AusBonsai

Hi all

I know there are quite few threads and one very that is going atm however didn't want to hi-jack the thread just in case..

So here goes again.. this little JBP was bought about 1 month ago and I repotted it 2 weeks back (not sure if this was my first error already)

It's got few long whips with sections which I am contemplating of cutting off then read the other thread and am thinking of leaving it however should there only be 1 sacrifice branch.

My goal atm is to fatten the base n trunk so perhaps I should just set and forget ? This means no pinching no decandling, pruning does it

Hacker gave me a great tip to thread graft at base to flare it which i plan to do.. what about the 3 or so whips ?

As this is a LT project, I want to experiment and a distorted JBP material would be the milestone goal.. can I put many whips at the base as thread grafts

Personally i think they fatten up quickly enough by planting them out, but that is my preference. It is fine potting up when you did in Victoria. I am still potting up and root working mine and they are responding fine.

Specimen.
Pines grow different to any other tree you have dealt with. The pic labelled 'Whip with what seems 2 internodes and some fluff needles at sections.. hmm to cut or not' shows 2 years growthwithout pinching. Pine needles appear to last for 2-3 years so the needles in the middle will soon drop off. after that it will be very difficult to get buds on that section of the branch ever again. In this case you have a couple of small shoots to cut back to to regrow a branch if you need it but be warned. Anywhere you want to grow shoots in future you need to encourage small shoots to grow right from the start and keep them alive through the growing process. Personally i like to regularly prune back any branch that might be useful in the finished tree so there is fresh buds low down. Only let branches that will not be used in the final tree run as sacrifice branches. You can have several sacrifice branches but do not have them close together or the trunk can swell at that point.

Are you sure Hacker said thread graft a pine??? Won't it be hard to get all those needles through a hole drilled in the trunk? Maybe approach graft?

Hi specimen.

I see you have been in one of my threads recently with black pine so as you are aware I am as clueless as you are with the pine growing. I do however recall and artical by eithe Grant Bowie of NBPCA on here about Thread grafting pines. I think even these guys are at the experimental stage with it but by there reports of another bonsai artist they seem to think it would work. I cant be of much help in any other way with your pine sorry. Heres to learning a hell of a lot about pines though. Strap yourself in for say the next 60 years or so.

Squizz

Bodhi I agree and wished I had space to pop it in the ground.

Shibui thanks for sharing the knowledge.. when should I take back the branches and candles ? Some are quite long or should I let them all grow freely however if I do so will I lose the tightness in the branching since there will be not much back budding ?

Squizza haha yes I was reading your thread with great interests and the more I look up on these wonderful specie the more intrigued I get and the more lost I also feel
Haha 60 years strapped in just for a sniff of adolescent pine growth and lesson lol!

I want to upload a photo that I came across, dayham I should have downloaded then and it was a guy that was chained to his bonsai.. think he was a slave to it. Anyone seen that pic ?

When to cut back any bonsai depends on the stage it is at and what the desired result is.

To achieve growth: leave for as long as possible to allow the tree/ branch to thicken then cut back hard. Repeat if necessary. For pines you can allow them to grow for 1 or 2 years but they must be cut back before the oldest needles (where you want buds) drop. In this method you will be cutting back into 1 or 2 year old wood. (Pics would be good but I do not have time at the moment. Anyone else?)

To achieve ramification and short growth (on an established tree): Allow new candles to open out to needles then cut the candles off completely. More buds will form around the base but the new ones will usually be shorter and will have less bare area at the base so they will make better shoots for bonsai. Timing will depend on location but is about December in Victoria. If many buds form in one place they must be thinned to leave just 2 at any point. Remove strongest buds from strong areas like apex, remove weakest buds in weak areas like lower branches.

That's gold Shibui, finally makes sense

Hi The Specimen, I'm also very new to pines {as of winter 2011} and I found these two (article and video} very helpful. As Shibui noted, and reiterated by other pine growers from Melbourne on this forum, mid-December seems about the right time for decandling in Melbourne. Hope this helps.

Great info thanks Waltron i got a lot out of it though it certainly takes a number of reads.

Have u posted your JBP? Would like to see it n your plans for it since i notice our number of posts are quite similar as well as our level of experience too.

Shibui will u have various pines this weekend? Getting excited

There should be a thread on your favourite pine pics.. would luv to see species development here

Still wondering about bringing pines down....... I have been battling Pine Bark Adeljig - the fluffy white stuff on pines . I think I have beaten it but would not like to be spreading a pest. Will make a final inspection and decide when I load up on Friday.

Ok just an update on my experimental JBP

There are about 5 thread grafts lower on the trunk and I am hoping that it will detonate the the base and fatter her up immensely.



Better view of thread graft with tea bags n fert trays



JBP back budding well

Great work specimen,

I wish I had the time and the guts to do this to some of my pines. I have no experience with thread grafting pines but I would imagine this will acheive the results you are after.

Squizz

This i gotta see !!! You been hangn round that Alpine cowboy

Squizzy this is my first attempt as i have delayed trying to over a year as i have no drills. I know excuses excuses. I find it easier than approach graft though.

Ant' you have great attention to detail haha and very good as it was the Alpine cowboy's brother that gave me the tip

Will update this thread though it wont be anytime soon.. Doh!

Hi The Specimen , mate 10 points for trying the method , looks like you've done a good job as the needles are extending well . . Don't worry i'd rather be a cowboy than a cowgirl .

Cheers Alpine