5YR Native Tree Challenge - Orion_Metalhead's Pinus Strobus

[Orion_metalhead]

Dug this up last weekend at my parents house in PA. Obviously, the tree is endemic in NJ as well so should fit the bill. If necessary, I will change my residence to PA for purposes of this contest, hahaha.

Collection pictures below. Goal is to keep this baby alive through winter and get it growing strong in the spring. I recently bought some porous satchels for filling with fertilizer next year so I'll be loading this guy up with fertilizer after the first flush. I'm going to try to follow @vancehanna's care advice on this to try and keep the foliage tight and as small as possible. Maybe he will chime in and give some pointers. I may try and keep as much of the bottom collected grasses and such as possible.

Not sure what I will do for a final pot on this...

 

[Orion_metalhead]

Today. I am leaving this little seedling in and going to try this as a twin trunk literati/bunjin or something like that.


Candles extending.

 

[Orion_metalhead]

These two did well over the summer. Plenty of sun, hit them with some organic fertilizer packs. Wired them into the general structure I am going for.



The top left branch on the big tree is a sacrifice branch. The final leader will be the wired branch curving to the right. There is a back branch which I need to rewire next year to bring closer to the trunk.

The pot is loaded which beneficial mychorizhae.



Close up of apex..


Late next spring I'll repot into some better soil... I'll mix some of the native soil in to the mix to transfer the mycho...

Really liking this tree. It smells like my house in PA.. a totally unique smell compared to my other trees.

 

[Orion_metalhead]

I have a "pot" for this tree. It is domestic. Here is the bottom of the "pot":

 

[Ryceman3]

Hardcore pot choice.
nice…

 

[0soyoung]

A little heavy but should have good drainage.

 

[Orion_metalhead]

I wont have to worry about blowing over in the wind. Haha

 

[Orion_metalhead]

I did a half repot on the tree as the candles were just starting to green up and look to start their elongation. Hopefully next year I can do the other side but we will see how it grows this year. Leaving in the grow box for now. Looking healthy. Will take wire off after first flush.

 

[Gabler]

I have a "pot" for this tree. It is domestic. Here is the bottom of the "pot":

View attachment 423744

So that was manufactured in NJ? Not Detroit or something?

 

[Orion_metalhead]

Have to look into the official manufacturing. I think west coast, but in the US.

 

[Peconomou]

EWP ...nursery stock bought a few years ago... just trimmed the needles

 

[Orion_metalhead]

Cleaned out the weeds from the one side. Needs another year to recover from this years repot. Next year let grow and wire.

 

[Orion_metalhead]

End of year. Very happy with progress. I think it will do very well next year. I wired the apex a little differently. I think it gives more interest. Will probably remove the smaller little tree... dont think I like it in the composition. Id like to focus on the big tree which I think has enough of its own character. Top left is a sacrificial leader.




Also a nice front:

 

[Orion_metalhead]

Today. Candles are extending. Seems like this will have a great year judging by the number of candles. Also see some latent buds back further on the branches as well.





The small tree will get its own pot. Its cute.

 

[Peconomou]

EWP ...nursery stock bought a few years ago... just trimmed the needles

Updat

 

[Peconomou]

 

[Orion_metalhead]

Very nice. Do you have your own thread for it??

 

[Peconomou]

Very nice. Do you have your own thread for it??

thank you. I don't have a thread for this. This one came from Home Depot a few years ago. I also have some I collected from the woods (close to the spot my dog was posing for my profile pic). I will post a couple of the yamadore ones later, but they are not as far along as this one. If anyone has any suggestions on future steps for this one (especially the top crown portion), please comment. I am merely a rookie at this.

 

[Orion_metalhead]

Some photos from today... getting some decent ramification. Good bud set it seems. Will be pounding the fert this fall. Next year Id like to get the other half of the root mass sorted out.

 

[Orion_metalhead]

Wired today. Changed front to better accomodate the branch locations. Pictures dont really give a great feel for the subtle trunk movement. A slight angle change should create a really nice interesting trunk. Sticking with a taller literati style. Leaving the apical branch as sacrifice. Front beanch that curves in front will be half-jinned with shari to follow down trunk potentially.

Next year need to 1/2 bare root repot into a smaller training container. Needs good fertilization, and I need to find a nice pot for the tree. Pot search may be my goal for this winter. Something traditional round, grayish brown, unglazed, relatively simple is what Im after so if anyone wants to offer a design for commission, Id be happy to talk.