Incredible shohin white pine pre stock

This might be one of the best finds I have ever made. 8 inches tall with a 3 1/2 inch trunk. This tree was originally a semi cascade or an informal upright. None of which were really a good example of either style. There is/was a large, thick, no taper, completely straight first anchoring branch and a somewhat tall top. I initially picked it up to inspect the trunk. When I did I noticed that picking a completely different front, eliminating that thick branch and reducing the height of what is to be the back, made for a beautiful shohin.

The tree will need to be reduced gradually over the period of a few years. Yesterdays work consisted of removing half the straight, thick, no taper semi cascade branch. Also, reducing the height of the back some. I then used cut paste, well, it is more like a putty, from Japan, the seal the cuts.

Next year, I will either further reduce or do a repot. Which ever needs to be done. Even with a repot, It will probably just be put into another pot with better soil. Here are some pics after yesterdays work.

Rob

Very nice! Where'd you find it?

Great find. Must have cost you a pretty penny!

Rob, that is beautiful, an excellent find; I can't wait to see how it progresses.

The more I see trees like these is all the more motivation to take a crack at pines.

Congrats.

John

Nice find. Remember to take a step by step record of how you progress it for the Progressions section.

Thanks mbolos.. The tree came from New England Bonsai Gardens in Bellingham, MA

Hello Poink88..Not too bad.. I actually work at the nursery sometimes so I had some store credit. I also have had a good relationship with the nursery for quite a few years.

Thanks Orion..I do not really have many pines. I have one other one and it is also a white pine.. I do like white pines, but to find a great one can be an incredibly difficult task.. Especially if you do not have a lot of money. Also, they do require work done at mandatory times.. I actually prefer junipers. Easier to work with, faster results and more forgiving.

Thanks fiona.. I definitely will. I have been logging my tree progressions for about 8 years now. For this tree to achieve it's full potential, it will definitely be a journey. Providing it takes to the branch reductions. Then we will see if and how it takes to an appropriate size bonsai pot... It is one of those those situations where optimum health must be maintained through the entire training period.

Rob

Rob,

Is there much of a difference in the level of difficulty between a White and Black pines? What would you recommend as far as pine species go for someone who's never worked on pines?

Thanks

John

Well... I have just started diving into pines over the last 2-3 years... I've spent the last 10 years mostly dealing with junipers, elms and false cypress.

From my initial introduction to them. I would say they are both on the same level. However, both have very different pruning techniques. Also, some artists have different methods of dealing with certain aspects of their training. However, the basics still remain. With either one, it is not that it is difficult. It is just specific and time framed. It is not like other species that can be let go and still be ok. Even letting a pine go for 1 season, might set you back 3 years. Also, improper pruning can really ruin future designs.

Personally, I would tell people that want to start pines to not be intimidated... Bonsai is supposed to be a fun experience. As long as you have good information and have guidance while and before you do work on them. Everything will fall into place.

Rob

Japanese white pines can be much more delicate, in the type of pruning they can take (some recommend that you should never fully decandle a white pine, where the technique is usually encouraged with black pines) as well as their winter tolerance. It is partly for this reason (i.e. vigor) that japanese white pines are almost always grafted onto a stronger stock, like the japanese black pine.

Wow very nice.

regards,
jun

fiona wrote:Nice find. Remember to take a step by step record of how you progress it for the Progressions section.

Yes. And -- hopefully -- you got a pre-operative picture?????

hi,
i was hoping for the 'before' picture too

This is a very nice compact tree - nice find and it looks to have plenty of strong inner shoots to work the new design with. very nice trunk too.

hi Orion, proper winter conditions are most important for white pines to stay strong- they really like 10-12 weeks of proper traditional cold winter weather (to be over protected and above freezing slowly weakens them), and they need far more gentle, well timed candle pruning as going too heavy handed can kill off branches. Black pines are so much easier imo - winter protection is good and all of the first candles are just cut off - they then make plenty of back buds and form smaller shoots - these are the ones you build the tree from that year.

The stone lantern pine book is an absolute bible of information that works too.

cheers Marcus

Thanks everyone..

Hello Jim and Marcus.. Here is a pic of the tree before the work and a description of what I did.

marcus watts wrote:hi Orion, proper winter conditions are most important for white pines to stay strong- they really like 10-12 weeks of proper traditional cold winter weather (to be over protected and above freezing slowly weakens them), and they need far more gentle, well timed candle pruning as going too heavy handed can kill off branches. Black pines are so much easier imo - winter protection is good and all of the first candles are just cut off - they then make plenty of back buds and form smaller shoots - these are the ones you build the tree from that year.

The stone lantern pine book is an absolute bible of information that works too.

cheers Marcus

Thanks both Rob and Marcus for the tips.