Another Radiata Pine

[SteveT]

Hello all,
Here's a Radiata Pine that I've been working on over the last ~4 years. The lower right branch is probably going to be sacrificed in the future which is why it is quite unruly. The rest of it could do with a bit of tidying up but that will happen a little later in the season.

I really love this species and am surprised that there aren't more of them available for Bonsai. Some of the best trees I've seen here in Aus have been Radiatas.

Oh, it seems I should have attached pix in reverse order ... next time.


Steve

[anttal63]

coming along nicely steve. in future i think you will see alot of these used.

[daiviet_nguyen]

Hi Steven,

You have trained it quite nicely. Next stop -- needle shortening

I think you are right about radiata pines in Australia. In fact, I have not personally seen any radiata trained as bonsai outside
Australia.

I do not know if anybody else has?

I think because in Europe and America, they more native pine species available to them; while in Australia the choices are
limitted.

Regards,

Viet.

[Jow]

They are grown as 'Monterey pines' over seas... but even then they are a rare species in the wild (non-timber crops at least) and are really only grown in California.

They are an underused species considering they are the one species of pine that is easily found growing 'wild' around pine timber crops.... finding one with an interesting trunk is another matter.

Nice little tree you have here... they really develop quickly!

[anttal63]

finding one with an interesting trunk is another matter. they really develop quickly!

therefor i encourage people to grow and train them. in the ground. even if you collect a straight trunk and regrow and train from lower shoots it is worth it for the base girth. imo. you will achieve a good looking radiata faster than the other pines.

[ozzy]

Here is a collected radiata I used to own, unfortunately I managed to kill it along with every other radiata I've collected, I've given up on them for now but will try again soon.

[anttal63]

nice one that could have been ozzy. have you figured out why they died?

[ozzy]

"nice one that could have been ozzy. have you figured out why they died?"


Was the year we had a heat wave of over 40 degree days for like one week in a row or something, not enough shelter from the wicked afternoon sun methinks, 10 million radiata pines to be had around here but 'hard to get anything with a bend in it like that, each and every one as straight as an arrow, which of course is the reason they planted them all in the first place, go through the sawmill quite nicely without a bend don't they, breaks me heart to look at that pic still but.

[Hector Johnson]

You have to be diligent with them, when it comes to needle length. They tend to grow much longer needles than the Asian and European conifers (Black, Red & White Pines and Mugo, Scots and Jack Pines) which is probably why they are largely avoided by the bonsai communities in those areas.

Here they are planted as lumber trees, and are from selected genetic material that does grow very straight and true. If you've ever been to the US West Coast you'll see Monterey Pines (Pinus radiata) along the California coast that are quite gnarled and scrubby looking. Not at all like the ones we see here in Oz.

[anttal63]

You have to be diligent with them, when it comes to needle length. They tend to grow much longer needles than the Asian and European conifers (Black, Red & White Pines and Mugo, Scots and Jack Pines) which is probably why they are largely avoided by the bonsai communities in those areas.

Here they are planted as lumber trees, and are from selected genetic material that does grow very straight and true. If you've ever been to the US West Coast you'll see Monterey Pines (Pinus radiata) along the California coast that are quite gnarled and scrubby looking. Not at all like the ones we see here in Oz.

hector we down here believe they actually reduce better than black pines if you know what to do with them. if the japanese hadm theyd usem. there is alot of out dated info on pines. one needs to do all the seasonal work and more importantly, get the timing right for your locality.

[SteveT]

Where does the time go?

This is what this one looks like now. The escape branch was removed last Autumn as it had grown to twice the height of the tree and was competing with the 'real' apex. I will create a very short jin with it once it has dried out completely.

It will be repotted in the coming weeks.

[dansai]

Beautiful work and great looking bark.

[kez]

Great work,

Top quality pine and great to see the progression it has taken

[kcpoole]

What a lovely tree
5 years from a stick to this, congratulations

Ken

[SteveT]

Thanks folks.

It has actually been 9 years from the first photo. It still demonstrates how fast growing they are and it's nice to see a lot more of them around now. I particularly love the smell of the sap. Very sweet.