AusBonsai

i recently demo'd on twisting the hell out of seedlings for nice shohin trees in the future.
here is a pic of three Japanese black pines in a seedling tray that were 30-40cm tall
the seedlings were 2 years old and tube stock when i twisted and tortured them. i had to cut them out of there little black plastic containers, they were and remain quite healthy.

oh, and i used the "air", or "cage" wiring technique. unfortunately, it was before i learned the "really really good air, or cage wiring technique" that i learned on this great site

Your wire looks to be too thick and to spaced out.
You need the wire to bite in as they grow, if you want to get the old fissured bark.
Dont twist them too sharply, you don't want sap flow to be cut later, or reverse taper once they are thicker.

Do your root work while they are young, its very hard when they are older to correct problems.

Asus101 wrote:You need the wire to bite in as they grow

i've never heard of this, but it sounds like a good idea.

Asus101 wrote:Dont twist them too sharply

i want them twisted too sharply.

Sharp bends in young trees will soften as they grow. I think sharp bends are the way to go.
Were did you get the black pine seedlings?

a local bloke gets them from down here somewhere locally...
he's grown all different types of stuff, in the same tray you'll se a few tridents to the left that i've also smashed with the wire.

There is a very good article in one of the Bonsai Europe magazines. Unfortunately, I can't remember which one but the title of the article is "The Secret Teachings of Growing Shohin". Black Pines are featured. A mature black pine shohin in 5 years. The author is Japanese.
Penny.

mudlarkpottery wrote:There is a very good article in one of the Bonsai Europe magazines. Unfortunately, I can't remember which one but the title of the article is "The Secret Teachings of Growing Shohin". Black Pines are featured. A mature black pine shohin in 5 years. The author is Japanese.
Penny.

yes its from the same article I was re posting. the technique I was speaking of was in issue 21 of bonsai today. It takes five years to thicken another five to be in show quality.

You don't want the seedling to twist back on itself too sharply. Remember it will thicken, and if twisted to close on itself it will bulge causing more issues down the line.