Restyled a Black Pine (3)
Posted: January 17th, 2009, 11:52 am
I bought this black pine about 10 years ago. When it was a 2 years old seedling. I paid about $4.00
for it then. One of the first pines that I bought. Due to my lack of experience, 10 years have passed
and this pine still has a lot of faults.
The following photos were taken on 03/November/2007:
View 1-1
The third branch that points to the right has been severely cut, because it was developing rather too
strongly. It is already as thick as the one immediately below it. I wanted to slow it down a bit.
View 2-1
The tree was positioned right in the middle of the pot. I could not see this at the time of repotting.
I wanted to move it to the right. The distance is half the length between the right surface root (trunk)
and the right end of the pot.
View 3-1
View 4-1
I did realise at the time of potting that the tree was not worth to be in this pot. But I thought if it was
in a proper bonsai pot, it would give me more motivation to tend to it.
At this stage, this pine did not have an apex. It had two leaders forming a slingshot. Quite a few of
my early trees have been growing like this. The top was heavy, and the whole tree was unbalanced.
I realised that I have to get rid of one of the leaders.
The pot is Tokoname. It does not have either author's stamp or author's signature. It was love at first sight
with this pot. I bought it in July, 2007 for $190.00.
* Pot's measurements:
* *
I could not recall when I cut off one of the leaders. The one that I retained gives enough branches to make
the tree more balanced.
The following photos were taken on 27/April/2008:
View 1-2
View 2-2
View 3-2
View 4-2
I also did some re-wirings sometime before the photos were taken.
*
* *
I repotted it in August/2008. I also repositioned it as discussed earlier. The followings photos were
taken on 22/November/2008:
View 1-3
View 2-3
View 3-3
View 4-3
* Tree's measurements:
* *
As I have mentioned above, this pine has too many faults. But at this point, I think I can live with the
faults. From View 3-3 and View 4-3, the two lowest branches appear opposite -- and they actual are due
to the sharp bend of the main body. It is an eyesore, but most of the times I pretend not to see this.
It is still immature, but its skeleton is in place. More ramifications, shorter needles etc. It still has a long
way to go.
(If later on, I found any misspellings or grammar errors I would edit this post directly. I will not change the content.)
for it then. One of the first pines that I bought. Due to my lack of experience, 10 years have passed
and this pine still has a lot of faults.
The following photos were taken on 03/November/2007:
View 1-1
The third branch that points to the right has been severely cut, because it was developing rather too
strongly. It is already as thick as the one immediately below it. I wanted to slow it down a bit.
View 2-1
The tree was positioned right in the middle of the pot. I could not see this at the time of repotting.
I wanted to move it to the right. The distance is half the length between the right surface root (trunk)
and the right end of the pot.
View 3-1
View 4-1
I did realise at the time of potting that the tree was not worth to be in this pot. But I thought if it was
in a proper bonsai pot, it would give me more motivation to tend to it.
At this stage, this pine did not have an apex. It had two leaders forming a slingshot. Quite a few of
my early trees have been growing like this. The top was heavy, and the whole tree was unbalanced.
I realised that I have to get rid of one of the leaders.
The pot is Tokoname. It does not have either author's stamp or author's signature. It was love at first sight
with this pot. I bought it in July, 2007 for $190.00.
* Pot's measurements:
- Pot length: 38 cm.
Pot width: 30 cm.
Pot height: 8 cm (including the "legs".)
* *
I could not recall when I cut off one of the leaders. The one that I retained gives enough branches to make
the tree more balanced.
The following photos were taken on 27/April/2008:
View 1-2
View 2-2
View 3-2
View 4-2
I also did some re-wirings sometime before the photos were taken.
*
* *
I repotted it in August/2008. I also repositioned it as discussed earlier. The followings photos were
taken on 22/November/2008:
View 1-3
View 2-3
View 3-3
View 4-3
* Tree's measurements:
- Tree height: 60 cm. Measured straight up from the pot's surface.
Trunk diameter: 3.5 cm.
Spread of surface roots: 6 cm by 20 cm.
* *
As I have mentioned above, this pine has too many faults. But at this point, I think I can live with the
faults. From View 3-3 and View 4-3, the two lowest branches appear opposite -- and they actual are due
to the sharp bend of the main body. It is an eyesore, but most of the times I pretend not to see this.
It is still immature, but its skeleton is in place. More ramifications, shorter needles etc. It still has a long
way to go.
(If later on, I found any misspellings or grammar errors I would edit this post directly. I will not change the content.)
) 
