The Warm Canuck
Chumono
Summer:
Winter:
Winter:
Jack Pine Progression
- Thread starter The Warm Canuck
- Start date
Wires_Guy_wires
Imperial Masterpiece
Nice, you're one of the few that are growing this species. I think jack pine has a lot of potential in bonsai.
Mine are a bit less yellow in the winter though, what's your temperature range there in Ontario?
Mine are a bit less yellow in the winter though, what's your temperature range there in Ontario?
The Warm Canuck
Chumono
Yes, I think it will make a good literati.
The needles went yellow last winter also. As can be seen, I did a pretty big trunk chop last year, taking a lot of foliage off, so I thought significantly weakening the tree was the reason for the yellowing. However, it seems to be doing the same this year and I haven't done anything major this season. The last few winters have been mild here, I have a feeling that it's not cold enough for the species.
Deep Sea Diver
Imperial Masterpiece
Good start!
Looks like the tree has a bit of fungus likely Needle cast (Lophodermium pinastri ) common on Jack Pine (or perhaps Dothistroma needle blight. )
A safe bet is to ramp up sanitation by taking all the dead needles off the trees and media… . Then spray with a copper fungicide 3x during winter and periodically during the year. …
Also please use proper PPE, avoid spraying the media and keep out of the rain for a couple days afterwards for max effect. ( We use Bonide concentrate and dilute it for spraying with a spray bottle. One bottle has lasted over 3 years)
cheers
DSD sends
Looks like the tree has a bit of fungus likely Needle cast (Lophodermium pinastri ) common on Jack Pine (or perhaps Dothistroma needle blight. )
A safe bet is to ramp up sanitation by taking all the dead needles off the trees and media… . Then spray with a copper fungicide 3x during winter and periodically during the year. …
Also please use proper PPE, avoid spraying the media and keep out of the rain for a couple days afterwards for max effect. ( We use Bonide concentrate and dilute it for spraying with a spray bottle. One bottle has lasted over 3 years)
cheers
DSD sends
Jack pines grow all over the place where I live and on my drives in the winter, they are consistently the lightest green/yellow pine out there. Also gets really cold here.
I’ve got a few that I’ve collected going, but I’m really excited to sprout jack pine seeds and try the seedling cutting thing in attempt to get lower branching and fatter trunk like they do on the JBPs.
I’ve got a few that I’ve collected going, but I’m really excited to sprout jack pine seeds and try the seedling cutting thing in attempt to get lower branching and fatter trunk like they do on the JBPs.
The Warm Canuck
Chumono
Where are you located?
The Warm Canuck
Chumono
I think its quite a bit colder where you are.
Frozentreehugger
Masterpiece
I live near Ottawa . I’m starting some Jack pine from seed . I’m unsure about the idea that better green foliage . Is related to winter temp . The trees are incredibly cold hardy . And tough I have travelled a fair bit in Quebec and northern Ontario . In my observations . Older trees have the best leaf colour . There toughness makes truly great Yamadori . Very difficult to locate . I have seen very old collected tree ( in Quebec City show ) with very short green needles . Unfortunately I failed to manage to talk to the owner . Would be very interesting to discuss what could be done to colour up the foliage . With a biologist . But I suspect . It will be trial and error . With bonsai .
River's Edge
Imperial Masterpiece
Try using a bit of Dyna Gro Pro fertilizer on your pines. Can usually be found in stores that sell products for cannabis propagation. For some reason they seem to have more money for horticultural research. I use it as a regular supplement as opposed to the main source of nutrients. It is a bit costly for those on a budget. However a little goes a long ways.
Frozentreehugger
Masterpiece
Thanks frank I assume you mean for leaf colour
River's Edge
Imperial Masterpiece
Yes , sorry did not specify. I picked up on your thought in the post. When we talk of leaf or needle colour it conjures up an amazing rabbit hole of thought.
Too much or too little, Ph of soil, to alkaline of water. Typically chlorosis is most often the result of overwatering or under watering. When I wish to get thoroughly confused on this topic I turn to " Modern Bonsai Practice" written by Larry Morten. the sub title is 501 Principles of Good Bonsai Horticulture. 2016 publication date.
Cosmos
Shohin
OP: I work with jack pine quite a bit and this is not a normal winter colour IMO, it's too dull. It'd be easier to assess if you removed the old spent needles (orange), but the growth from the last two years seems off. Even the first picture shows some yellowing at the base of needle.
It is correct to say that jack pines turn a bit paler in the winter than other pines in Canada, but it is more of a grey-ish green than straight yellow I'd say. As opposed to Eastern white pine (strobus), for example, who tend to really do turn yellow-ish in the winter.
For reference, attached:
1) A tree donated a few years ago by the estate of a longtime high level Quebec practitioner, what I'd consider fairly standard jack pine colouring for dormancy.
2) A yamadori I purchased last fall, also fairly typical for winter.
3) A yamadori I have owned for several years now, but an outlier: the darkest needles of any jack pine I've seen, and one of the tree's best features.
It is correct to say that jack pines turn a bit paler in the winter than other pines in Canada, but it is more of a grey-ish green than straight yellow I'd say. As opposed to Eastern white pine (strobus), for example, who tend to really do turn yellow-ish in the winter.
For reference, attached:
1) A tree donated a few years ago by the estate of a longtime high level Quebec practitioner, what I'd consider fairly standard jack pine colouring for dormancy.
2) A yamadori I purchased last fall, also fairly typical for winter.
3) A yamadori I have owned for several years now, but an outlier: the darkest needles of any jack pine I've seen, and one of the tree's best features.
Attachments
Wires_Guy_wires
Imperial Masterpiece
I give my jack pines some extra chelated trace elements a couple times a year and this turns them dark, dark green.
The Warm Canuck
Chumono
Ordered this. Thanks Frank!
River's Edge
Imperial Masterpiece
The other change I would consider is a less organic soil mix, so the pines do not stay wet for too long. Overwatering is the most common cause for chlorosis in needles on pines and as DSD pointed out also increase the likelihood of fungal disease such as needlcast.
From the pictures your soil mix looks very heavy in organic, so less oxygen and more water for longer periods of time. The excessive moisture will also inhibit uptake of essential elements and trace elements. It can work for young trees if the watering schedule allows it to dry out between watering.
The Warm Canuck
Chumono
I've been feeding this tree for the last two years with Miracle Grow 20-20-20 full strength, every week. I'm going to switch over to something like Miracle Grow Shake-N-Feed 16-6-12, it appears to be semi-organic with more minerals. I'm wondering if it's from a lack of nutrients.
However, the other pines in the same bed, (Scotts and Mugo), don't have the color issues.
However, the other pines in the same bed, (Scotts and Mugo), don't have the color issues.
The Warm Canuck
Chumono
Yes, it's a grow bed. The soil is PRO-MIX HP. I don't know any cost effective ways of adding less organic material to the grow bed. I keep my pines relatively dry, the other pines in the bed (Scotts/Mugo) don't have any of the same color problems as this Jack pine.
River's Edge
Imperial Masterpiece
Jack pine grow in different circumstances than the other pines. They thrive in sandy rocky subsoil with very little organic content. It has to do with a variation in natural surroundings and not at all because they are all pines.
The Warm Canuck
Chumono
Ahh, point taken. Maybe I should think about re-potting this into it's own grow box, with traditional Bonsai soil.
