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From landscape tree to bonsai – part 2

April 20, 2012 by Jonas Dupuich

There are only so many ways to make a bonsai smaller – and cutting and bending seem to do most of the work. As my newest pine was almost two meters tall, some cutting was in order. Although I have yet to decide on the future of the tree, it’s clear that I don’t need the top branches in the final design.

The first cut

Making the first cut

The first cut

Red-sleeved arms provide assistance

I halved the top remaining branch with my second cut. That was enough to get the tree into the workshop for further refinement.

The second cut

Halving the top branch

Even after making these reductions, this is still a large pine at over three feet across.

The second cut

Not a small tree

Once I got the pine into the workshop, I cut some heavy secondary branches and removed old needles. Then I started repotting. I removed the nursery soil from half of the rootball and planted the tree in a mix of akadama, lava, and pumice.

Barerooting half of the rootball

Bare-rooting half of the rootball

The resulting three-branched tree leaves me with several fun options for the future.

After plucking old needles

Cutback, needle removal and repotting complete

I’ll admit, one hypothesis struck me immediately when I first saw the tree. I don’t know if it’s a great idea, but it’s made me curious. What I do know is that I want to show off the base of the trunk, especially on side B (see “From landscape tree to bonsai“). Hint – here’s a photo of the tree that got me thinking in this direction.

Black pine

Japanese black pine displayed at the 2011 Gomangoku in Okazaki

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Filed Under: Bonsai Development Tagged With: Black Pine

Previous Post: « From landscape tree to bonsai
Next Post: Omoshiroi red pine forest »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Shoeless says

    April 20, 2012 at 7:01 pm

    Your blog is so awesome! I’ve always wanted to learn how to do bonsai plants…sadly I’m not sure I have the green thumb for it, but who knows, maybe your blog will inspire me to take a shot.

  2. Fr. Tom says

    April 23, 2012 at 12:55 pm

    Thanks Jonas!
    Was there any thought about air-layering the top before cutting?
    There was a pretty substancial trunk thickness where the cut was made.

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