JBP Nursery Stock

bwaynef

I got around to purchasing a JBP that I mentioned in another thread. Its quite leggy, but has several low branches on a nice trunk with a little movement. I can see a shohin happening here. My question though is what do I do with it now. While at first glance that question may seem a little vague, thats the PRECISE question that I'm concerned with.

Its August here in Upstate SC. We've probably another month of the heat and humidity (85+F, 80-85+. Then it'll taper off to warm with comfortable evenings til about mid-October. We probably won't have frost 'til November, maybe later. My climate can be seen here. (Remember that last years info is a bit skewed with 5 hurricanes.)

I spent about an hour last night searching for this answer. My conundrum unfolds as such. Its in a 5-gallon nursery container. I know it needs to be in something more appropriate with more appropriate soil. I've a pond basket, turface and perma-till with some pine bark mulch appropriately sized. Even some grit (chicken grit... 's that ok?) Theres been some talk of summer repotting and the luck others have had with mugos. That talk has also mentioned the dissimilarities of mugos and jbps. Do I repot it now as opposed to the spring when every other source says to repot, or let it go thru winter in the bad soil? Do I let it sit in the soil its in while I prune and wait ANOTHER year before starting to repot?

One much less technical question: How long before a healthy, leggy, overgrown shrub-looking JBP takes on what can be mistaken for a bonsai shape? Just wondering what I'm up against. I know I need more patience. I've a chew toy for my dog in the shape of a dead mugo to remind me of that constantly. (Vance: The trunk on it we'd talked about really had character instead of the reverse taper you feared. Its evident now that its ...DEAD.) I guess I'd be happy to have this looking like decent potensai stock right now.

Thanks for your help,

Wayne F.

ps. I was thrilled to find JBP with potential. Thats why I bought it.

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© 2004 - present bwaynef

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bonsaikc

Wayne,
Vance has shown that mughos should be repotted in summer. Why? Because if you do it in spring they suffer and may die. Japanese black pines, however, respond well to early spring repotting. This leads me to believe that they may not do as well when repotted this time of year. I have always done my root work on JBP in early spring before the candles elongate.

Of course, yesterday I had to dig up a dozen or so JBP seedlings that went in the ground this spring. I didn't know then that I would be moving this week (into a motel, no less). Fortunately this was the week the heat broke. Hopefully it will be merciful to them, but if I lose them all, so be it. It can't be helped.

How long? That depends entirely on your knowledge of bonsai in general and JBP in particular. But as a guideline, I would say that you should ignore any short-needle techniques for a few years. Repot next spring and do some good root work. When the tree recovers, feed very heavily and let it grow. Let the candles grow to six feet long if they want to. Then cut back fairly hard next fall, especially removing undesireable forks, reducing top growth, etc. You will get some back budding on wood that is not over about ten years old. Ony do this, though, if the tree has recovered and put on very good growth.

Plan your trunk chop carefully. Leave as much as a six inch stub when you do that, and let it dry out for a year. You will eventually carve this, but it will help eliminate excessive bleeding. I'm not certain that I would trunk chop the year after repotting unless the tree was exceptionally vigorous. I'd also let the proposed leader take on some good strength first.

Ten years? Five if the tree was exceptional stock and you were Boon? Hard to say really, but consider it a long-term project. Post photos when you get a chance.

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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

bwaynef

I'll be devastated. While I haven't followed your techniques, I have been following their progress. I hope for the best.

Thanks for the tips. I guess I'll learn a bit more patience. Obviously the tree has grown/lived/survived in the soil its in now for some time, so one more winter (milder than some it COULD be subjected to) won't be that much of a problem.

I believe you mentioned pruning in the fall (next fall) and possibly trunk chopping the following spring IF growth is vigorous. Does that mean leave it alone now until spring. No pruning right now (this fall)? (Just wanting to be clear.)

Wayne F.

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© 2004 - present bwaynef

bonsaikc

It wouldn't hurt the tree to do a little light pruning this fall, cutting back the top and such. Just always be careful not to do too much in one year. Do you have any photos?

__________________
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

bonsaikc

Don't think I put all those seedlings in the ground! I just put the remainder after I had potted up the 15 or so best ones. They seem to be doing well after yanking them out of the soil and putting them into loose nursery pots (I had about an hour), but tomorrow I have to transport them, so we will see what happens.

__________________
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

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jloeschner

Wow! I guess I should move there then...here it is already September! I much prefer a slower pace...

John

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bwaynef

Ok Ok... but you have to admit that you can see I was headed towards some description of my climate and what remains of my growing season....

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jloeschner

Wayne,

Just kidding...Enjoy!

John

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Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement.

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