Black pine questions.

bisco_bonsai

Thanks for the word of caution mkonig; I guess I should have clarified my points a bit better. Yes, most people on this forum know I consider myself a beginner, but I have some great mentors and have read more literature on bonsai than I care to mention. This is precisely why I quoted someone with experience instead of trying to help him myself. Especially since I own a book dedicated to the exact question he asked! Heck, Mr. Pilacek has some trees older than I am, of course I'm going to defer to someone with that kind of experience. Anyway, Mr. Pilacik lives in zone 7b just down the road from me. I realized the possible zone differences which is why I translated phrases like "mid June" into "beginning of the summer." I was being vague precisely for this reason as not to give you wrong information concerning specific months. Believe me, I would never protest to be a JBP expert, but if I've got one living right down the road from me, of course I'm going to post his advice. So if your going to discard my post, don't discard it for the messenger, discarded for the advice. It is good advice to always check the "gallery" section of the person offering "expert" advice from his own "experience." Usually, if they don't have any trees, then they shouldn't be giving technical information. But I would also say that candle pruning is not exactly the most complicated thing in the world. I always defer to those more experience than I, but if I can help a newbie with such basic information, in all humility I will.
All the best,
JDL

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Rock Chester

Roosy, don't think you got a Japanese black pine there. Bark looks too light, buds look to red, needles look to thin and wispy.Is that what the label says? Nevertheless if it is a two needle pine it may have a decent future. Choose a single branch at each whorl, now or you will get an unfortunate swelling.

bonsaimaniac

Chester, I thought the very same thing. It looks like a Japanese Red Pine, Pinus Densiflora. Good Luck with the tree.

otomix

yeah im with the other boys on that one! doesn't look like any of my thunbergii's that ive got growing! none the less red pine bonsai are great! ive got a few radiatas growing even! (monteray pines).

so welcome to the forum ROOSY!

hope you stick around and dont get scared off! also i have a copy of the japanese black pine book by steve pilacik, if your ever in canberra and wanna have a peek etc?!!? got a few pines up my sleeve i will say!!

Rock Chester

roosy what does tag say. maybee it doesn't matter to you. training continues any way,but it is nice to know ---certain pines get different problems

mkonig

@ bisco-bonsai

Hi JDL

As I said in my post, I did not mean to be disrespectful to you. I would certainly not discount the message, nor the messenger!
I merely think it prudent to point out that sometimes it is better to refer someone to people who have first hand experience. Reading a book is one thing, actually carrying out the instruction contained is quite another.
Certainly for a beginner candlepinching on pines is not an easy thing to learn. Dending on the effect one wants to achieve, timing and execution is critical and is best done under guidance of an eperienced practitioner.

I did not mean to belittle the content of the book by Mr. Pilacek or any of the information contained in it, but this information has to be taken in context.

As yourself, I still consider myself a relative newcomer to bonsai. After nearly ten years of involvement I have still many things to learn.
Being on this forum has thought me that advice comes from a multitude of people, at all stages of bonsai experience, from novice to master. It has also thaught me to be cautious in the advice I give and to qualify any advice I give and statements I make for avoidance of doubt. In the long run this is more help to people looking for guidance.

I apologise if my post caused any offence, none was intended.

Mike

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Roosy

Yeah, you're all right. It's a japanese RED pine. My mistake, sorry guys. Apart from the difference in looks and texture, how different are they? Can the same training techniques be applied or do all the pines need very specific training?
Roosy.

wayne

Hi all,
I have a couple of pinus densiflora and I do not think that is what you have. To me it looks like an Australian native called Casurina(not sure of the spelling) or She Oak.

bisco_bonsai

Thanks for the kind words, mkonig; no offense was taken. I take all the advice I get off this forum with a grain of salt, and it would be wise for others to do the same. On the topic of being a beginner, I only only need my two hands to count the number of people I've come into contact with who I consider to have "mastered" some area of bonsai. And even using the term "master" is stretching it. I fully expect that no matter how much I read and learn about bonsai over the years, I will always consider myself a student of bonsai because beginners always hunger to learn new techniques and ideas. Bonsai presents a lifetime learning experience if your hungry enough, and I hope twenty to thirty years down the road I will still be pestering people to teach me something I didn't know before.

Also, I have an Austrian Pine I have tried this technique on and it's thrown many new bud right where I wanted them. I believe the method is sound, but if you want a second opinion (which I recommend), send an email to one of the real pros on this website. There not hard to find, and they're usually very welcoming to beginner questions. If I get time, I'll take some pics of my pine and post them.

All the best,
JDL (lifelong bonsai student)