Are these any good?

Brian Van Fleet

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The trunk on your pine will never become a formal upright trunk, which requires it to be arrow-straight and tapered evenly to the top. Even the pine in your post above is arguably not a formal upright.

You'll get some back-budding, and it likely has buds close-enough in to work with.

One significant challenge with your pine will be the uninteresting trunk section between the Shari and the first branches. Another challenge will be to deal with the knob atop the trunk from which most of your branches emerge. The good news is that you'll always have foliage to hide flaws behind.

I know material is difficult to come by in your region, and unfortunately, this tree wasn't very well grown. You're a young guy, you should be growing this stuff from seed. In a few years you'll have much better stock to work with.
 

barrosinc

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The trunk on your pine will never become a formal upright trunk, which requires it to be arrow-straight and tapered evenly to the top. Even the pine in your post above is arguably not a formal upright.

You'll get some back-budding, and it likely has buds close-enough in to work with.

One significant challenge with your pine will be the uninteresting trunk section between the Shari and the first branches. Another challenge will be to deal with the knob atop the trunk from which most of your branches emerge. The good news is that you'll always have foliage to hide flaws behind.

I know material is difficult to come by in your region, and unfortunately, this tree wasn't very well grown. You're a young guy, you should be growing this stuff from seed. In a few years you'll have much better stock to work with.
I concur, the formal upright was a bad idea.
Can these be bent like junipers (making a hollow channel and wiring heavily?)

I went back and followed your advice, got 2 jrp and 2 jbp in age to wire for shape.
 

Brian Van Fleet

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JRP is very brittle. I don't think you'll get much movement, even if you do hollow the trunk. And if you hollow the trunk; you're stuck with a hollow trunk, whether it works or doesn't.

I suggest working with what you have, and perhaps growing some shoots long and add a couple branches in lower planes by approach grafting. Thinner branches are easier to wire.
 

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barrosinc

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Yeah those are nice!
They last till summer, and I get to see them (not as flowery) in january when I go to the beach.

The shop owner told me to half decandle (to make candles same size) and then completely decandle in december. I have read no to do it... should I? Some candles seem to be massive.
 

Brian Van Fleet

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Thanks!!! (You realized I changed it, right?)
Are you gonna edit your blurb book soon? I am going to buy it now if you aren't changing it.
Sorry, just saw this. No plans to edit it in the near future. Have fun with your new pine!
 

Smoke

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Thats a damn sharp photo....you shootin with an Instamatic or something?
 

barrosinc

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instamatic?? hopefully you mean the camer and not the iphone app.
5D mark III, Canon EF 135mm f/2L@f/10 1/200" and tripod.
 

barrosinc

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I saw this pic from Jonas Dupuich:
DSC_0083.jpg


It looks like it resembles the trunk shape, and I like it. I would have to graft branch.

Thoughts?
 

sorce

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@max lol!

Looking good bro!

Observation- I looked at your tree!

And noticed- found something!

The big picture, the trunk, looks like it is coming straight out of the soil.

In the other pictures, it looks better, a little woop woop, - better movement.

The wound looks good, healing.

I absolutely love the 4 segments of taper, this is a very feminine looking tree to me, and I think as long as you keep styling it as such, feminine, that trunk will always look sexy!

I didn't think, at the beginning of this thread, this was going to turn out so well for you! I'm glad it did!

That is a beautiful tree!

Sorce
 

sorce

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Sorry Max.
I really wish someone else would say it,

And I hope PINE guys can correct me of I'm wrong, Spanish speaking preffered!

But that long left branch, is in a bad place for a sacrifice, inside the curve, and it doesn't help your design, I'd cut it off.
Let energy to that low front one, for sacrifice, or just the length it needs.

And in the apex, blue circle,you can change that same problem pretty easy.
By pulling it down right. And seemingly, to the back! Blue arrow.
So you have more of the blue sketch.
IMG_20151114_041930.jpg
It seems the apex branch currently is stronger, I believe you want it to be the weak one, cuz it'll want to be the strong one anyway!

Sorce
 

barrosinc

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Thanks sorce! What is the problem with you saying it???

I don't like that branch either but it is a perfect candidate for an approach graft lower on the trunk.

The apex is still a mystery. I was even thinking about cutting it off and use other branches.

The producer who sold it had already half cut the candles to leave them all roughly the same size (good it bad, it is how he does it).

For sure the planting angle will change depending on the tree to be made... I am thinking of a similar tree to Jonas's tree.
 

sorce

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Thanks sorce! What is the problem with you saying it???

I don't like that branch either but it is a perfect candidate for an approach graft lower on the trunk.

The apex is still a mystery. I was even thinking about cutting it off and use other branches.

The producer who sold it had already half cut the candles to leave them all roughly the same size (good it bad, it is how he does it).

For sure the planting angle will change depending on the tree to be made... I am thinking of a similar tree to Jonas's tree.

I hate to come off cocky or know it all.
And I only own one pine!

Good call on the graft ! I would put it right where the pink line hits above the wound in that case. To heal it, and that seems a good spot for a branch too.

Though, depending on how far down in the soil, your base starts.....

I see a pretty tree without that graft.
I appreciate the negative space at the bottom!

Sorce
 

GGB

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I would love to be working with this pine. good pick up
 
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