D
Deleted member 47471
Guest
Beautiful tree. The jagged twig from previous branch is able to removed without being a detrimental “perfection,” especially since the trunk is long and slender and beautiful as a literati.
Pitch Pine Literati Progression
- Thread starter Tidal Bonsai
- Start date
Beautiful tree. The jagged twig from previous branch is able to removed without being a detrimental “perfection,” especially since the trunk is long and slender and beautiful as a literati.
Shogun610
Masterpiece
Maybe he wants to use the branch to create a Jin ..
Tidal Bonsai
Omono
That long previous branch is holding the heavy wire in place, so it stays put for now. I want the wire to bite in a bit more so the branch holds it's shape before I pair the jin down.
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D
Deleted member 47471
Guest
That makes sense!
tanlu
Shohin
Thanks for posting your progression on this tree. I’ve been trying to get my hands on pitch pine for years after having to give away a large clump style yamadori to a friend back when I was broke while going back to school. Recently, I was fortunate to find a random online wholesale nursery that kindly sold me a few seedlings that I plan to maintain as small shohin. I’m in love with these trees in their natural form, but have been hoping to see more specimens aside from that masterpiece at the National Arboretum. I look forward to your future updates on this tree.
Tidal Bonsai
Omono
Thank you so much for the compliments, I hope to see more specimens in the future as well! Right now I have this specimen, and yamadori specimen collected out in PA. I am always on the lookout for more when the price/character is right!
I am glad to hear that you were able to get some nursery stock. The nursery owner where I got this one said that he wasn't ordering them again because they are "ugly," and no one wants them in their yard, haha!
tanlu
Shohin
I understand their sentiment. Pitch pine when young looks more like a weed in a yard. But if you get one that's got some age, I think it would look good planted next to other natives, but that's just me. I'm hoping to get these young seedlings looking interesting within a few years. As bonsai, I think these are one of the more interesting pines out there.
Shogun610
Masterpiece
Oh and I guess Bonsai Nut farewell to Bonsai Forest .. i think we scared(or
scarred ) him.
scarred ) him.
Ruddigger
Omono
Tidal Bonsai
Omono
2025
2018
2018
tanlu
Shohin
I think your current pitch pine is one of the few examples of good ramification I’ve seen for this species.
I’ve said it on other threads, but it seems this species has trouble with refining branches and foliage pads in particular. I was almost discouraged to continuing pursuing this species for bonsai, as I’ve always been a big fan of their natural forms.
I’m relieved and inspired that you’ve been able to achieve this with your tree. It’s really come a long way. Do you have any tips and tricks you could share that helped you achieve ramification?
Tidal Bonsai
Omono
The big issue I had early on was treating these like a multiflush pine. While you can decandle them, in my experience this always led to very long internodes and weakening the tree over time.
I simply cut candles in the spring to balance the energy and encourage back budding, withhold fertilizer until the fall, and rub off lower trunk buds to keep energy where you want it. That’s it… they are very easy to develop in my opinion.
Mike Westervelt
Chumono
Nicely done, pretty impressive transformation in 7 years.
tanlu
Shohin
What are the visual cues you look for when you pitch pine cut candles? Does this approach also lead to back budding where you want it (further back in foliage pads and not along the trunk, nebari, etc.)?
NateMcFly3
Seedling
Hi Sal, I really enjoyed your other pitch pine at MABS this year.
I’ve had the same experience with vigorous pitch pines and decandling - the summer shoots are huge this year. Happy to learn from you - in refinement, you’re happy to break the candles in the spring and let the tree run (more of a Scot’s pine treatment), and mind the fertilizer? I ought to try that next year.
Did I see elsewhere on this site you linked to a ‘guide’ you wrote for pitch pine?
Thank you for sharing!
Tidal Bonsai
Omono
This is a great comprehensive video on the subject:
Pines are pines, so you have to work with what the tree gives you unless you are good at grafting. Pitch pines are pitch pines, so they will always bud on the trunk or base. If you don’t need them, rub them off early so the tree doesn’t waste energy on them.
Tidal Bonsai
Omono
I break the candles and pluck needles so the energy on the tree is balanced top to bottom. By doing this, the tree will also put energy into new buds. I also withhold fertilizer until the fall to keep needles short, but some pitch pines have genetically smaller needles than others in my experience. Honestly I believe the one I showed at MABS crossed with another pine species in the woods, because the needles are unbelievably small and dense compared with typical pitch pines.
