2 Years in the life of a Japanese Black Pine

[Scott Martin]

I've been working on this tree now for the last 2 years, following the routines of candle breaking, candle cutting and needle plucking and bud thinning. I'm pretty happy with the results and wanted to post this to show what is possible in a relatively short period of time.

Here's where it started looking very basic back in March 2009.

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Then some basic structure was made but the trunk needed a new leader.

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It was just after this that it was put into a training pot in late June 2009. Looking very thin and not extremely attractive but I liked the trunk shape.

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This is the tree after just over one year in April 2010.

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And again in Spring 2010 with the candles just starting to grow. At this point I feel the tree is starting to show some real potential. The branches need ramification but the basic structure is appealing.

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This is the tree in early December 2010 after the candles had been broken and then allowed to develop further.

[Scott Martin]

Then the candles were cut and further budding happened.

Now for a more recent snap shot, I have just completed the needle plucking and bud selection process.

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The tree needs wiring and will be repotted into a nicer container in the spring. Some of the primary branches will be removed and were only kept to see where the back budding would occur.

As I mentioned, I am pleased with the primary shape and will continue to work on the ramification.

[Craig]

looking good there Scott, great progression , i'd love to see it when you've wired,,,,thanks for sharing .... Craig

[Tony Bebb]

Hi Scott

Nice progression mate. Good to see the changes in such a short space of time.

If I may, have you thought about bending the second branch up behind the trunk to bring the foliage out a little higher up and closer to the second bend where the trunk moves to the right? Only a thought mate.

Best Regards

Tony

[Scott Martin]

Thanks for the thoughts Tony and Craig.

I want to leave it for a little while just to give the tree a little break after the needle plucking. I'm still flat out working on the other pines in the collection too.

Once I've got it wired and post another pic and show the branch structure.

[Watto]

Great progression, thanks for sharing. Really starting to take on some character now.

[bodhidharma]

That will be a lovely Black pine sooner rather than later. It looks like you are not getting any back budding on the lower main branches Maybe a grow pot and a little more fertilising to start the process.

[Scott Martin]

Yeah a few of those branches on the bottom left side are the ones I was referring to that need to be cut off. I kept them there initially to keep the future styling options open.

There are a few branches in there that with wiring and a few more years will develop some nice ramification. The pics don't really show all of the buds but thanks for the advice!

[RickE]

Hi, how do you get the needles from being long and scraggly to being short, spikey and pointing upwards?? Are they trimmed, or do you pluck out the long needles, and the regrowth is short??

[lennard]

Nice progression!

The movement of the trunk adds to the charm of the tree.

Lennard

[Scott Martin]

RickE, I personally find there is a real pattern with looking after Japanese Black Pines and I've read heaps and heaps about it. One thing I have found is there are many ways to perform the tasks and everyone has their own personal opinion.

For the last pic, I'd just finished the needle plucking which I always do in early autumn. I also thin out the new growth but not all of it when I'm needle plucking. I finish thinning the new growth when I wire the tree which is normally about a month after needle plucking. These needles look so short now because they are just fresh. I like to get as much light and air in as possible at this time of the year.

I like the way Boon develops his Black Pines and for anyone interested, I'd recommend buying his DVD series on Black Pines.

I also like the way Lindsay Farr educates on the care of his Black Pines. His World of Bonsai series is amazing and a great view. You can find all the links on the forum. Lindsay has done a presentation at our club and he's quite inspiring.

[Scott Roxburgh]

I like the way Boon develops his Black Pines and for anyone interested, I'd recommend buying his DVD series on Black Pines... You can find all the links on the forum....

For anyone interested in Boon's DVD series:
viewtopic.php?f=102&t=7721

Nice progression Scott.

[Scott Martin]

Thanks Scott. Glad you posted the link, I couldn't find it...

[Scott Martin]

Here's an update on this pine. It's been repotted a few weeks ago into a larger pot and the plan is to feed thoroughly and get some back budding. The roots looked very healthy.

While the pot is not my choice it will do the job for the next couple of years while the tree is being further developed. It still needs a heap of work but I'm happy with it's development.

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[gr8bookworm]

You have a nice looking tree there Scott, I am impressed in the development you have managed over the past couple of years.

What sort of feeding regime do you use?

mark