AusBonsai

This is my first crack at Black Pine. I want to transform it from stick in pot to a decent specimen but I need some guidance.

It hd and still has some wire scarring in the mid section of the trunk, I pinched out the candles on the top as that was where all the action was. I am happy to see the growth on the mid to lower section is regulating to keep up with the top.
HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELP............!

Hi Damain

Well all come's down to the size you would like your JBP to be if it's to be a big tree then if you have the space plant it in the garden & let it go, but if it's small then leave it in a pot & train it in there,

Regard's

The Hacker

Good question, when I saw your name on the response I thought you were going to suggest as your name says
I have never been all that good with final outcome from a young tree. I tend to wing it a little and develop as the tree grows and features develop.
I guess I would be aming for a mid size or a literati.

Hi Damian, i did a thread about ground growing in a styro box which might help. Ground grown Japanese black pine..and natures pruning. I would post a viewtopic if i knew how

I know....

Damian Bee wrote:This is my first crack at Black Pine. I want to transform it from stick in pot to a decent specimen but I need some guidance.

It had and still has some wire scarring in the mid section of the trunk, I pinched out the candles on the top as that was where all the action was. I am happy to see the growth on the mid to lower section is regulating to keep up with the top.

Don't worry about the wire scarring, the bark will crack and it'll disappear.

If you want the tree to thicken up, don't "pinch out the candles on the top". Let the top grow freely, without touching it at all, this will mean there will be only one scar to heal.

I would pick the low strong leader and let it grow as the new trunk line. Cover the surface in fert, and water a lot.

Next year you will be able to apply some wire to the new growth from this year.

Hi there,

Given that it is currently a bendy pencil, will that thicken fairly evenly over time as per what is common with Junipers or will it do so with taper?

Well at least I have a reasonably healthy lower bunch of shoots to choose from later

It'll thicken evenly, so you'll have to use sacrifice branches and do some chops.

Let the top grow wild and keep the bottom in check, then lop off the top in a few years...

Thanks, good advice.

Just a quick sticky beak to show progress of growth, this year it is jumping out of it's skin.

Hi Damian,

FIrst thing i would do once the new growth hardens off and is less delicate is get a thick wire on the trunk and get some exadurated movement into it. As the trunk thickens bends straighten and or grow out so the more movement you can set early on the better.

http://jesuscuevasbonsai.blogspot.com.a ... venta.html

That is an example of what you could achieve with a small tree in a short amount of time.

Along with movement as Jow has suggested, another important thing to consider building into immature stock like this is trunk flare and taper. Quite simply for this tree: shallow wide containers are your friend, Black Pine's tendency to make columnar trunks and abundance of opposite branches are the enemy. Rely on the friend and manage the enemy.

Cheers,
Mojo