Atom’s 3 Dollar Austrian Pine

[Atom#28]

Enough lurking the forums, it’s time to get my hands dirty. Here’s my Home Depot clearance special; the nebari caught my (untrained) eye, and it feels like a good starter tree.

So far it’s been pulled from nursery pot, roots combed out a little, and repotted in compost. I have some ideas for this guy, but will wait until spring 2020 to do any work on it.

Thoughts, critiques, advice about this specific species is always welcome! (And needed)

 

[sorce]

Good thing it was 3 dollars?

Compost is great for the garden but terrible for Dees Trees.

I know @A. Gorilla keeps a few and has the most insight on the species.

I killed one a couple falls ago. Maybe last.

Sorce

 

[Potawatomi13]

Great ideas only work on living tree. Questionable time for repotting. Will survival ensue?

 

[Adair M]

Well... the nebari may have caught your eye, but it’s not a good nebari for a pine. What you want is an even, radial nebari, with the surface roots spreading out, not down.

 

[Adair M]

Well... the nebari may have caught your eye, but it’s not a good nebari for a pine. What you want is an even, radial nebari, with the surface roots spreading out, not down.

If I may elaborate...

Many (if not most!) beginners, when they see twisted, mangled roots think that’s “good nebari”, when it’s actually just twisted, mangled roots! I think that’s because they’re never paid any attention to the surface roots (nebari) when buying nursery stock to plant into the landscape, and for the first time, they’re looking at that, and if they see any rootage at all, they get all excited, especially when it’s contorted, and think it’s “good nebari”! Or they think “exposed roots” is a good thing.

It’s happened to all of us. It’s all part of the learning curve.

You’ll learn to feel down into the soil around the base of the tree, and feel for radial rootage all around the trunk. And reject those that don’t have it. Which will be about 80 to 90 percent of nursery trees! Only examine the remaining 10% or so for branches, movement, etc.

The key to success in bonsai is to be selective: very, very selective!

Oh, I know, you will see comments that say any tree can eventually have all the faults fixed and can become a great bonsai. Sure, maybe for their grandchild! Why spend the time on that when starting with a better piece of material can save decades of time.

Just a piece of wisdom who has been practicing bonsai for 50 years...

 

[Atom#28]

Thank you very much, guys! Adair M you nailed it. I see pics online of old bonsai with gnarled old roots and thought maybe I found a gem. Haha. I really do love the humility and patience this art requires. I value this feedback, it’s the only way I will improve!

 

[0soyoung]

However, I think that mess of twisted, mangled roots will fuse into a single mass if you let the apex run into a sizable sacrifice to thicken the trunk - just leave it as is and let the apex take off.

Three or four years.

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

If I may elaborate...

Many (if not most!) beginners, when they see twisted, mangled roots think that’s “good nebari”, when it’s actually just twisted, mangled roots! I think that’s because they’re never paid any attention to the surface roots (nebari) when buying nursery stock to plant into the landscape, and for the first time, they’re looking at that, and if they see any rootage at all, they get all excited, especially when it’s contorted, and think it’s “good nebari”! Or they think “exposed roots” is a good thing.

It’s happened to all of us. It’s all part of the learning curve.

You’ll learn to feel down into the soil around the base of the tree, and feel for radial rootage all around the trunk. And reject those that don’t have it. Which will be about 80 to 90 percent of nursery trees! Only examine the remaining 10% or so for branches, movement, etc.

The key to success in bonsai is to be selective: very, very selective!

Oh, I know, you will see comments that say any tree can eventually have all the faults fixed and can become a great bonsai. Sure, maybe for their grandchild! Why spend the time on that when starting with a better piece of material can save decades of time.

Just a piece of wisdom who has been practicing bonsai for 50 years...

Is 'exposed roots' a bad thing then?
I've seen a few very nice exposed root specimens, I didn't consider it a flaw but you do. Could you tell me your secret? I don't want to wait 47 more years ;-)

 

[Atom#28]

However, I think that mess of twisted, mangled roots will fuse into a single mass if you let the apex run into a sizable sacrifice to thicken the trunk - just leave it as is and let the apex take off.

Three or four years.

Would it be better for the tree if I bury the exposed roots while I let the apex do it’s thing?

 

[0soyoung]

Just leave it as is. What is above ground will likely fuse.