Getting Jacked!

No it isn't a thread about getting wasted. But it does get your attention doesn't It?
I would like to start a thread about Jack pines that's along the lines of the Mugo train.
Had me a pun there.
I know there aren't a ton if these trees under bonsai cultivation but there are some. I know @Vance Wood has one. I have a couple.
@mattspiniken I think does.
Also @Waltron too.
@grouper52 did. Boy,I fucked that one up. Sorry again Will.

So like the train and a barrel of Scots pine threads it would be great to get everyone's thoughts,experiences and theories to bonsai with Jack pines.
I think grouper probably has the most knowledge of these trees and how to get them into little pots and keep them alive. I know he had the best one ever hands down. They're that rare as bonsai.
A guy in Canada, Peter?Steve? Vclak I believe has quite a few.
Oh crap! I forgot that our Minnesota members @crust and @fourteener are a couple of guys that have some also. They also know their trees.
I'm just typing as I think so hang in there.
Ive heard that some say these trees don't take to rootwork very well.
Maybe it's a timing thing?
I've been slowly changing out the sand mine were collected in over time. I literally just pull the tree out of the pot and give it a shake to lose the loose sand. I then replace it with bonsai soil.
They seem not to mind that at all so I might get a little wilder next year. Give it 2 good shakes.
The only time I've reduced the roots were at collection time. It's been 3 years since the first successful collection. The bucket is packed.
It back buds on its own but not reliably or tons. With shoot cutting next year we'll how forcing one goes.
As you can see from the above picture needle reduction can be accomplished. Also they can be crammed into a small pot.
So let's see them!
Let's hear about them!
Let's Get Jacked!
At collection.



Now.

I collected 3 this year, one died within a week and the other 2 yellowed up some but still mostly green, I'm guessing its 3 year needles that will drop soon, its been about 2 months since collected. I dont know much about them other than the ones we have up here in the northern part of the northeast are whiches broom, and grow on sandy beaches similar to pitch pine, but further north. ive yet to see one as any sort of upright formal or informal, even the old big ones. Watching and learning while they recover... In the meantime hopefully I can get all jacked up in here too

Here's a short video of one of the island collecting spots.

Only access is by boat up a sketchy rock filled creek off from a big lake with mt kahtahdin in the back drop.

Jack pine, 'Chippewa', grafted onto sylvestris. Purchased 5/2015, repotted in August 2015. Severe root work to get it into 16 x16x5 Anderson flat. Let grow all of 2016. Some pruning, and will wire out completely this year.

July photos.

Yes, on the farm I live in a trailer

I have wanted to collect some for awhile now, just can't get the time!

M. Frary said:

Give it 2 good shakes

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Prudent, anymore than that is probably just playing with it.

On a serious note, interesting thread topic!

Soldano666 said:

I collected 3 this year, one died within a week and the other 2 yellowed up some but still mostly green, I'm guessing its 3 year needles that will drop soon, its been about 2 months since collected. I dont know much about them other than the ones we have up here in the northern part of the northeast are whiches broom, and grow on sandy beaches similar to pitch pine, but further north. ive yet to see one as any sort of upright formal or informal, even the old big ones. Watching and learning while they recover... In the meantime hopefully I can get all jacked up in here too

Click to expand...

Collecting in sand is rough. I like to do it when the soil is wet. It holds together better when lifting them.

hemmy said:

Prudent, anymore than that is probably just playing with it.

On a serious note, interesting thread topic!

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I wondered if anyone would get that!

Heh heh jack in the box.... no wait... never mind. I think @f1pt4 has Jacks...

Ironbeaver said:

jack in the box..

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Pink Tacos!

Next year, when I come back from the MI show.....
Maybe I'll post a pic of mine...!

Sorce

sorce said:

Pink Tacos!

Next year, when I come back from the MI show.....
Maybe I'll post a pic of mine...!

Sorce

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More digging I see.

Hmmmmm....maybe I should pay more attention to the seedling Jack Pines that just keep showing up in the field around me. Once large they are a bit of a nuisance...my head seems to be the right height for clashing with the tough branches on the mature trees. Ouch! Again.

I thought this was a muscle head thread, I leave disappointed.




Jk, nice pine.

Ironbeaver said:

Heh heh jack in the box.... no wait... never mind. I think @f1pt4 has Jacks...

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nope just scots and mugos for me.

No jacks in my repertoire yet.

do i even have jack pines here?

Mike, I dug an old one august 18th, no foliage reduction up top, didn't skip a beat. I'm thinking mid late august is the best time now, for several theoretical reasons. I spoke with walter pall in person last week, he loves the species but agrees they are difficult to keep. most people i talk to just view them as regular pine care, which is true to an extent, but those who don't keep them don't realize the trickiness, which is getting them established. I do know that once they are healthy and growing strong they offer great bonsai characteristics. Walter said to leave the roots for 10-20 years... although I'm not going to do that hah. the jury is still out, and each and every case has its variables. my current thought is either early spring, or august collection time. yours looks to have great potential. im a few years out from actual bonsai.. I did locate a very awesome, easily collectible specimen, but wont go back for it until next august probably, if its still there, since its situated extremely similar to the one who responded well to the august collection. i did a a reduction and styling on a healthy one in july and its doing very well, no root work yet, planning on doing it in spring. It is up there on my favorite species list though, and ill have a great one someday, and you will too.

Waltron said:

Mike, I dug an old one august 18th, no foliage reduction up top, didn't skip a beat. I'm thinking mid late august is the best time now, for several theoretical reasons. I spoke with walter pall in person last week, he loves the species but agrees they are difficult to keep. most people i talk to just view them as regular pine care, which is true to an extent, but those who don't keep them don't realize the trickiness, which is getting them established. I do know that once they are healthy and growing strong they offer great bonsai characteristics. Walter said to leave the roots for 10-20 years... although I'm not going to do that hah. the jury is still out, and each and every case has its variables. my current thought is either early spring, or august collection time. yours looks to have great potential. im a few years out from actual bonsai.. I did locate a very awesome, easily collectible specimen, but wont go back for it until next august probably, if its still there, since its situated extremely similar to the one who responded well to the august collection. i did a a reduction and styling on a healthy one in july and its doing very well, no root work yet, planning on doing it in spring. It is up there on my favorite species list though, and ill have a great one someday, and you will too.

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I'm thinking there are 2 windows of opportunity collecting. Early spring and mid to late August.
I'm kind of leery of messing with the roots but it needs to be done sometime.

good to know we are on the same page then. used to think july.. but must have got lucky that year.. this year.. not so much,

M. Frary said:

Sorry again Will.

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Hey, Mike! Great thread you started, among others, and glad to see you posting about your own trees now.

You didn't kill that one you got from me - the winter up there did that, most likely, despite your precautions, because it was raised locally in the very mild Pacific Northwest climate for sale as a yard tree - I got it from just such a nursery, and its ancestors may have been aclimated to the PNW many generations ago . You might think, being of Jack Pine heritage and genetics, that it would know what to do up your way in the winter - as I thought, and therefore I didn't give any extra warnings - but that was obviously wrong, and this really dawns on me as I read here about the challenges encountered by almost everyone who collects or tries to raise them in climates like yours where these trees even are acclimated to the brutality of the climate.

So please don't beat yourself up about this, 'cause your a big guy, of Godzilla-like strength if I understand correctly, and ex-LEO and all that, too - and you might hurt yourself!