Root Over Rock Pitch Pine Yamadori

[Tidal Bonsai]

I treated myself to a birthday gift yesterday. I still can't believe I found a root over rock pitch pine that was sucessfully collected a few years ago!!! This is getting a big repot at roughly this new angle in the late winter/early spring, and a full styling around my birthday next year. The height is currently 30 inches from the lip of the pot.



Thank you to @Lynn E for bringing it back home with you!

 

[Colorado]

Happy Birthday! And good looking material, looking forward to seeing it all styled up!

 

[Potawatomi13]

Killer first branch! Interesting tree, many possibilities.

 

[Tidal Bonsai]

Killer first branch! Interesting tree, many possibilities.

I know... that first branch is going to be amazing! ! I can't wait to style this tree, but it's for the best health/development of the tree that I work on the roots first. It is not weak, but working back the roots, removing more field soil and getting it at the angle that I want is a top priority at this stage.

 

[Tidal Bonsai]

All ready for spring repotting!

This is a really funky Keizan pot, that I feel goes really well with this funky pine.

 

[Tidal Bonsai]

In the fall, I removed one unnessisary branch at the top of the tree, and guy wired the main branch up (this will help with the first styling in the fall of 2023). It came out of winter storeage in perfect condition, so I moved forwards with the next steps.

It didn't show up in pictures, but the needles have been slightly yellow in color since I first got it in October. Liquid iron and fish emulsion in the fall helped, but I predicted that there was a root issue. After looking under the hood today, I saw that the previous caretaker didn't remove any field soil and slip potted it in a big Mica pot of Boon mix.

I handled the roots using the Mirai method, and I am expecting a year of improved health and color! Loving this funky Keizan pot with this funky tree! It's the perfect size, texture and shape IMO!!!

 

[Tidal Bonsai]

In a little less than a year I:
- Slip potted the tree into an appropriate container
- Won the battle with fungus in the spring
- Cut candles on the upper stronger candles.
- Needle cut the upper part of the tree and left the bottom alone to close the gap with energy balance.

The needle size is almost identical across the tree, the minty green color is restored, it is loaded with backbuds top to bottom, and I can't wait for a first styling in the next month or two!!!

2022



2023

 

[Johnnyd]

Nice work! The way it grew over the rock made a fantastic base!

 

[Tidal Bonsai]

Couldn't be happier with this tree after its first styling! Thank you @MACH5 for helping me bring out the amazing potential this tree had!!!

Fall 2023


Fall 2022

 

[misfit11]

Very nice work! You really brought out the best of this material. Given the structure that it has now, it will only get better as it develops. The pot choice is perfect.

 

[Tidal Bonsai]

I displayed this tree for the last time this weekend before I will give it a few years off to improve density and make some tweaks to the design. While my display was similar to what was shown at the Art of Bonsai show, I was very proud of the fresh/light feel it showed for the spring season! If you compare pictures, the dense and dark needles of the summer gave way to lighter spring growth on my pitch pine, and the trident shohin is loaded with delicate spring growth. The dwarfed dandelions barely starting to open bring it all together with a poetic nod to the beginning of spring.

Summer 2024

Spring 2025