Pinus Strobus-Don't hate

[Guy Vitale]

There's no good info because truthfully they are very poor bonsai material. Long needles, long internodes, juvenile bark, poor backbud, etc. That said, I've had mine for 16 years, one of my first two trees I started, the other is the wisteria on my avatar. This has taken quisome time to develop and I still feel a good 10 years away. Not a good picture, I'll have to take a better one against my backdrop.

 

[Victorim]

hat said, I've had mine for 16 years, one of my first two trees I started

As crappie a bonsai subject they are.. they have there charms.. Back of the bench naughty tree.

Second tree I acquired as well funny enough, although I thought it was a JWP at the time. Loving the bark on your lower trunk. Will look forward to it after the kids have all left home

 

[Guy Vitale]

They do have thier charms, one of my favourite trees before I was into bonsai, that's why I bought it in the first place and I would never part with it. The trunk has aged nicely, I trunk chopped it a few years ago down to the lowest branch and used it as the new trunk line. It's coming along nice.

 

[Timbo]

Aye thats the conclusion im coming to. Lot of conflicting info on strobus around the web, and nothing in books Thanks. Have you worked with more than one or two?

Sadly this is how I feel about most info on trees. Just finding a reliable hardiness zone can be a challenge when you are on that border zone.
I dunno how many time I looked up growth rate only to find one says slow/med and another say fast.

 

[Victorim]

Sadly this is how I feel about most info on trees. Just finding a reliable hardiness zone can be a challenge when you are on that border zone.
I dunno how many time I looked up growth rate only to find one says slow/med and another say fast.

bah you got it easy! It hasn't stopped raining in wales since 1992!

 

[GGB]

@Victorim busted! I always check this site at work, I'll be damned if I can remember to snap a pic tomorrow monring. (I get home after dark)

 

[M. Frary]

I have one I collected 3 years ago. The needles are still getting longer. The reason I dug it up was because it had short needles at the time. Maybe an inch long. Now they're 3 inched.
I'm going to return it back to nature this year.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

The mention of rain in Wales reminds me of the one excellent use of P strobus.

Root stock. If you can low graft like Dave Dewire or Brent Walston, strobus is excellent rootstock for JWP for those with cold wet winters. But because strobus is slow to form bark, grafts need to be in the root zone.

Roots of strobus are hardy through zone 4 and into warmer side of zone 3. They tolerate wet better than JWP. This is the best trait of strobus. And it is a compatible rootstock for all 5 needle pines.

 

[Adair M]

I have one I collected 3 years ago. The needles are still getting longer. The reason I dug it up was because it had short needles at the time. Maybe an inch long. Now they're 3 inched.
I'm going to return it back to nature this year.

We all only have a limited amount of time on earth. EWP just isn't worth spending any on it for bonsai. I've seen a couple "decent" ones, but never one that I would want to own.

Even the "decent" ones... remind me of trying to restore a classic Chevy Vega. You could bring it back to showroom condition, and what do you have? A Chevy Vega.

 

[Dav4]

We all only have a limited amount of time on earth. EWP just isn't worth spending any on it for bonsai. I've seen a couple "decent" ones, but never one that I would want to own.

Even the "decent" ones... remind me of trying to restore a classic Chevy Vega. You could bring it back to showroom condition, and what do you have? A Chevy Vega.

Lol, that made me chuckle... good analogy, though.

 

[Nybonsai12]

We all only have a limited amount of time on earth. EWP just isn't worth spending any on it for bonsai. I've seen a couple "decent" ones, but never one that I would want to own.

Even the "decent" ones... remind me of trying to restore a classic Chevy Vega. You could bring it back to showroom condition, and what do you have? A Chevy Vega.

LOL. i have only one EWP, but i agree with you.

Still i kind of like mine but it's similar to how you could never think your kid is ugly. Maybe I could graft JWP foliage onto it?

 

[Adair M]

LOL. i have only one EWP, but i agree with you.

Still i kind of like mine but it's similar to how you could never think your kid is ugly. Maybe I could graft JWP foliage onto it?

Does your EWP have great bark? Movement? Nebari? All of the above? Then maybe. Two out of three? It's probably easier to find a better trunk to graft onto. One of three? What??? Are you crazy??? None of the above? Sorry, I can't help you!!! Lol!!!

 

[M. Frary]

I had a couple Chevy Vegas.
Pop a small block V8 in one and you now have the fastest car for counties around.
You can't do anything to Eastern white pine to make it better.

 

[Guy Vitale]

I have one I collected 3 years ago. The needles are still getting longer. The reason I dug it up was because it had short needles at the time. Maybe an inch long. Now they're 3 inched.
I'm going to return it back to nature this year.

Mike, the reason the needles are probably getting longer is because you are giving it better growing conditions than where it was previously growing. Better soil, more fertilizer, consistency with watering. They are a challenge to say the least, if it's something you care to mess around with, then go for it, but curb your expectations.

 

[M. Frary]

Mike, the reason the needles are probably getting longer is because you are giving it better growing conditions than where it was previously growing. Better soil, more fertilizer, consistency with watering. They are a challenge to say the least, if it's something you care to mess around with, then go for it, but curb your expectations.

As soon as it started growing my expectations flew right out the window.

 

[Potawatomi13]

Pinus Strobus-Don't hate
And what comes out of woodwork but termites. Haters who know what is best for everyone else as usual and just can not keep negative opinions to self!

 

[M. Frary]

At least the needles on EWP aren't as long as a ponderosa pines.

But with both you can graft good short foliage onto them.

 

[Adair M]

Pinus Strobus-Don't hate
And what comes out of woodwork but termites. Haters who know what is best for everyone else as usual and just can not keep negative opinions to self!

Pots, ya gotta admit my Vega analogy was funny!

I'm not hatin'. Actually, sometimes it's kinda entertaining to watch people doing stupid stuff they know is stupid! YouTube is full of "Fail" videos!

 

[LanceMac10]

I had a couple Chevy Vegas.
Pop a small block V8 in one and you now have the fastest car for counties around.
You can't do anything to Eastern white pine to make it better.

My buddy put a 383 stroker in a Vega when we were younger. Didn't last long, bent the frame. Then we put it in a Z-28 with a full cage, fiberglass hood, tubs....shredded the roof from the body at the rear pillar.
Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Giga]

Pots, ya gotta admit my Vega analogy was funny!

I'm not hatin'. Actually, sometimes it's kinda entertaining to watch people doing stupid stuff they know is stupid! YouTube is full of "Fail" videos!

I hope I'm not this kind of stupid.....


But opinions are like assholes, everyone has one, and they all stink


Still the Vega analogy was good.