Very first styling, wiring of mugo pine
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woodguy
Mame
Mugos respond best to being re-potted while in active growth during the summer. This is contrary to other pine species. Bonsai4me has a good run down on mugos.
Smoke
Ignore-Amus
Hi Mr. Woodguy. I have heard of repotting these in summer, from a guy in Michigan and now you in Connecticut.
I happen to know this guy lives in Fresno, CA. Our summers here can get as hot as 110 for weeks at a time. Humidity around 10 percent and the needle sometimes will still be around 99 degrees at 1AM.
Still think mid summer is best? I have no clue as many here loath them.
John Kirby
Seedling
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Smoke,
You want a Mugho Pine Bonsai? Get a picture. I wouldn't bet on one in your climate at all. But, knowing you and your tenacity- you will get it done.
John
You want a Mugho Pine Bonsai? Get a picture. I wouldn't bet on one in your climate at all. But, knowing you and your tenacity- you will get it done.
John
Smoke
Ignore-Amus
Smoke
Ignore-Amus
Not to bad. You can really crank on the tissue on these so if movement is what you want, wrap it in heavier wire and put the ouch to it.
If I were working on it the tree would be in the circle for me based on trunk size and available taper.
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woodguy
Mame
No in that climate mid summer would not be ideal. Individuals climates would have to be taken into consideration. Earlier in the summer would probably be better. The thing with mugos is that they do better being potted and root pruned after the first flush of growth. I've seen this with the three that I have. I've repotted here in CT mid summer with temps in the 90s, but much higher humidity. I just keep them in the shade for two weeks or so and they have thrived. Maybe the timing doesn't work in Fresno. Which might explain the loathing.
Smoke
Ignore-Amus
There you go. I feel that when giving advice on the internet which can be read around the world, a caveat should be included "in my area" I can repot mid summer.
The loathing is not so much the fact that the timing for repotting may be crappy, but the fact that those seen in Europe and dug as yamadori with twisty wild trunks can't be had here as in Europe. Being forced to choosing material from nurseries that have never pruned the trees for bonsai use means that they have terrible whorls of branches that have caused swellings and knobs that are hard to reduce. It also means that roots have bulged up in cans left around the plants too long like many junipers suffer from.
When Mugos are grown with bonsai in mind in huge fields and left to grow for fifty years , then we may have something. Untill that time nursery crawls are the best method and finding those needles in a haystack that are far and few between.
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woodguy
Mame
You are right. It was a bit of a quick response and should have included that caveat. I'll also agree that compared to the European yamadori Mugos, what you can find in a nursery doesn't even compare. I do think that you can make very nice shohin from what can be found at non bonsai nurseries. But yes they are not easy to find. I spent many hours crawling around on my knees to find the three that I have.
This article that I referenced in my first post goes in depth on timing, etc. and how they differ from other pines.
http://www.bonsai4me.com/AdvTech/ATMugo Pines Indepth.htm
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