AusBonsai

Hi Everyone.

Great site
Here are some pics of my first attempt at bonsai. It is a Black pine I was given.
Do you think it has potential? Any critisizm would be appreciated.
Thanks
I plan on potting it in a training pot . Hope the quality of the pics are ok.
Cheers
Mick

Hello Mick, everything has potential we just have to be able to see it. I think you are in the right direction by letting it grow on for a few years. Pretty hard to make branch selection at this early stage but i would be looking at your trunkline and creating movement there. Remember, as it fattens up you will lose some of that movement so maybe exaggerate it a little bit now

Hi Bodhidharma.

Thanks for the reply. I was wodering about bending the trunk a bit more. I dont want to put too much strain on it.
Do you think it will back bud between the tip of the first branch and the trunk ? It will be very bare if I cant get some buds there.
Cheers
Mick

Hi Mick,

Congratulations on getting started with this tree

Black pines are very rewarding, but at the same time can be very challenging, and not that
forgiving comparing to maples, elms etc.

It is hard to grow new branches on old wood. So we need to create the foliage as early as
possible.

Please find the attached document -- we black pine lovers and learners must read it.

And also Bonsai Today Masters' Series, PINES, Stone Lantern Publishing Company, P.O. Box 70 Passumpsic, VT 05861, U.S.A. 2005.
is a very good book to have. It is a bit pricey at $60.00, but it is worth every cent of it.

Best regards.

Thanks daiviet_nguyen

I cant wait to read the pdf! I was hoping I would be able to grow new buds on the bare branches, but it seems to be difficult.

Maybee I should not have removed the needles that where on those branches?

Is there somewhere I can get any more pdf's with info on pines and there pruning?

Once again Thanks

Cheers
Mick

I don't know if this will work for you, Mick, but there was another thread where someone mentioned pricking the branches and applying fertiliser to get new buds to form.

Found it: viewtopic.php?f=104&t=2041&p=19936&hili ... ick#p19936

I don't know if it applies to your specific tree... perhaps someone else can provide more info.

Hi Japh.
I hope that method works!!!
I'm not sure if I'm game enogh to try it yet though.

Ive made a change with my pine today. ( after a few beers )
Hopefully I didnt stress it to much.
What u think??

Cheers
Mick

Does anyone think I should take the wire off and just let it grow for a few seasons, or leave it wired and let it grow?

I am not sure of what to do. Would love your feedback.

I would love to do a reveiw from beginning to finish, but I will need some advise along the way.

Cheers
Mick

mick well done for a first no doubt about it!!! BUT dont get use to seeing the tree in this current configuration unless you are growing it to be a bunjin. this is all and well to learn how to shape and wire. imo the most important part of this tree is from the soil to the tip of the first young branch. the shaping there is crucial for the future trunk line. in this space between the soil and 1st branch, you need to bud back big time then learn how to control the energy in order to fatten the right part of the trunk at the right time and create taper. in this process you will also start some branching. this will happen if you chop the rest off over the next year or two. if you want to develope material like this into serious trees its a 10 yr deal to start it off. more impotantly than all of this learn from what you do and enjoy yourself. i will get a photo of some of my juvinile stuff tomorrow and show you what im trying to say. any pine enthusiast must own pine masters

Hi everyone.

So what would you suggest for me to do to try and start back budding?
Cheers
Mick

mick,

as someone with 40 JBP in training as well as a dozen more advanced i have noticed with my young with which i bought as all straight 6 inch stock(3-4 years old). I put alot of movement in them all and also wired them heavily to scare the trunk low which increases fattening of the trunk. Learnt this from bonsai masters pines book. I then feed the hell out of them , watered well and full sun for 2 years. I left a few branches low for sacrifices. i cut some back hard last winter leaving sacrifices to thinken up the trunk and picked a new bud as future leaders to develop taper( look under threads for sacrifice branches if you dont know what that means). i have been getting multiple buds all over the branches and on the trunk on most of these. I think to get budding you need to water, fertilise well and often , full sun . Dont let branches get long and laggy otherwise its difficult to chase growth back on pines. Ill try to post some examples to help you. Also if you have heavier wire use it for putting movement in the trunk. I think your wire is too thin. I found they are quite flexable when still young.Also when you repot every few years go up a size or two in your pots , they will reward you.

Thanks noah78.

What brand do you use when feeding? Also what is the npk?
Thanks heaps guys for your feedback.
Very much appreciated

Mick

http://www.evergreengardenworks.com/index.htm

follow this link, look up articles, look up blackpine growing and blackpine training. this guy is one of the best grower's in the states. he will put you straight.

ps i havn't forgottn a photo just time and weather.

noah78 wrote:mick,

as someone with 40 JBP in training as well as a dozen more advanced i have noticed with my young with which i bought as all straight 6 inch stock(3-4 years old). I put alot of movement in them all and also wired them heavily to scare the trunk low which increases fattening of the trunk. Learnt this from bonsai masters pines book. I then feed the hell out of them , watered well and full sun for 2 years. I left a few branches low for sacrifices. i cut some back hard last winter leaving sacrifices to thinken up the trunk and picked a new bud as future leaders to develop taper( look under threads for sacrifice branches if you dont know what that means). i have been getting multiple buds all over the branches and on the trunk on most of these. I think to get budding you need to water, fertilise well and often , full sun . Dont let branches get long and laggy otherwise its difficult to chase growth back on pines. Ill try to post some examples to help you. Also if you have heavier wire use it for putting movement in the trunk. I think your wire is too thin. I found they are quite flexable when still young.Also when you repot every few years go up a size or two in your pots , they will reward you.

the highlighted qoute.. i dont have the book but am trying to aquire both the pine masters and juniper masters.. my question does this wireing to scar the trunkto help thicken it work with junipers aswell, or am i just hoping??? and would find major scar issues that would never heal??

Thanks antonio!

I havent looked at the link yet, but as soon as I write this post I will.
Would really like to see your pics to really undestand what you mean, but I can imagine what the weather is like after watching the news.
Thanks again for your help. I want this tree to grow old with me
Cheers
Mick