would love some opinions on wether to keep them and wire them put creating the lower right of the tree being wider and the foliage coming from a back branch.

Photo to follow.

Squizz

Hard to see but the mass of foliage under the first right branch comes from a back branch which could be wired out to be wider then the first right branch. This would make it a branch level with the thick trunk section but behind it.

spring update 2014

TRhis tree needs some thought as far as design goes but I am happy with most of my JBPs as far as health goes at the momment.

This will get another year of fattening.

Squizz

Hey Squizzy, the pine is coming along very nicely.