itilan pine

Grown from seed and about five inch tall. Will i need to prune when i repot ?... Im a total newby and crazy to grow more. Love little trees.

A photo would help but I shouldn't imagine pruning is desirable at this point in its development. It is still a seedling at this stage and if it were mine, I'd leave well alone for another year at least. As I said, difficult to make the call until we actually see it.

You're not planning on putting it in a bonsai pot just now are you?

Lovely thankyou for reply. Not now Im not going to put it in a bonsi pot although I've brought some nice ones. Another year is great timing as my son Will be two and i can join some club and read lots. I really don't see this hobby going away. Im going to try to grow and buy as many little trees as i can. Im so happy there are people like you who enjoy the beauty and peace of this magical hobby. Thankyou again.

Understand that growing from seed is a very long process, especially with pines. This little tree is many years away from being bonsai-ready.

Ahhh... Thankyou sen sei. Looks like grasshopper has much to learn. Im a bit nervous now. I germanited little pine in a yogurt pot ! i have to try to keep little pine. I hope to have many years and germanited the seed on a special day. I hope to pass on to my little boy when the time comes.

little wing wrote:Ahhh... Thankyou sen sei. Looks like grasshopper has much to learn. Im a bit nervous now. I germanited little pine in a yogurt pot !  i have to try to keep little pine. I hope to have many years and germanited the seed on a special day. I hope to pass on to my little boy when the time comes.

If your tree is an Italian Stone Pine, you will also have to keep in mind that the tree have juvenile short compacted needles when it is young and long "ugly" needles when it is older. Restricting the roots and pinching the tree regularly later on, the tree will keep the juvenile needle growing characteristic.

Good luck on your bonsai adventure!

Lennard

Lovely thankyou. I went and looked at the mighty tree that the cone the seed came from and now i can see a better picture in my mind. Now i have to figure out what to do bout the silly yogurt pot i grew little pine in. It won't last till repot time. By the way the parent tree is generly ugly but i seem to be the only person thinking its beauty is a gift. My luck is already made by this magic hobby. I see things differently.

I found a club. Im too embrased to turn up with my little pine grown from seed in a yogurt container. These guys are seasoned experts. How do i not seem like a complete clown. What else shall i take ?

Help ! Do i show up to my first bonsi meet with my tiny tree in a yogurt pot ? my tree to young to repot.

Go along to your first few club meetings with a notepad and pen(cil) and just be prepared to watch, listen and more importantly ask questions. Most people at clubs are only too happy to talk away all evening to newcomers. Jot down your observations - especially of what trees do well in your local area, and what the club members recommend you try as a starter. Take a camera and take pictures of the good trees.  

As others have said, your seedling is a long way from being ready for styling, so if you don't already have it, this is a good time to get yourself a basic understanding of horticultural principles.  Although there is clearly an "art" side, Bonsai is still a specialised branch of horticulture where the ability to keep a living plant alive and flourishing is the bottom line in its success.  

You should also try to acquire some decent starter material and use this to practise your new-found skills on. Perhaps the club you are going to will have a bring and buy table where members trade the trees they no longer want.  

Good luck at the meeting.

Also, if the seedling Italian Pine is now too big for the yogurt pot, get yourself a standard plant pot (terracotta or plastic) not any less than 1litre, lift the entire seedling in its soil from your yogurt pot and plant it up into the new bigger growing pot.

You are not "doing bonsai" on this plant at the moment - merely carrying out basic horticultural practices, so don't get too hung up on best times for potting/pruning etc. fully established bonsai.

When I work with tree seedlings, I generally would only do this first process of getting the germinated seedling into its first growing on pot (we call it pricking out of seedlings over here). I don't do anything with it until the roots are strong enough to endure being fiddled about with and the seedling has started to look like a tree trunk (i.e. it looks like bark). The Black Pines I grew took about 2 years to get to this stage btw.

Cool.. Im a seasoned gardener so can do the picking out easy. Ill love my little pine and not show anyone. Learn and take your advice. Your my best bonsi friend.

Ernie Kuo has a good one and has written about his method.
Google will reveal the tree.  

Will do now. Thankyou. Loving the smilie face. Smiles like bonsi are contagious.