JBP Seedlings

[garywood]

A few years ago we did some maple threads for a learning process and I thought they turned out well. It's that time of year when planning seedling plantings and it's a slow time. For those that don't have much experience with pine or seedlings this my approach at Telperion. The number one goal is to eventually put it in a bonsai pot. It makes the process much simpler and with better roots and base if it is started from the initial potting. These are 2\0 seedlings, meaning, 2years old and 0 potting. They are root pruned with the intention of being medium sized trees. If the intention is small trees the second set of roots would be removed and the top layer would be shorter. They will be potted in 1gal pots to a depth almost to the first branches.

 

[thumblessprimate1]

What would one do if one intends to grow large trees instead of small or medium?

 

[pwk5017]

Gary,

Thanks for the post. Everything you guys offer for growing stock is extremely helpful. A few questions for you. Why not do the seedling cutting technique instead of buying seedlings from a forester? Your way may give you a two year jump on things for the same amount of labor. I am just curious why you do one or the other. Next, do you wire your seedling trunks to create movement? If so, are you able to wire them in their third year, or are they about 1/2" by then and not too flexible? I would love to get better insight of your process, because you guys produce some nice stock. In fact, I already have one of your pines reserved for purchase in a few weeks.

btw, hows the hand? Chris told me you 'jinned' it. I like bonsai, but I dont like it enough to perform similar techniques on myself.

Patrick

 

[Paradox]

Gary, thank you so much for posting this development thread.

This is something Ive wondered about. Ive got a few pitch pine seedlings I collected last year and its very difficult to find info on seedling development to pre bonsai. So now Im kind of at a loss as to what the best way is to grow these guys out. This will be a great help.

I look forward to reading more about this in the future!

 

[garywood]

thumblessprimate1


"What would one do if one intends to grow large trees instead of small or medium"
Thumbless, they are cut like shown. The only difference is in growing time

Patrick, I'm an advocate of growing the tree you want vs growing and try to find a tree. If the plan calls for low movement short fat tree or just a small tree then wire is necessary but only for 6' or so. On the other hand if growing a taller tree with movement obviously more wire. A short fat tree doesn't need wire. # year trees are still capable of wiring but not as drastic as younger. just use larger wire. The seedling cutting technique is not a technique I use often. I have in the past but I don't see any advantage and as you mention time and labor are not worth it.

Paradox, good luck with your Pitch pine. They are strong trees that you can do a lot with.

 

[garywood]

Another thought: when growing small trees try not to use strong spring shoots for primary branches. Usually the length of the neck is too long. Try to use secondary budding to build the tree. That keeps the tree "tight"

 

[cmeg1]

thumblessprimate1


"What would one do if one intends to grow large trees instead of small or medium"
Thumbless, they are cut like shown. The only difference is in growing time

Patrick, I'm an advocate of growing the tree you want vs growing and try to find a tree. If the plan calls for low movement short fat tree or just a small tree then wire is necessary but only for 6' or so. On the other hand if growing a taller tree with movement obviously more wire. A short fat tree doesn't need wire. # year trees are still capable of wiring but not as drastic as younger. just use larger wire. The seedling cutting technique is not a technique I use often. I have in the past but I don't see any advantage and as you mention time and labor are not worth it.

Paradox, good luck with your Pitch pine. They are strong trees that you can do a lot with.

thanks for the pics.What are these trees in the photos,about 6 years?And also did you just cut the bottom of the roots off in the gallon container in the last photo before you cut that escape leader.looks very simple and straight forward.Thanks.

 

[cmeg1]

A few years ago we did some maple threads for a learning process and I thought they turned out well. It's that time of year when planning seedling plantings and it's a slow time. For those that don't have much experience with pine or seedlings this my approach at Telperion. The number one goal is to eventually put it in a bonsai pot. It makes the process much simpler and with better roots and base if it is started from the initial potting. These are 2\0 seedlings, meaning, 2years old and 0 potting. They are root pruned with the intention of being medium sized trees. If the intention is small trees the second set of roots would be removed and the top layer would be shorter. They will be potted in 1gal pots to a depth almost to the first branches.

Thanks ,Gary.These seedlings look to be seed bed grown.Is the seedbed in a winter poly tunnel or are they left to the elements,and if out in the open,what zone are these in.I am in zone 7 and am tempted by the thought of a simple JBP seed technique like this.

 

[garywood]

thanks for the pics.What are these trees in the photos,about 6 years?And also did you just cut the bottom of the roots off in the gallon container in the last photo before you cut that escape leader.looks very simple and straight forward.Thanks.

cm, age is probably close. The leader was not cut, that is what grows roots. When the tree is a little more developed it will be cut. This is after repot. the reason for repot is that this will be a small tree so the rootball will be kept small.

 

[cmeg1]

Ah,very cool thanks.

 

[Neli]

In Japan even small bonsai are wired. Mame as example:
Very often mame are created from Airlayers.

 

[Vance Wood]

In Japan even small bonsai are wired. Mame as example:
Very often mame are created from Airlayers.

Great Mames. They take a lot of work as you well know and that is why I don't grow them. I call them little muthers.----(LOL?) No offense I hope.

 

[Neli]

Great Mames. They take a lot of work as you well know and that is why I don't grow them. I call them little muthers.----(LOL?) No offense I hope.

No offence Darling. I dont know what little muthers is, and I trust you..."knotty" boy!
Go figure now what "knotty" is now.