New to pines, bought a JWP

[Bonsai Nut]

I actually hesitated to post images because I expected plenty of people to say it was not the best material.

Try not to focus on "best material", and focus instead on "what can I learn from this tree". The only failure would be if you worked on the tree for three or four years and learned nothing. Because then if you decided to buy a more expensive JWP you would not be prepared to care for it.

Not trying to disagree with Tanlu, but at least in my experience JWP is almost never grown on its own roots in the nursery trade because JWP roots are not strong and the tree does not grow quickly or vigorously. On the west coast they even go so far as to graft JWP on JBP root stock. Here is a photo of a grafted JWP at the GSBF show (sold for $1500). This graft was done masterfully in Japan - they scarified the upper JWP trunk bark to match the JBP trunk's bark, and even grafted a JWP branch exactly at the level of the trunk graft. It is very hard to see the graft (I wish I had taken a better picture). It is still there - but very hard to see.

Of course if what you love about JWP is the character of the JWP bark, you won't get it without growing the tree on its own roots. Or at least... I have yet to see a convincing low graft where there was absolutely no sign of the root stock's different bark characteristics.

 

[Victrinia Ridgeway]

Not trying to disagree with Tanlu, but at least in my experience JWP is almost never grown on its own roots in the nursery trade because JWP roots are not strong and the tree does not grow quickly or vigorously. On the west coast they even go so far as to graft JWP on JBP root stock. [/QUOTE]

This is indeed the case, at least in the West. I would be surprised if it was different in the East. I do wish I had been at GSBF this year. :( Missed out on those perfect margaritas.... :( lol

V

 

[tanlu]

I agree with Victrinia. This will be a great learning experience for you, and 60 something bucks is not a bad investment since you're working with JWP which can be pricy. My point is that while you're working on this tree, get yourself more material (at least one tree with potential) that can keep you occupied since JWP don't require a lot of work.

I believe grafting (or not) is also a matter of personal taste. I can understand the reasons why JWP is grafted onto JBP rootstock, especially on the West coast which tends to have a longer, dryer and warmer growing season. JWP roots are simply not suited for that kind of climate. JWP, rootstock and all, are much more cold hardy than JBP, and are well suited for our long NY winters. I believe that that very best JWP bonsai specimen in Japan are not grafted. There's something about the short silver green JWP needles against cracked, scaly gray JWP bark that conjures up a timeless image of a graceful, ancient mountain pine (which is where they're from). From my observation, JWP bark on the base species matures relatively faster than that of grafted cultivars. My guess is that this isn't well known because there are relatively few base species JWP bonsai in the US.

T