Black Pine..Anyone really familiar?

YoungApprentice

This is my first post ever to this forum, and I'm not sure what I'm looking for as far as the answer.

I'm starting two trees from seeds, Black Pine, and was wondering what good info on the species would help me keep these seedlings alive, and eventually thrive?

The only other types of trees I've had experience with were Junipers and Chinese Elm. Both being so hearty that lack of knowledge and minor neglect, when corrected, was rarely irreversible.

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hummerlite

Go to Bonsai Clubs International and there are some info there.

bonsaikc

The study of Japanese black pine is incredibly rewarding. I don't really recommend getting your feet wet with the species by starting seeds, though. Once the seedlings have emerged and begun to grow, at just the right time they are removed from the soil and all the roots are cut off (at just the right point), then dipped in rooting hormone and potted up. This encourages a good nebari. Then certain techniques are applied to encourage growth and development of shape and branching. Starting JBP from seed is actually a quite advanced technique. I recommend starting with slightly more developed trees if you can find them.

Here is an article detailing my own use of one year old JBP pine seedlings from Van's Pine Nursery. I started with 100 frozen plugs and so far, I still have about 25-30 left that are developing well. I expect with the experience I have gained I will have better results next time.

Here is another article that I discovered after I had already begun my experiment. Looks like Brian Gershuny has been carrying on for a little longer.

Good luck to you.

__________________
Chris Johnston
"She was a critic, and lots fo critics who aren't called to do what they write about grow jealous and mean and small in their disappointment." - Stephen King, Duma Key
Sashi-no-eda.blogspot.com

Bonsainut

Kc,
Good advice as always.

My young apprentice,
Click on search, type in Japanese black pine, hit search. Then read read read, sleep ,read read repeat

__________________
Keep growing,---'Nut



Lethal Use of Farce

malhomme

"You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to bonsaikc again."

Chris, if someone would turn off this feature I would have given you good rep again. Clearly said, generously offered, no ego, and good advice.

Cheers,
Jim

YoungApprentice

Thanks for the two links. There is so much information on the net, but I'm finding most everything I need right here.

Bone-sigh

Jim, I totally agree...so I got him for ya!

Best always,
Ryan

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"If God meant for us to run around naked, we would have been born that way!"

----a Quote from my uncle's fridge

Will_Heath

Chris,

Pond baskets rule, the only thing I've ever found that is better is Mr. Wood's own boxes. Good to see these in active use.


Bonsai Today issue #71 has some excellent info on growing from seed, including the root trimming, and other techinques mentioned above.


Will

bonsaikc

If you can get your hands on Bonsai Today #20, it's a more comprehensive article detailing propagating JBP from seed. I will try that one of these days when I have an automatic watering system available to water three times a day. As it is, I am fortunate to live so close to work that I can come home at noon to water my trees.

I do recommend the one-year old plugs, though. They are easy to root prune, and very vigorous. Nebari certainly isn't a problem. They are growing strongly, and the candles are still stretching as the needles separate. I will be posting update photos of several of the trees before the end of the month.

__________________
Chris Johnston
"She was a critic, and lots fo critics who aren't called to do what they write about grow jealous and mean and small in their disappointment." - Stephen King, Duma Key
Sashi-no-eda.blogspot.com