Field Growing Japanese Black and White Pine?

[Rockwellbonsai]

Hello,
Im new here. I have been doing bonsai for 3 years. I ordered a japanese white (3 year) and black pine (2 year) from adamsbonsai. Well, I live in zone 6, so i was wondering if i could put these in the ground to thicken the trunk. Or put them in a big pot but not over pot them. Also which soil should i use for pines? Im skeptical about akadama because it breaks down after 1-2 years. Here's my mix I might use: Hyuga pumice, Pumice, and just a tiny bit of organic matter.
I just got back into bonsai after seeing the national penjing and bonsai museum in DC.
Thanks,
Porter

 

[dick benbow]

something to think about is the activity of young trees. They fill a pot quickly with roots and often have to be repotted in a year or two.

I always considered Akadama as the standard, but what your suggest as an alternate is generally what I use to stabilize yamadori native trees.

Maybe because of advancing years, I found it easier to work on trees in a pot that I could lift to the right viewing level as opposed to getting down on the grown for field grown.

 

[Dav4]

When asking for horticultural advice, it's always good to be fairly specific about where you live, so filling out your location in your user CP would be helpful. Both trees are cold hardy to zone 5 (the JWP down to zone 4) so planting in the yard or in a pot would be fine (they'd need some winter protection if potted)

 

[Rockwellbonsai]

Ok,
Thanks for the information. So should I just "slip pot" the trees now and use this soil mixture?
Akadama, Pumice and a little organic matter? Because young trees can be repotted frequently.
Thanks again,
Porter

 

[jeanluc83]

I have some one year old JBP seedlings in pumice (dry stall) and about 20% pine bark. They are doing great. Most of them have doubled in diameter and at least doubled in height. I would say that your planned substrate would work fine.

I do have to ask why you feel the need to do anything with them now? I would just leave them be until next spring.

 

[Rockwellbonsai]

Hello,
Well, the pot now doesn't have any thermal mass. I would just slip pot the trees to give them some more thermal mass.
But, I could probably wrap them up with some newspaper and then in burlap and put them in a unheated garage. Then this spring I could repot them.
I just ordered a 10 quart bag of medium grain akadama from dallasbonsai. I also ordered 10 quart bags of pumice and Canadian peat moss. Im using akadama because young trees can be repotted a lot. When their older, I'll switch to hyuga pumice.
Thank you so much for the information.
Porter

 

[Adair M]

All age bonsai love akadama!

 

[M. Frary]

All age bonsai love akadama!

Mine have never tried it. I guess ignorance is bliss.

 

[jkd2572]

That's the boon coming out in Adair.

 

[Rockwellbonsai]

Thank you so much.
My JBP came in the mail. Its a big seedling!
Well, might just slip pot the tree. or just wait until spring
Porter