AusBonsai

I bought this pine for $125.00 in May/2006. It was a field grown pine of about ten
years old. It was of the same crop as the two pines that I have posted before:

Styling a 10 Years Old Field Grown Black Pine (2)
Air layering a black pine

It was nearly one meter tall when I bought it. I cut it right down at the first point
that has some small branches. And replanted it in this big pot around August 2006. And
it has been in this pot ever since.

The following photos were taken on 27/April/2008 -- after two years of regrowing:


View 1 - 1


View 1 - 2


View 1 - 3


View 1 - 4

* Some basic measurements:

• Tree height: 42 cm -- from the soil surface in the box.
  Trunk diameter: 16.00 cm -- on the soil surface in the box.
  Trunk diameter: 7.00 cm -- immediately above the first visible root.
  New trunk diameter: 1.00 cm.
  
  Pot diameter: 46.5 cm.
  Pot height: 18.00 cm.

*
* *

In the photos above, it had one lead branch and two pairs of bar-branch. I wanted
to cut off two branches. But I was not sure of which two. So I wired them all into
positions. Then I used two plastic bags to cover the two that I wanted to cut off:


View 2

I was happy with how it looked. So I cut those two off. These are the views,
after the removal of the two branches:


View 3 - 1


View 3 - 2


View 3 - 3


View 3 - 4

All of the above photos were also taken on 27/April/2008.

I felt that it looked funny. But I was not that concerned. Because I did realise that
it would take quite a few years to develop this pine.

*
* *

A full twelve months have passed. It has grown quite vigorously -- it is the best
performer among a dozen or so pines that I have. On the 18/April/2009, I gave it
another wiring:


View 4 - 1


View 4 - 2


View 4 - 3


View 4 - 4

It has now three well-defined branches. The fourth one is already available. I have
four branches to select for the fourth one -- that is, I have to cut off three.

In the next growing season, if it can grow at the same vigour as the last season, then
by April 2010, I expect to define the fourth branch. And the fifth branch should also
be available. I am planning to stop at the fifth one.

Overall, I am happy with the progress of this pine.

daiviet_nguyen wrote:Overall, I am happy with the progress of this pine.

And so you should be! This one is shaping up very nicely Viet and is by far my favorite of the pines you have posted here. I love your slow and steady approach to bonsai and the way in which you have a strong vision for the tree from early on.
Your photographic records are also inspiring! In years to come they will make a splendid progression series!
Regards,
Steven

Just two weeks short full seventeen months have passed, this pine has been growing
quite well. The following photos were taken today 5/September/2010:


View 5 - 1


View 5 - 2


View 5 - 3


View 5 - 4

This pine had been at my father's place in the pass several months; I had not tended
to it as often as I should. Wires have cut deep into branches, I had not been able
to trim or pinch branches etc. I will start working on it over the following weeks.

I have several branches to choose for the fifth layer of foliage. I am quite happy with
the height, but not the thickness of the new trunk. I like the new trunk to be around
3 cm. I have no plan of putting it onto the ground.

So it has been in this pot for four years now. Next year I will repotted it, possibly
into the same training pot.

very nice mate!

the tree looks very healthy despite what you have said with some lack of attention! very healthy indeed, this one is gonna come up nice in another couple of years mate, how big is the new leader now? is it starting to meld in with the lower trunk?

Jamie

Hi Jamie,

The new leader is about 1 to 1.2 cm thick. I have worked a little on it:


View 6 - 4

The new leader and the old are still look very different. The old trunk does
look very old, the new leader looks immature still.

I will now try to make the top go strong: to develop the fourth and the fifth
layer, and also let it grow tall to develop the girth.

Best regards.

Nice growth ther daviet
Still a few years before the top section looks old and mature like the bottom
Keep Going and I have one not too different, but about 2 years younger

ken

It has been fair while on this tree Time for a little update.

On 06/07/2011, total height measured at 93cm, then I cut off all four top candles, leaving only a single candle to lead.

On the 22/12/2012, total height was measured at 1.5m. Lower branches just grew a bigger longer, if kept trimming them off from times to times. View View 7 - Sides shows it standing at 1.5m:


View 7 - Sides

-- I am sorry about the quality of the photos. But I am not going to lift the pot anymore!!

Also on 22/12/2012, I cut 70cm the top off:


View 7 - Top Chop

I will wait to see how it responds. I might develop another leader as sacrifice. Regardless, I would still want to reduce it down to about 60cm.

It is due for a repot in July-August 2013.

Thank you for reading

daiviet_nguyen wrote:It has been fair while on this tree Time for a little update.

Looking good mate!