Pine Bark Cleaning

Over the past few years an algae has grown on a few of the bark plates of an old black pine. Over the winter I want to clean the bark but the plates are old and delicate. Any suggestions on the best approach? An old tooth brush is my tool of choice since it is soft yet sturdy. Thanks

Randi

I would use an old tooth brush or maybe those little parts brushes, which are even softer.

no by all means DON"T touch the tree bark with a toothbrush use this product http://www.kaizenbonsai.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=41&products_id=1605

andre_f wrote:no by all means DON"T touch the tree bark with a toothbrush use this product http://www.kaizenbonsai.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=41&products_id=1605

mmm? not sure.......i used about a liter of this and havent really had spectacular results that were expected. It kills off moss for sure but not to the extent that it 'just blows away in the wind and disappears' which was the impression I got from the write up. Also moss soon starts creeping back soon after if you are in a wet climate

Def do not use a tooth brush as it will take off the outer plates - vinegar is gentle and does a good job - dilute it 10:1 and spray on or use a soft paint brush. Green algae is harder to get rid of i find but the vinegar does work over a few goes - but it is also a sign the tree is too damp. Diluted lime sulphar will work wonders, but you will get a silvery white bark rahter than a dark one

cheers Marcus

marcus watts wrote:
Def do not use a tooth brush as it will take off the outer plates - vinegar is gentle and does a good job - dilute it 10:1 and spray on or use a soft paint brush.

Marcus, in your thread https://ibonsaiclub.forumotion.com/t10696-a-scots-pine-chooses-a-new-keeper you use a toothbrush, did you loose the outer plates at that time?

Ingvar Nilsson wrote:

marcus watts wrote:
Def do not use a tooth brush as it will take off the outer plates - vinegar is gentle and does a good job - dilute it 10:1 and spray on or use a soft paint brush.

Marcus, in your thread https://ibonsaiclub.forumotion.com/t10696-a-scots-pine-chooses-a-new-keeper you use a toothbrush, did you loose the outer plates at that time?

yes i took off all the outer plates on purpose - this was a scotts pine and the plates underneath are a lovely red colour - the outer plates were thin layers of bark but thick with green algae so i brushed hard using electric tooth brush and wire brush to remove the green and the outer bark sheets. now i have red bark again and i have better air circulation so the algae has not returned - over the next winter or two the outer plates will become more flaky again, but without the green algae.

on the old black pine i have the thick outer plates are precious and have taken over 20 years to nicely form so i do not brush at all - it all depends on the pine species what i do

cheers Marcus

marcus watts wrote:
yes i took off all the outer plates on purpose - this was a scotts pine and the plates underneath are a lovely red colour - the outer plates were thin layers of bark but thick with green algae so i brushed hard using electric tooth brush and wire brush to remove the green and the outer bark sheets. now i have red bark again and i have better air circulation so the algae has not returned - over the next winter or two the outer plates will become more flaky again, but without the green algae.

on the old black pine i have the thick outer plates are precious and have taken over 20 years to nicely form so i do not brush at all - it all depends on the pine species what i do

cheers Marcus

Ok, I understand. I have no experience with black pines, but I've bookmarked and memorized your scots pine-thread for just that beautiful red bark effect.
Thanks,
Ingvar