Collecting - Ensuring Success?

Jay

Hi all, I'm back from an extended Labor Day Weekend. I was up at 'the lake' and tried to visit the trees in the rock wall. As I suspected they will not be able to be reached. But............. I took some time and walked some parts of the Island I was not familiar with.

The Island in question is approx 5/8 mile long and at times a quarter mile wide. On a part of the island I had not previously visited I found a large quantity of White Pine, or so I believe. As you all may have figured out by now, what little knowledge I have is limited to deciduous trees, I only have one or two conifers and no pines at that.

I plan on collecting a few of the trees I found next spring, with my neighbors approval. But there were two smaller trees that, well, I just had to have. I brought them home and have them in my Bonsai Soil mix in plastic nursery pots. I reduced the size of the tree in accordance with what probable was lost below the soil. These two trees were growing on the remains of a building fondation and could be lifted very easily. They came with very little native soil.

What can I do to improve the possibility of these trees living. They came out of Zone 4 and will be living in Zone 5b/6a? I hope to have a pix or two of these trees for your view later. Sorry, I forgot my camara when I went on the walk and do not have any pixs of the 'field of trees'.

__________________
A Bonsai student living with his trees at N 44.37 W 77.49...
Think before you act... then think again... no good comes from rushing

Advertisement

Jay

Here are two pix of the trees.... the taller tree is currently approx 19 inches above the soil the shorter one is approx 11 inches. They are both about 5/8 inch accross.

Am I correct to think these to be 'pinus strobus'? or might they be some other?

Attached Images

2-pine.jpg (54.7 KB, 222 views)

__________________
A Bonsai student living with his trees at N 44.37 W 77.49...
Think before you act... then think again... no good comes from rushing

Jay

Next pick is of the shorter tree, I think the greater future. This tree was not chopped by me.. the other was.

Attached Images

pine-a.jpg (63.6 KB, 198 views)

__________________
A Bonsai student living with his trees at N 44.37 W 77.49...
Think before you act... then think again... no good comes from rushing

bnsaijim

That's probably what they are ... Digging back to Boy Scout days growing up in Schenectady.... I think that was the predominant species... Two needles in most of the bundles?


I would say give them "sick bonsai" care- well lit shady conditions, just the right amount of water. Misting the needles every time you get the chance may help but don't water log the soil.

No fertilization. Give them winter protection. No working them until they show very strong growth....

Jim
TX

Craig Cowing

Jay:
The tall one will never amount to anything in your or my lifetime. The short one is definitely a keeper!

I'd vote for white pine, pinus strobus. If there are five needles that's it.

Keep them as they are for next season. Pinch the strongest of the candles back in the spring. I can show you how. This will help to reduce needle length and shorten internodes.

Good fine!

Craig Cowing
Zone 5b+

__________________
I'm not finished yet, neither are my trees.

Jay

Craig and Jim, thank you! I thought it to be a stobus from what info I could find. I realize the taller one is a long (ok very very long) term project. I took it for a couple of reasons. One, it will give me two chances on success (live vs die) second it will give me something to work on that is not inportant to my collection...yea like I have a few million dollar trees. And lastly, it was a bonus tree.. sort of came up with the little guy.

I do think if the shorter tree makes it it has some possibilities over the next few years. I will leave it be and hope for the best!!

__________________
A Bonsai student living with his trees at N 44.37 W 77.49...
Think before you act... then think again... no good comes from rushing

pdbbonsai

Hi

How well do these pines back bud? I had heard that the white pine in our local (USA) is a poor species (as bonsai) due to the lack of back budding. Any truth to this?

just wunnerin....



Paul

__________________
It is essential to experience all the times and moods of one good place. (Thomas Merton)

BonsaiTalk is one good place. (me)

TreeBay

I kind of dislike those real long needles in Pinus Strobus, but I'm sure if I found a 150-year-old trunk, I'd find something to like! If you're just browsing the garden center, look elsewhere.

Regards,

Matt

__________________

Want to be a seller on bonsaiAUCTIONS? Get authorized today!

bonsaiTALK: Over 100,005.36 Megabytes Served this Month!

bnsaijim

Ditto Matt!

The ones that people have shown me are obvious labors of love- been working on this one for 15 years.... and it looks "okay" or "pretty good"... That'll be real nice in.. ummm.... 20 more years..." I think Vance Wood has a nice one that he's been at for years.

I think there is no impossible material, but there is "very difficult" material. The major issues are the needle size and that is does not back bud, all compounded by the fact that in this instance, although it is "yamadori" it is still youthful material.

You should anticipate something lean and stately, literati, etc...

You have to work with existing foliage and you get one cycle of training in a year, since it will only thrive in your climate, not mine. What you need for development is counterintuituive for short needles and internodes... You have grabbed a two headed snake.

So, while it might be fun to play with, hey I have "not suitable for bonsai" species on my benches too, I would not devote my life to becoming the "Pinus Strobus Bonsai Master"...

I'd stick mainly with Mugo's, JBP, JWP, Scotts...


Good luck,

Jim
TX