BonjourBonsai
Chumono
Nice! I like the trunk. Did you chop the top or was it only that tall? Just curious about how it reacted if you reduced the height.
Haha! Nice!!!And this little one followed me home.View attachment 275606
It was in a slightly sunnier spot in my yard this year, which I am sure helped. I would guess at least 8 hrs of full sun. I think the longer needles last year were also from it getting a fresh repot last season.Those needles look great. I'm curious, about how many hours of sunlight a day would you say your tree saw over the growing season?
Yes, pines love sun. The procedure for decandling is to fertilize heavy in the spring, stop fert. a month before decandling and do not fertilize again until the fall after the needles harden off. This is how you you get multi-flush pines to reduce needle size and internodes.I have a few pitch pines that are younger but the needles are haven't reduced. In fact the new needles from the last season were bigger, almost 3 inches. I fed them over the summer and I've heard that can cause leggy growth. I asked about the sun because mine only get dappled morning sun for about 4 hours a day at best.
Nice work on yours, I'm going to try to find a sunnier spot for next year, or just grow Japanese maples!
I'll check it out. Thanks for the tip.Yes, pines love sun. The procedure for decandling is to fertilize heavy in the spring, stop fert. a month before decandling and do not fertilize again until the fall after the needles harden off. This is how you you get multi-flush pines to reduce needle size and internodes.
Whether or not you decandle is based on whether the tree needs to grow out, or be refined. If you are growing young stock, needle size probably isn’t a top priority. Look at the JBP articles at bonsaitonight.com if you need assistance.
Start diggingLove the progression. I don’t see a lot of pitch pines in bonsai so it’s nice to see someone having some success with one. I’m in south Louisiana and we have them all over and I’ve always wondered if I could bonsai one, so thanks again!
Six! Any tips for collection? I’ve read a little bit (mostly that they don’t like being disturbed) but if you have 6 you must be doing something right!Start digging
This tree was the first one I ever worked on. Now I have about 6 in different sizes, shapes, and styles. They are great to work on and very similar to JBP in terms of refinement techniques. I also have only seen them twice in a book written my Marty S., once on Mirai Live, and sparsely over the internet. I personally love them, and want to see more Pitch Pine in Bonsai!!!
harvest them in the fallSix! Any tips for collection? I’ve read a little bit (mostly that they don’t like being disturbed) but if you have 6 you must be doing something right!
I mostly have trees that were either purchased from nurseries, or one that was grown from seed. The tree in this thread was the last one from a nursery that no longer carries Pitch Pine. The others were purchased in bulk from a reforestation nursery in the Pine Barrens. You have to buy a dozen at a time or more. I did it with my club.Six! Any tips for collection? I’ve read a little bit (mostly that they don’t like being disturbed) but if you have 6 you must be doing something right!
For pines (and most trees it seems) a quote from "Contact" one of my favorite movies always comes to mind: "Small steps Sparks".I mostly have trees that were either purchased from nurseries, or one that was grown from seed. The tree in this thread was the last one from a nursery that no longer carries Pitch Pine. The others were purchased in bulk from a reforestation nursery in the Pine Barrens. You have to buy a dozen at a time or more. I did it with my club.
I collected one last spring, and it grew beautifully all season. Like an idiot, I decided to style it the fall after collection and it died. Wait 2-3 years before styling.
@bwaynef, since you have already made up your mind and dismissed any counterargument, I guess there is no point wasting my time and explaining what you are missing.This seems to be one of the least vigorous Pitch pines I'm able to find pictures of on the internet. I expect that you'll disagree with my assessment. I too thought for a long time that my trees were vigorous. Then I saw trees that actually were vigorous. Getting my hands on vigorous trees and working them ...and seeing them respond was eye-opening for me. (For me, restoring vigor has meant taking a hands-off, no-working approach on several trees until vigor was restrored. Its been the hardest thing I've done in bonsai, and singly, the most beneficial.)
I'd search out examples of vigorous, healthy growing Pitch pine and think about what you can do to get yours that vigorous/healthy. I don't have any pitch pine so I'm not an expert, but there seems to be some discrepancy as to whether they should be decandled. That might be a place to start. Consider also your water (pH, chemical content, consistently applying it in necessary quantity), exposure to sun, fertilizer, pest management, and fungicide.
One question I have though: When you decandle, where do you get buds?
Then.... Why?I don't have any pitch pine
I'd sincerely like to know how it responds when its decandled.@bwaynef, since you have already made up your mind and dismissed any counterargument, I guess there is no point wasting my time and explaining what you are missing.
Because I've struggled with less-than-vigorous trees before and recognize them when I see them.Then.... Why?