Stimulating new growth on radiata pines

[kcb_1983]

Hi,
I picked up a radiata on the weekend and started to style it I need to get some more growth in the crown though. I haven't chopped anything off the tree yet just started messing around with the trunk shapeand setting the branches down. It stands about 200mm high at the moment. I'll have to make a decision on which branch to cut at the top of the bend. I'd appreciate any input.

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[anttal63]

Leave the one on the left get rid of the other 2 and also half the new leader. Feed Feed Feed and you should pop buds lower down the trunk. Next time avoid buying stock like this. This is how you want it;

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[kcb_1983]

thanks for your help. I should have paid more attention to it when I bought it. I didn't realise the trunk was so long. I've made the changes and I see where things go from there.

[anttal63]

Good luck mate!

[ozzy]

I don't get this thing at all, what a crazy S bend you've wired into it, are you a plumber by any chance?, that could be influencing your design principles.

[dayne]

hey id use this pine as a learning experiment on balancing and back budding its s bend just dosnt look natural may be put a less dramatic bend and go for a literati or a cascade literati watch the last world of bonsai for ideas

[anttal63]

Ozzy is right. that straight piece coming out of the soil needs more wire and movement. then the rest could have more bends so that it is not such a smooth s.
If you get the right guage and amount of wire on these radi's bend like butter. Two wraps spaced out from each other at 2.5 to 3 mm should do it

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