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Post by theladysabine on Apr 15, 2006 19:21:40 GMT -5
 This is one of my pride and joys... This big japanese white pine has YEARS worth of work to be done. Only got it last December. It's going to be one of my prizes if I excersize care and caution. No shortcuts with this one ever. It's all about time. The initial investment for this tree was $150. It was originally about 4 feet tall. Later this year I will cut back and do wound care for the stubs left to die back, of limbs I did not want. Next year it will be planted into it's permanent home of a large custom pot by Dale Cochoy I am going to have made. |
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Post by theladysabine on Apr 15, 2006 19:39:39 GMT -5
Thought I would post the orginal comments I made about the JWP and my nervousness about it... lol I'm more calm now to be sure... Have been doing a lot of reading and using caution with it... so now I am not so intimidated by it like I was...lol
(Text originally posted on BonsaiTalk.com)
It is a pinus parviflora glauca... I got it in December, paid $128 dollars for the tree (which I am told was good, considering the original height was at about 4 feet). I have gradually reduced it over the last couple months. It did not get ravished in a day to be sure. I took my time deciding what to do with it, until it suggested it's shape to me in a matter of fact sort of fashion. It's now down to about 2 1/2 feet tall. The trunk is about 3.5 inches in diameter, but as it's a graft it flares significantly at the base where the vigorus black pine portion is. So the base at ground level is about twice the graft trunk. I hope that years down the road the two will blend together better. I can only let time tell me what it will do.
Of course there was a heavy branch that was set low on the trunk that had to be removed to my mind, it was long and arched. No matter which way I turned it, did it become satisfactory. You can see it's remnent to the right on the lower trunk. It's cousin to the left was also removed being too low to be useful. Not thrilled about having what will be two significant scars on the "front" but we take the cards we are dealt. Again I hope time will heal all wounds.
My goal in the ultimate chop was to get it to grow some believeable taper and I think it will achieve that in good time now. The new leader has not yet been wired and aside from some guide wires to draw down the remaining main branches I have not done anything else to it.
The new leader of course pitches forward a bit, and I am concerned about that. I was curious as to how to encourage upward motion more in harmony with the original trunk line. Or is that not a concern for now?
I know better than to do more than one major task per year with this tree. So it will stay in this pot until at least next year if not significantly longer depending on how it grows. My only concern is that it is in nursery dirt and so lots more organics are present than I am happy with. But I'll be cautious with the watering and see what the tree does.
I also recently got the PINES book and hope to glean from it things which will help me develop a respectable crown. I recognize that realization is many years down the road.
Patience is the watchword in this situation. I'll be sure to add to this thread from time to time to show how it's doing.
I was told when I got this tree that I had picked for myself the pinnacle of all species used for bonsai, japanese pine, to be my first truly major effort. It put to my mind the gavity of what I had gotten myself into. I was truly terrified to proceed at first. And I shall no doubt go forward with no small bit of fear and trepidation.
However in the end I think I shall assume the mantle of "Daring Beginner" as stated in the opening comments of the PINES book, where it notes who the book was designed for.
Daring beginner indeed....
Your friend in all things,
Ms. Vic
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Post by sharkbyte on Apr 17, 2006 10:18:23 GMT -5
the tree looks very nice  , Everything is there it looks great but just a few adjustments and I think it will be a future master piece in the making. Like the second branch/pad up it looks like there are two branches coming from one node. I would remove the smaller one. This will stop trunk swell problems in the future there. And I think it would look nicer anyways kinda help they tree flow better ya know? Then at the top you should trian the leader to the right some to continue the trunk flow. This way when you make the apex it will look more balanced. Also try bending your branches down some more, this will make it look older. - $h@rK |
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Post by stinkdog12 on Apr 25, 2006 8:18:24 GMT -5
Well I'm sorry I don't have any suggestions for you but only questions! I have 4 Jap White Pine seeds that I am going to be planting in the next week. They have been in the fridge for about 2 months now...so they are ready to be planted. Any suggestions on planting these to seeds besides Allen's normal suggestion of "cover them with dirt"? Any advise would be appreciated. Thanks Brock |
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Post by sharkbyte on Apr 25, 2006 10:53:42 GMT -5
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, Everything is there it looks great but just a few adjustments and I think it will be a future master piece in the making. Like the second branch/pad up it looks like there are two branches coming from one node. I would remove the smaller one. This will stop trunk swell problems in the future there. And I think it would look nicer anyways kinda help they tree flow better ya know? Then at the top you should trian the leader to the right some to continue the trunk flow. This way when you make the apex it will look more balanced. Also try bending your branches down some more, this will make it look older. 
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