The key factor is the needles, I would upsize the container and increase the depth of planting to ensure healthy conditions for the feeder roots that may exist. This also allows more sun exposure and less frequent watering. Safer conditions to support healthy growth. The exposed roots will not deteriorate from this treatment but it will give a healthier environment for the tree! Such a tiny pot in such a hot climate, I doubt very much it would be fine. Unless of course it is tended several times a day, even then the size of the pot would barely support a healthy root mass in the crevices between the soil mix.
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On to my actual black pine. I think this tree is 4-5yo. I’m curious if I should chop some of the branches in the cluster pictured or if I should leave it be.
Don’t count out my ignorance just yet. I plucked a ton of needles in late spring that I probably shouldn’t have, but I am happy to see it starting to come into itself. I do not research red pines very much but I have heard they are less vigorous than pines. Do you know if that’s true? My black pine seems to surprise me year over year but this one seems much slower and I’m not sure it that’s due to it’s initial condition or if it is due to the species.
Are you happy with the thickness of the trunk? Why did you chop the sacrifice off so early?
In retrospect I should have kept it for a few more years, but at the time I was more concerned about the stability of the tree in the pot. With the sacrifice branch it was more susceptible to being blown over. I also figured I can always just let a new runner be the sacrifice in the future, or at least that’s what I was thinking. That said this is going to be a relatively small tree regardless.
