bonsaiTALK Community - View Single Post - Newbie's Pine. Any ideas are welcome

Quote:

Originally Posted by waltr

Regardless of whether its a Mugo or a Scotts back budding is needed on this tree and it is accomplished in the nearly same way.
I would not cut back as in the virts above, that's too drastic. Instead cut off the newest shoots once they harden. This should induce some back budding lower down on the branches. Do not pull any needles, very important if it is a mugo as buds only grow from the base of existing needles.
Be sure to fertilize and water well and give the lots of direct sun to get it growing vigorously before cutting and continue through the next few years to have the new buds develop. The additional branches and growth will also help thicken the trunk.

See articles and posts by Vance Wood for details on these techniques. You could have a reasonable bonsai from this tree in 5 to 10 years.

It's most definitely a Mugo Pine. The tree needs to be cut back hard to induce a lot of back budding, do not cut back to nothing but bare wood there must be some growth below the cut. Some branch or branches on large growth as big as your index finger, and needles on branches as large as your baby finger and smaller. I would remove the tree from its pot and remove the soil with your hands till you find the point where the two trunks come together. Hopefully there will be some roots around its base, but do this and post another picture.