Comments on: Developing black pine

By: xwires

xwires — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 05:20:02 +0000

Hi Keith – thanks for the note. And good question. I’ll briefly answer and mention that Bonsai Today #20 has a great article on growing Japanese black pine from seed – it’s well worth the read. If you’re growing the pines from seed, the first trick is making seedling-cuttings. If my seedlings germinate this season, I’ll be sure to write on the topic. The next part of the tree’s life is thickening the trunk. As long as the tree has some good lateral roots to start with, only basic root-work is completed in this phase. When the trunk gets to the desired size, the next step is developing fine branches and fine roots. These steps proceed hand in hand. During these years, large roots are removed and replaced, in time, with fine roots. Good bonsai soil and careful root-pruning make all the difference. Black pine roots can develop quickly under the right circumstances.

If you haven’t seen my earlier posts on the topic, you search this site for “bonsai soil” you’ll find a few posts about bonsai soil and repotting. I wrote about repotting basics here.

By: Keith

Keith — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 03:03:33 +0000

Hello Jonas, I just stumbled upon your blog and thought you might be able to answer a question regarding pine development. Japanese black pines are my favorite, so Ive been learning as much as I can about growing them for bonsai. Yet I have been unable to locate quality information about root development. I see all these great pines with strong nebari quickly turning into hair roots beneath the soil surface. How does one achieve that on a pine?
For example, lets say a pine has been allowed to grow for a few years to develop the trunk… there are several pencil thick roots at the base of the tree… When it is dug or re-potted, are all these thick roots cut way back at one time?
Thank you for sharing knowledge with those of us outside the bonsai community.

By: Trunk grafting – black pine « Bonsai Tonight

Trunk grafting – black pine « Bonsai Tonight — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 20:35:59 +0000

[...] 2, 2010 Grafting is one of the most useful techniques for developing bonsai from rough stock. A pine I have been working on for the past few years needs a few more branches before I can reduce it to [...]

By: xwires

xwires — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 17:58:13 +0000

Hi Dallas - I likely got it from Jim Gremel (Deer Meadow Bonsai). I just bought a brand of akadama I haven't used in years & will see how it goes. Finding the really good stuff is tricky.

By: Dallas Roberts

Dallas Roberts — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 01:37:25 +0000

Hi Jonas, I was wondering where you get your clay King soil from? I live in Salt Lake City, and it seems my akadama always breaks down too quickly through the winter.
Thanks