Stone Pines

[RickMartin]

Rick, the single needle is the juvenile growth needles. Don't even consider doing any work until they produce mature two needle growth.

That's not happening until they reach 5-10 years old..geeze talk about patience. This is a shame because they do have good branch structure.

Rick

 

[ColinFraser]

I think the biggest issue with these as bonsai is that the mature needles are HUGE - many times longer than the juvenile foliage.

 

[aml1014]

That's not happening until they reach 5-10 years old..geeze talk about patience. This is a shame because they do have good branch structure.

Rick

As I said earlier there is always inverse taper on mature specimens so keep an eye on it, I can't wait for the progress of these guys.

 

[RickMartin]

Has to be some way to reduce those needles.

Rick

 

[ColinFraser]

Has to be some way to reduce those needles.

From what I've read, the best bet may be to maintain the juvenile foliage with constant pruning and plucking.

 

[RickMartin]

That's what I've read. Also said if you work on a tree with juvinelle foliage, make sure shoots have hardened off.

Rick

 

[Potawatomi13]

Rick, the single needle is the juvenile growth needles. Don't even consider doing any work until they produce mature two needle growth.

Gary, have seen this immature growth mentioned for these trees on here before. Is this unique to P. pinea or are there others that do this at this size? There are some at neighborhood Safeway store.

 

[Saizan]

Has to be some way to reduce those needles.

Rick

As I know, needle reduction could be achieved as in Japanese Black Pine (P. thunbergii)

There's not so much information about P. pinea; maybe this link could be useful, even being in spanish:

http://carthago2009.blogspot.com.es/search/label/Pino piñonero

 

[RickMartin]

That is a pretty good read, after I translated it

Rick

 

[aml1014]

Gary, have seen this immature growth mentioned for these trees on here before. Is this unique to P. pinea or are there others that do this at this size? There are some at neighborhood Safeway store.

I know pinus edulis aka pinion pine does this also I see it all the time here.

 

[RickMartin]

When the time is right I'm going to work these trees

Rick

 

[aml1014]

I just bought one to play god with. I'll post a thread on mine later.

 

[RickMartin]

Sounds good.

Rick

 

[M. Frary]

Rick,you do know these trees are zone 7 right.
What about overwintering in a zone 5 location?

 

[GGB]

Been eyeing this species up the last few weeks, glad to see someone else doing the trailblazing on this one. Didn't have enough faith to take the plunge

 

[RickMartin]

Rick,you do know these trees are zone 7 right.
What about overwintering in a zone 5 location?

Making me a little greenhouse for these guys.

Rick

 

[aml1014]

Making me a little greenhouse for these guys.

Rick

I did a fair bit of research because of this thread and learned they can live into zone 11 areas like South florida, and northern Africa is a native region so I figured they naturally have a somewhat shorter and more mild winter. So I've been seeing the same stone pines at home depot since late winter so I know theyve been in cold for awhile now so I pruned and wired mine into the natural flat top form, and put it into my tropical greenhouse which is very much like florida. That's why I said I was playing god I figured leave it out as long as I can each year then start its spring when I decide lol I guess I'll see if it survives.

 

[RickMartin]

If nothing else I can practice on a $3 tree and not a couple hundred dollar tree.

Rick

 

[RickMartin]

I did a fair bit of research because of this thread and learned they can live into zone 11 areas like South florida, and northern Africa is a native region so I figured they naturally have a somewhat shorter and more mild winter. So I've been seeing the same stone pines at home depot since late winter so I know theyve been in cold for awhile now so I pruned and wired mine into the natural flat top form, and put it into my tropical greenhouse which is very much like florida. That's why I said I was playing god I figured leave it out as long as I can each year then start its spring when I decide lol I guess I'll see if it survives.

I would like to see your tree. Did you branch prune it already

Rick

 

[aml1014]

I would like to see your tree. Did you branch prune it already

Rick

Yes sir, also the woman at my work said she had them in the tropical greenhouse for like 3 years before they all sold and she said they did great. Here's a quick pic of mine I'll do a thread with better photos though. It definitely will need some time