I second this. You could probably reduce the height to 1/3rd if you crush it down with wire (in late fall or winter).Bend the piss outta that sucker
I will try to focus on developing the trunk, I'd rather not put it into the ground though. Would it hurt to split pot it, into a bigger pot at this time of year? Then come late fall/winter wire the crap out of it.Scots pines are my favorite pines.
This is very raw material.
If you want to thicken the trunk. You need to let it grow, not chop it back. The main trunk could be a sacrifice trunk until it grows to the desired size. If you want it to grow fast. You need to plant it in the ground.
One of the low branches would be developed as the main tree.
You need to research the differences between the pine species. Scots are single flush pines we do not cut Scots pine candles. We do that on double flush pines like Japanese black pine.
I'm in Belleville, Ontario, Canada, Zone 6. If you could suggest some other species that would be great.I predict that the project will be abandoned if not in a couple, then 5 or 10 years. Feedback is necessary to keep a keen interest in anything and the trouble with Pines is there is very little to do yearly, so very little feedback. To someone just beginning bonsai, that's fatal. You can keep the Scots for now, but you need another few to play with. Size matters in Pines. A shohin Scots is hard to pull off and that's why you don't see many. Growing seasons around the world vary widely and it is difficult to get a perspective on what someone says when we don't know where in the world they are. If you go to the upper right hand corner and click on your Icon, you can add your location and people will be able to customize advice for you, and you might connect with another local.
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Canada is pretty big. We can suggest other species if we know where you are.
I will try to focus on developing the trunk, I'd rather not put it into the ground though. Would it hurt to split pot it, into a bigger pot at this time of year? Then come late fall/winter wire the crap out of it.
I'm in Belleville, Ontario, Canada, Zone 6. If you could suggest some other species that would be great.
I'll update my profile.
In no particular order of preference, except they should be big enough to work on (not sticks), but not so big that you need to chop, -leave chopping for later. Avoid anything grafted:I'm in Belleville, Ontario, Canada, Zone 6. If you could suggest some other species that would be great.
I'll update my profile.
In twenty years it could be something special and during that time you will learn how to develop conifers from scratch. While that is slowly taking place, it can be rewarding to learn how to select better material to develop Bonsai from, or how to collect better material to create bonsai from. For an example here is a nursery Scots pine that was acquired for $50. It has some possibilities as well as challenges. Followed by yamadori that were collected, and developed. Your area has some amazing native species for Bonsai. Starting out I think it is very important to study the fundamentals of what makes good bonsai material. Lots of resources out there to identify key characteristics such as nebari, trunk movement and character, bark, leaf size and structure, age and unique appearance.Thank you all for your replies. I have a bunch of other trees amassed, so if it doesn't work out, I'm not too concerned, but knowing now what you all have detailed, I'll keep in mind that it's probably not going to be anything special but working on something new can never hurt.
Where on the island do you live? I actually used to live in Comox.In twenty years it could be something special and during that time you will learn how to develop conifers from scratch. While that is slowly taking place, it can be rewarding to learn how to select better material to develop Bonsai from, or how to collect better material to create bonsai from. For an example here is a nursery Scots pine that was acquired for $50. It has some possibilities as well as challenges. Followed by yamadori that were collected, and developed. Your area has some amazing native species for Bonsai. Starting out I think it is very important to study the fundamentals of what makes good bonsai material. Lots of resources out there to identify key characteristics such as nebari, trunk movement and character, bark, leaf size and structure, age and unique appearance.
The great thing about collecting native species is that they are ideally suited to your climate. First picture is the nursery Scots pine, Then a Mt. Hemlock, Yellow Cedar, Sub Alpine Fir and a Sierra Juniper. Various stages of development or refinement but all collected trees.
Good Book to consider for information and species closely related or overlapping in your area. Bonsai from the Wild Nick Lenz 2006. Available through Stone Lantern I believe. $29.95