Swiss pine (pinus Cembra)

KennedyMarx

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I found this Swiss pine at a local nursery. The owner said it was an expensive tree, but it had sat unsold so long he discounted for me. I looked up Pinus Cembra and the only person I saw using it was Walter Pall. From what I gather it should be treated like Japanese white pine.
 

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jeanluc83

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I like, it it looks like it has a lot of potential. What are your plans for it at this point?
 

KennedyMarx

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When I got it home I pulled it out of the pot and dusted the outer rootball with some mycorrhizal powder I have. I have no idea if it makes a difference in the health of the plant really, but I figure it can't hurt. I applied some Holly Tone to the surface after I slipped it back in the pot. The needles are a little pale, so hopefully the fertilizer plus letting it dry out more will green it up. I don't know anything much about pines, so trying to get it to peak health is my main priority. I'd like to change half the soil next year, then the rest the next year.

I have tons of bar branches all over the plant and whorls near the apex that I want to deal with, but I'm not sure how much I should be chopping off of it right now. Plus I'm trying to determine how tall I'd like the final image to be. Something about 10-12 inches seems about right. The branches are all very flexible, even the lower ones which are about pencil thick.
 

jk_lewis

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I'd just study it until spring.

Do I see a big, fat root in that second photo (the only one I looked at; the others were sideways)? What's the base like?
 

KennedyMarx

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I'll try to get a better picture of the base tomorrow. It mainly goes to one side with a smaller root jutting out of the opposite side. Not sure if anything spreads out below these as I didn't want to disturb the roots at all.
 

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jk_lewis

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That'll be OK, but it pretty well dictates where the front will be . . .
 

KennedyMarx

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Either that's the back or the front. Either side is workable considering the branch placement. There aren't any eye pokers until you get further into what is the current apex.
 

jeanluc83

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I think this could be a really nice tree. My first step come spring would be to repot. Get it into a pond basket with good substrate. Once you get a better idea of what the roots look like you will be able plan for the trees future.
 
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