AusBonsai

G'day folks,
Just thought I'd share with you a black pine I've recently purchased, the 1st thing I'm going to do on this tree is re-pot it. Apparently it hasn't been re-potted for 3 years. Also the gentleman I acquired it from said he's had it as a bonsai since the 80's?
There are some interesting features in it and there are many possibilities of what direction to point it in for the future.
It may have been wired once but it hasn't been wired in a long time, looks like clip and grow technique. To give you an idea, 75% of the tree has very small weak buds hence re-potting and feeding to regain vigor is my priority.
I have some ideas of what I could do but I'm throwing it out there to you beautiful people for your suggestions.
Here are a few photos and I'll post a few more of some potential fronts.
Cheers,
Simon.

Hi Psymo,
from your pictures I can see an interesting tree out of the first branch alone
That would mean airlayer the top above that and have 2 smaller pines??? Though its hard to judge from photos.
Before any decision I would do as you are doing. Get it good and healthy, then wire everything and decide then.
I'm fairly new to pines so more experienced members will have better ideas.
cheers

Air layer, was one of my thoughts too.

The tree seems to have good age but there is little taper in that trunk . I think your best solution is to tilt , rotate etc and maybe find a bunjin style in there. Others who play with photoshop etc may help more . Airlaying is a great technique in creating bonsai however I don't think this material is worth doing it. Also airlaying on conifers and pines particular can take 1-2 years to take properly if at all. By all means airlayer if you want it is your tree but why waste 1-2 years on something that would be average material unless you want the experience.

A nice aged looking tree. Possibilities are removing the thick back branch (first pick) and reducing the height of the first branch a little. Other than that I like it the way it is!

Repot into box springtime.
1st growing season in your hands fertilize the bejesus outta it.

Use the lowest branch as a new leader, nice bend.
If it regains health Airlayer the rest off May 2018.

Poor tree grown by someone with no horticultural sense.

Hope u picked it up cheap.

Hi Simon, do you have an photos of the trunk from a different angle? is there any movement hidden in the photos you have shown?

Matt

Ha ha ha. Another helpful 'your tree is crap, you got duped, you and the grower are idiots'. But, at least there was also a suggestion for improvement...


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Old trunks like these are gold and there's always a way to find taper. Use your imagination and develop good needle reduction. Remember you can basically make BP needles as short as you want.

treeman wrote:Old trunks like these are gold and there's always a way to find taper. Use your imagination and develop good needle reduction. Remember you can basically make BP needles as short as you want.

There you go I think Mike is on the right track. I really must improve my editing skills .......

Yep.

Whilst using the first bend for movement might seem the best option on first glance.
I too think the slanted style that Mike has seen is the way forward and will result in a far more dynamic tree.

Thanks guys for all your comments.

"treeman", that looks amazing and definitely a possibility. The thick back branch is doing my head in as well, making it the new leader, turning it into deadwood or removing it completely.

Here are two possible angles, I think the cascade works well with the features on the tree and once some of the long branches are set laterally it'll look quite natural.
What do you think?

Psymo wrote:Thanks guys for all your comments.

"treeman", that looks amazing and definitely a possibility. The thick back branch is doing my head in as well, making it the new leader, turning it into deadwood or removing it completely.

Here are two possible angles, I think the cascade works well with the features on the tree and once some of the long branches are set laterally it'll look quite natural.
What do you think?

IMG_20170726_151108.jpg

IMG_20170726_151151.jpg

got any more angles?

It looks good in that semi-cascade angle. Or use the 1st branch as the new leader.

I would be very hesitant take cut anything off before you have a good solid plan. The trunk has good age and character, as has some of the branches. It will take a very long time to grow this back.

Maybe just do a repot at the moment to get it's health and vigour up. And if you can take a series of photos straight on about level with the pot turning the pot 1/8 turn each time it is easier for us to see the details of the tree and provide more specific styling advice.