What to do? What to do?

Bonsai Nut

Nuttier than your average Nut
Messages
12,419
Reaction score
27,837
Location
Charlotte area, North Carolina
USDA Zone
8a
I don't want to argue about it - I want to see it! I know Jason can do some awesome work so I want to see someone take this tree and make it great and then we will all learn something (regardless of outcome). Chris has his work cut out for him; let's help him along and see if we can end up with a great tree.
 
Messages
1,773
Reaction score
15
Location
Ottawa, KS
USDA Zone
6
What are you guys talking about? You wouldn't pay three dollars for something like this?
 
Messages
2,774
Reaction score
31
Location
Michigan, USA
USDA Zone
5
Messages
1,773
Reaction score
15
Location
Ottawa, KS
USDA Zone
6
LOL actually, this one was a freebie pulled out of a weedy bed. It was in this nursery pot. I thought it would be some fun to work.
 

tom tynan

Mame
Messages
144
Reaction score
3
Location
new york state
Chris has not mentioned which sp. of Pine this is has he....? It looks like a Scots Pine. Well..if this was a Pitch Pine - no problem getting some low buds to pop on that trunk. To me this is really just a question of how do you go about growing this tree out to get the base fatter and thicker - while at the same time keeping some of the foliage tight to the trunk. If you plant it out for at least 5 years and let the top grow crazy wild you should get the base to really thicken up, plus the wire scars will start to heal. If you get a few sacrifice branches going low that would help too. It really needs at least a 2" to 2 1/2" base to be a great shohin. There is a recent article in Bonsai Focus showing how to bud graft onto a small fat trunk to create the new branches. I personally like the material - but it depends on what amount of time are you willing to invest in this one.....good luck....Tom
 

Vance Wood

Lord Mugo
Messages
14,002
Reaction score
16,911
Location
Michigan
USDA Zone
5-6
Chris has not mentioned which sp. of Pine this is has he....? It looks like a Scots Pine. Well..if this was a Pitch Pine - no problem getting some low buds to pop on that trunk. To me this is really just a question of how do you go about growing this tree out to get the base fatter and thicker - while at the same time keeping some of the foliage tight to the trunk. If you plant it out for at least 5 years and let the top grow crazy wild you should get the base to really thicken up, plus the wire scars will start to heal. If you get a few sacrifice branches going low that would help too. It really needs at least a 2" to 2 1/2" base to be a great shohin. There is a recent article in Bonsai Focus showing how to bud graft onto a small fat trunk to create the new branches. I personally like the material - but it depends on what amount of time are you willing to invest in this one.....good luck....Tom

With a Scots Pine, which is what I believe this one to be, in the ground you should get the trunk to thicken nicely in about three years. This is the way this tree should be handled. It will thicken the base and the rest of the trunk in general visually tightening the curves and twists together almost. This could also be done in a colander, training planter, pond basket or large wooden box, but the ground will be faster.
 

Dav4

Drop Branch Murphy
Messages
13,017
Reaction score
29,689
Location
SE MI- Bonsai'd for 12 years both MA and N GA
USDA Zone
6a
...and either approach or bud grafting will allow foliage to grow right where you need it...

This is my kind of tree...cheap, wich makes it easy to try new techniques without high expectations- different in that you don't see many pines with a contorted trunk like this- potentially very satisfying in watching it develop over time. Good luck with it,

Dave
 

Vance Wood

Lord Mugo
Messages
14,002
Reaction score
16,911
Location
Michigan
USDA Zone
5-6
...and either approach or bud grafting will allow foliage to grow right where you need it...

This is my kind of tree...cheap, wich makes it easy to try new techniques without high expectations- different in that you don't see many pines with a contorted trunk like this- potentially very satisfying in watching it develop over time. Good luck with it,

Dave

If we are to believe what the stated price of this tree was----it ain't cheap. However; in general Scots Pines are affordable and young ones are cheap. It is difficult to find them outside the Christmas tree industry. Mostly you are going to encounter the more expensive grafted cultivars such as Bouvronensis, which make a lousy bonsai unless the graft is very low or the tree is struck from a cutting. Personally I do not care for exfoliating bark on a Pine and that is what you get with Bouvronensis.
 
Messages
1,773
Reaction score
15
Location
Ottawa, KS
USDA Zone
6
Yes, the tree was a gift. It may very well be Scots, but I will pay closer attention to the buds this spring and let you all know.

The intent is to grow it on to swell the trunk, cut the wire in, then bud graft where I want them to produce a shohin tree. Unless a wild hair takes me, then who knows what might happen?

Chris
 

JasonG

Chumono
Messages
786
Reaction score
18
Location
NW Oregon
If we are to believe what the stated price of this tree was----it ain't cheap. However; in general Scots Pines are affordable and young ones are cheap. It is difficult to find them outside the Christmas tree industry. Mostly you are going to encounter the more expensive grafted cultivars such as Bouvronensis, which make a lousy bonsai unless the graft is very low or the tree is struck from a cutting. Personally I do not care for exfoliating bark on a Pine and that is what you get with Bouvronensis.

There are lots of seedling farms in Oregon that supply much of the country with "liner" material. Most of these sell Scots pines, ungrafted trunks about the diameter fo a sharpie pen and about 18" tall. We get them by the hundereds very very inexpensive. Infact, there are about 500 that were planted 2 years ago in the ground and just got thier first "Whacking" a month ago. In 2 years they grew over 4 feet tall and put on over 2" in trunk girth....atleast. They grow much the same as the JBP, and are just as aggressive.


Ask for liner material....

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

Rick Moquin

Omono
Messages
1,241
Reaction score
20
Location
Dartmouth, NS Canada
USDA Zone
6a
I was under the impression the tree was either free or was purchased for $3.00, as opposed to the $300 price some folks have focused on.

Dave
It was originally posted by the owner at $300. That original post was since edited.
 
Messages
1,773
Reaction score
15
Location
Ottawa, KS
USDA Zone
6
I was aware of that...I assume Chris edited it because he forgot a decimal in the middle there.

I posted it at $300 as an inside joke to many food fights and other discussions we have had on the value of trees and the price of trees. Didn't mean to confuse anyone.
 
Messages
1,773
Reaction score
15
Location
Ottawa, KS
USDA Zone
6
Wow that kind of shut things down here. Did anyone look at the last pics? Do you think the coils could be tighter, or should be looser, or what?

Chris
 
Top Bottom