Japanese Black Pine - Drop in on Sunday

[kcpoole]

This is my Second tree to discuss this week for our Do drop in's

It is a JBP purchased from "Bonsai Environment" at Vineyard 3 years ago.

I have removed some branches myself, and a hailstorm removed another one , but it has been growing really well and is happy in my care.

I think the structure is fine and I will be developing foliage pads as time progresses. Yes it needs another needle pluck session

Suggestions / Comments? The first photo is the front

Ken

ps Have a wonderful Easter sunday, and peace to all wherever you come from

[stymie]

Decent surface roots on your preferred front. All to often lacking on Pinus.

[Chris Johnston]

kcpoole,
I like your tree so far. I might suggest a bit more movement in the upper third of the trunk and a slight lowering of the branches.

Have you been candling this tree in midsummer? What technique do you use for developing JBP?

Chris

[anttal63]

coming along nicely ken, i woud like to see the planting angle moved slightly to rid the vertical bottom third.

[kcpoole]

Thanks Chris
Last year I started to detail work the tree. I De candle the strongest candle when they extend. Usually in Spring there is 3 ad I take out the centre completely and shorten the others when they start to open

Again Thru summer I remove vigorous candles as necessary or shorten the weak ones. In Sydney here sometimes it will candle 3 times.
I will now have to neeedle pluck to remove all the long scraggly ones

I am lucky with the surface roots ands this is what attracted me to the tree initially

Ant - I will look at tilting the tree at next repot. By doing that it will lower one side of the foliage as chris suggested, and then only have to bring down the other by force. It may also present the opportunity to get more movement at the top as well

[aaron_tas]

nice pine ken

if this was my pine though, i would do this...

cut the first branch off (red)

add stacks of movement, compressing as much as possible (blue)

and bring the branches down as far as possible (aqua)

kensjbpedited.jpg

hey ken... how big is this tree

[Grant Bowie]

The first, lowest branch has helped to thicken the trunk and I like Aarons suggestion.

Grant

[Asus101]

kcpoole,
I like your tree so far. I might suggest a bit more movement in the upper third of the trunk and a slight lowering of the branches.

Have you been candling this tree in midsummer? What technique do you use for developing JBP?

Chris

I think its time for you to do an epic JBP post...

[kcpoole]

Interesting Aaron.. Quite a change proposed that I will have to think hard on. The lower section of the trunk where you suggest to bend is about 30 - 40 mm dia and only 150 mm long so will be quite hard to bend. Can a bend be put in using a jack over this distance? Maybe have to split the trunk or take a Wedge out to achieve it.

The total height is 400 mm from the Soil level

Here are some older photos of the tree

[kcpoole]

I think its time for you to do an epic JBP post...

Who Me?

I only have 1 worthwhile which is this one in this thread

I have several others that I purchased from Koreshoffs final days, but are only young. I did reduce them markedly by airlayering them several times so now I have i think 6 JBP posting.php?mode=quote&f=38&p=9996#" for the price of 2

I reckon there are more here better qualified to do a major post on then than me

Ken

[Chris Johnston]

kcpoole,
I like your tree so far. I might suggest a bit more movement in the upper third of the trunk and a slight lowering of the branches.

Have you been candling this tree in midsummer? What technique do you use for developing JBP?

Chris

I think its time for you to do an epic JBP post...

Thinking about it, Ben. I'll post two years' development in a pine and see what folks think.

Chris