AusBonsai

Morning all,

I purchased this little pine from Bonsai South about 5 months ago, and I still cannot find a starting point for this one.

It needs some shape but as I can not decide which way to go I am hesitant to start hacking away.

Any thoughts on what you would do ??

hmmm why they are all on the side I dont know

Perhaps this a radical new technique of starting a cascade ?

I woudl be planning on using the section above the first whorl as a sacrifice and (eventually) cut it off

I would be using one of those branches as the new leader and selecting another as the first branch on the outside of the resultant bend. Take off all the others s they will cause swelling and reverse taper.

Repot so as the trunk comes out of the ground at an angle and build nebari to suit so you do not have to later.

Reassess next year after another season of growth

Either that or cut back now ot build a small tree but the same process will apply as well

Ken

Hi BrianD and Ken,

It is a nice little pine -- I do not have much experience with Scots pine. But I do concur with
Ken that it should be cut off at the first point, and a new leader selected.

However, I would also try to create a new first branch, choose from several small branches
that are already there. For this, I would leave at least two branches for back up purposes.

When you repot it, perhaps plant it at an angle, so that you create some trunk movements.

Also, at the repotting time, I would try to re-arrange the the roots, comb out and spread
the roots in all directions. This is tricky thing, and could kill the tree, if you have not done
it before, I would strongly advise you go to a club and seek advice of an experience member
there.

Please keep us posted of the progress of this pine

Best regards.

I took on board a few of the suggestions and repotted at an angle.

I untangled most of the root ball

I have taken a few of the branches and left the main one to act as a sacrifice like Ken said. Have left the smaller ones for options should this way not work the way I want it

Anyway it now is on a new pot with a well draining mix.
Here are some bad pics. If it lives I will post some better ones

Cool. Keep it healthy and see what you have after a few months for further changes
Ken

I wanted to reply earlier, but got sidetracked. Pity, because I would have advised not to cut this little pine back too much.
It is a dwarf variety, see http://www.coenosium.com/PlantofTheMonth/jeremy.htm Don't you guys look up a plant if you don't know it, before you hack into it, or before you give advice??

LLK

Laethe wrote:I took on board a few of the suggestions and repotted at an angle.

I untangled most of the root ball

I have taken a few of the branches and left the main one to act as a sacrifice like Ken said. Have left the smaller ones for options should this way not work the way I want it

Anyway it now is on a new pot with a well draining mix.
Here are some bad pics. If it lives I will post some better ones

Is that pine bare rooted??!!. If so Why ? I thought some one would have told you to bare root a Pine is toying with disaster.
As they say in the classics sela gere. Or if you have a God pray.

Hi Laethe,

In light of Pup's post, I feel bad about my advice on comb out the roots. I did not think of bare roots
while writing the other post. But I certainly did not make it clear. I am afraid I tend to agree with Pup...

If it did not make it, I could only hope that you are not discouraged and continue with the art, and I
certainly hope to see you back in this forum.

Best regards.

mmmm, well, it's still early August, fingers crossed.... some pines can handle it.

I guess we'll fine out about this one.

All good Daiviet,

I am sure even Pup made errors of judgment when he started, you live you learn

I have 15 or so other trees that are all in various stages and if I lose this one it is certainly not going to deter me.

In regards to this one I, spent the week away with work and got home yesterday. It was not watered once and has not dropped a needle. the next 2 weeks will show me if I made a mistake or if I escape.
Any way better to do it now rather then 5 years time when it would be a real shame !!

Hi Laethe,

I have been sort of waiting for a good news update. So I guess it did not make it?

I hope to hear an update Laethe.

Best regards.

Yep me two I have an older one of these that Peter Adams was very intrested in as the dwarf scotts of various species are a favourite of his.