Japanese black pine fertilization

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Macros
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Japanese black pine fertilization

Post by Macros »

Hey guys,
I have a question that may seem a bit silly?
I have a Japanese Red Pine that I have had for about 4 years. I have not really done anything with it since I have had it, besides reporting it into a polostyrene fruit box.
I bought it off the Garden World bonsai bargain bench about 3 1/2 years ago with a sticker on it that pretty much indicated that it was doomed. All the needles were browning?
It was mid summer when I got it, so I watered it every day, and gave it liquid fert about every 6 - 8 weeks. The next season, it seemed to respond well, so I gave it dynamic lifter, and continued my liquid fert regime.

It is now quite healthy, and ready for a repot. Not knowing anything about Japanese pines at all, I have done some research with books, and the web, and all Scorsese say different things?

I recently stumbled across a Japanese black & red pine lecture on you tube given by Ryan Neil at the Willowbog bonsai club in Ireland. I would encourage everyone to watch it if you can!
For those of you who don't know, Ryan Neil is a bonsai artist from Colorado, that trained as an apprentice under Masahiko Kimura, one of Japan's best, if not the best bonsai artists.
Ryan states that to get the best vigor in the tree, fertilize every 4 weeks with organic fertilizer?!
Would that be dynamic lifter???
On my trees I use a combination of Dynamic lifter, dolomite lime, and a light liquid seaweed fertilizer (not all at once of course).

So, am I using the right combination of fertilizers, or should I change??

Here is the link to the lecture, it goes for a good 40 minutes, but I found it fascinating!!

http://youtu.be/Yn1FiRw2JBo

Cheers,
Mac
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Re: Japanese black pine fertilization

Post by shibui »

Your fertilizer sounds ok Mac. Fish emulsion/ Charlie carp would be another organic fert with good N levels for strong growth. The soy based fertilizer cakes that some make would be another organic fert but dynamic lifter seems to provide much the same elements and is easy to get and use.

Well done on resurrecting your pine. Not always easy to do.
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