Japanese Red Pine

[Jarrod]

Here's a JRP I picked up whilst on a recent trip to Sydney. Not sure I can get it looking good in 12 months but it has the basics that are needed in the long run! There is a big bum near the top where all the branches come out, will need some carving to clean that up!
Here are the pics!

[Jarrod]

The informal upright was an option mate, but the branches don't work for me plus I feel the long sweeping curves in the trunk don't work for it as an informal upright. I have looked into the top and found a great line I will hopefully give it a hair cut Tuesday instead of watching the horses do their thing.

Might even pot it down with the hope to getting it into a bonsai pot next growing season. As you can see from the buds it's strong and has not skipped a beat since coming home with me from Leongs in September.

[Pup]

Jarrod just an observation. Could you please get a better back ground and make sure you pics are in focus.

I have looked at your post all good, but if it is possible it would make it easier to see what is there.

Pup Good luck

[Jarrod]

My computer is dead photos of this tree are dead also. I have took sone today however the branches have been cut back to the "possible" branches. Will post those when I work out how I am going to do it. I took a heap from about 10 different angles. I have as also given it a root prune and repot setting it up for a close to finished pot next year. This is a little late though I know people doing JBP as we speak so it should be ok.

[Jarrod]

This is where I am at with this tree, no more for a season or soo.

Repotted into a 30cm orchid pot, candles are doing well. I have left two sacrifices on the lower trunk. Come off in a year or three. Only problem is the whorl that was created from incorrect pruning before the tree came into my possession. I will carve this over time to reduce the effect it has and I hope the sacrifices help out as well. That's all for this tree in this comp. Hope you like it!

[Jarrod]

Please note that the above is the last images of this tree. I think a pine was too ambitious for new stock in 12 months. Branches take much longer to develop on a pine and you can only push the roots so hard or the tree will die. I think that this tree has come a long way in 12 months and i will update this thread in aother 12 months when i think the tree would have developed much further.

The foliage below the red pine tag is a sacrifice that i am developing to give some more taper to the lower trunk. The whorl will be reduced in winter and hopfully i can sort out the bulge enough to make it not noticable. I will also be playing with the angle of the tree and probably tilting to the left as seen in the image above.

[Dario]

Hi Jarrod, how is this tree coming along mate?
It has been more than 12 months since you posted, or have you updated it in a different thread?
Would love to see where it is at!
Cheers, Dario.

[oscar1]

Hi Jarrod,
Like your tree and love Red pines, as your tree has very little taper, particularly in the bottom half I would think about Bunjin or literati style with the branches fairly high and pulled down hard. There appears to be a number of branches coming from one point about half way up the trunk which will cause a large bump to develop you should remove most of them.
I have grown a number of RPs over the years, they're great tree but are better in larger tree and in Melbourne prefer to be kept a little drier than Blacks or Whites. Otherwise I agree with the other comments, if the branches aren't where you want them RPs in arch graft quite successfully.
Oscar1

[Jarrod]

Dario, I will get you a photo of this tree as it currently look on the weekend.

Oscar, Thanks for your feedback, the two lower branches come off at different hieghts and are being used to put some more girth on the lower trunk. Thanks again.

[Dario]

Cool Jarrod, look forward to seeing it!
Hope you are well, Dario.

[Steven]

G'day Jarrod,

It's time for your annual update mate

Regards,
Steven