Shohin doing well

[october]

* Update on page 3*

Hello all. Well, it's been a couple of months after the repot and this white pine seems to be doing pretty well. Even after drastic tree and root reductions over the last year. The tree is healthy, but not as strong as I would like. There is only 1 or maybe 2 small candles in the needle areas. This is understandable since the tree was reduced to interior foliage and branches to create a whole new image. All the foliage on there was interior foliage, so it is naturally weaker. The break on the top during styling has not seemed to cause any problems. The pot it is in is a training pot.

If anyone is interested in the work done to this tree. Here is the original link.

Rob

http://bonsainut.com/forums/showthread.php?10679-Shohin-white-pine-work&highlight=shohin+white+pine

New pics.

 

[tmmason10]

Rob, the tree looks great. The foliage is nicely arranged I like it.

 

[Thomas J.]

It looks like you've got yourself a great a little white pine going there. I'm a little envious to say the least. No I'm a lot envious, just wish I could have them here in Texas, but I've seen what the Texas heat can do to these guys. I'll just have to stick with my JBP for now.

thomas

 

[october]

Rob, the tree looks great. The foliage is nicely arranged I like it.

Thanks Tom. I think that this tree might be show ready on the next repot. Which is 2-3 years.

 

[october]

It looks like you've got yourself a great a little white pine going there. I'm a little envious to say the least. No I'm a lot envious, just wish I could have them here in Texas, but I've seen what the Texas heat can do to these guys. I'll just have to stick with my JBP for now.

thomas

Hi Thomas, thank you... How ironic, I think the same thing every time I see you post your black pines. I have followed your posts for a while. Your posts showing your pines after decandling and needle plucking are quite awesome. Also, you and I share an affinity for procumbens junipers that many do not. I was very impressed with your procumbens with mature foliage.

Rob

 

[Vance Wood]

The little White Pine is a Big beauty.

 

[Thomas J.]

Thanks Rob,
yeah that is quite ironic about our pines. I noticed the same about you and your procumbens. Your work on them is very good also. When I first started working with them I didn't think I would get very far because I started having an issue with them yellowing out too soon. Just for the heck of it I started fertilizing heavy with an acidic fertilizer and that solved the problem. Then I started getting die back from pinching too hard. I found the correct way to pinch and it's been good ever since.

thomas

 

[coh]

The pine looks great! Can't wait to see it develop over the next few years.

(To Thomas) - Regarding junipers, procumbens in particular - I also have problems with them "yellowing" and just not being healthy. I will give the acidic fertilizer a try. What have you been using? And what are they potted in?

Chris

 

[october]

The little White Pine is a Big beauty.

Thanks Vance. I think this is going to turn out to be one of the nicer shohins in my collection.

Rob

 

[october]

Thanks Rob,
yeah that is quite ironic about our pines. I noticed the same about you and your procumbens. Your work on them is very good also. When I first started working with them I didn't think I would get very far because I started having an issue with them yellowing out too soon. Just for the heck of it I started fertilizing heavy with an acidic fertilizer and that solved the problem. Then I started getting die back from pinching too hard. I found the correct way to pinch and it's been good ever since.

thomas

Ya, I have noticed that they sometimes look a bit pale. However, I mostly have shimpaku junipers, so procumbens might look pale compared to them.

Rob

 

[october]

The pine looks great! Can't wait to see it develop over the next few years.

(To Thomas) - Regarding junipers, procumbens in particular - I also have problems with them "yellowing" and just not being healthy. I will give the acidic fertilizer a try. What have you been using? And what are they potted in?

Chris

Thanks Chris.. I think we should start a thread on procumbens..

Rob

 

[Thomas J.]

Chris,
I hope Rob doesn't mind me hijacking his thread for a moment, but I use 20-20-20 fertilizer for Azaleas which also has micro nutrients which I know helps them a lot. I believe it's Miracle Gro brand. As for my potting mix, I use a mixture of equal parts of expanded shale, builders sand, and pinebark mulch. I'll have to be changing that recipe in the near future though because I can't find the builders sand at the right size anymore because my supplier doesn't carry it anymore. I think any well draining soil will work though, it's the fertilizer that is the main issue with keeping them from yellowing, especially the micro nutrients part.

thomas

 

[october]

Nope don't mind... For procumbens, I used to use turface, river sand and I believe, fir or pine bark. However, I switched a couple/few years ago to akadama, pumice and lava rock. I think in your hot climate, the bark/organics are probably needed. Around here, not so much. Also, I notice that procumbens don't seem to take in that much water. However, it could just be the specific couple that I have.

Although I think proper nutrients in fertilizers are important. I think there is the issue of frequency. In general, if you are going to have junipers in long hours of sun, it is important to fertilize regularly so they don't become pale.

Rob

 

[coh]

Thanks Chris.. I think we should start a thread on procumbens..

Rob

Go ahead - I've already said all I know about procumbens! Well, I can add - I've see a lot of pale, unhealthy-looking procumbens. The ones that are grown well really stand out in comparison.

Thomas, thanks for the info.

Chris

 

[augustine]

Rob,

Great pine!

Are you able to keep JWP in full sun in your area?

Thanks,

Augustine,
central MD 7a

 

[october]

Rob,

Great pine!

Are you able to keep JWP in full sun in your area?

Thanks,

Augustine,
central MD 7a

Hello augustine... absolutely. In fact, in this area, they pretty much need full sun all day.

Rob

 

[JudyB]

This looks great! So nice and full. For some reason, however, I can't help feeling like the picture view is a back view when I glance casually at it. I don't know why. Does it do that to you at all in person?

 

[Vance Wood]

Of course, there is always a place for a nice backside. Just joking I can't resist a butt joke.

 

[JudyB]

Of course, there is always a place for a nice backside. Just joking I can't resist a butt joke.

Who can?

 

[october]

This looks great! So nice and full. For some reason, however, I can't help feeling like the picture view is a back view when I glance casually at it. I don't know why. Does it do that to you at all in person?

Hi Judy, there may be something to your thoughts, for a couple of reasons. First, this tree was created from a larger, poor quality cascade. A completely different view and angle were chosen. You might be seeing characteristics from the old angle. Also, many times with shohin pine, the branching starts quite low on the trunk and can actually hide a good portion of the trunk, so you cannot see as much. Other reasons are that although this tree does have the type of trunk, like many pines, that swoops back then forward, this happens further up the trunk with this tree. So, with some pines, where the middle trunk sort of bows back and forward in the middle, this one also does that, but further up.

Here are some pics. Left, right and back. Notice the 2 main chops where the cut paste is. My new front was actually the former right side of the cascade. In essence, the tree's trunk has characteristics of growing back, so it would be going in the opposite direction of my new front. However, the new front has a much better base. It is wider, has more taper and no wire damage. The back did not have the branches to support a nice front image. Also, the apex would be leaning very far back.

Rob