Lance's JBP....

[LanceMac10]

Lance would it be possible for you to take picture of the tree against a plain background? Those diagonal lines are really distracting. (At least on a photo. It may look just fine in person.)

.....uh oh..... your initial critique was 100%, no sense "piling on"

Just Joe Schmo in his backyard. Messing with a tree a showing the results, good, bad, right, wrong...

....your JBP are at the top of the podium, so your attentions make me weak-kneed color my cheeks, kind sir..

Did manage some photo closer to what you seek, have you eaten yet?



I'm not setting it on fire, not matter what happens now.. I saw @Eric Schrader had to burn his great tree. Now that was a shame. My tree is only an eyesore!

All in fun and a fine teaching moment. It's Saturday, time for flipflops and shortpants.

 

[Dav4]

No need to cut needles up north. You'll be waiting for signs of budding after spring work longer than you'd like though...

I need to clean this thing up. Last years results pretty small in length.

So, you don’t de-candle to get the second flush?

 

[Adair M]

Thanks for changing the background. The choice of color still hides the structure, however. Is there any way you could hang a plain white sheet instead?

You could decandle now. It would help you get that foliage under control.

Next spring (late winter) you should consider repotting. You know I’m brutally honest… That mound of soil is screaming for attention! Those trunks are pretty thin. When you have spoil piled up so high that some soil washes off every time you water (and be honest, you KNOW it does) that tells you that something is wrong.

If your composition had it so that the soil was level in the pot, it would be VASTLY IMPROVED.

Even the little elm? to the right has a mound of soil. Again, the soil surface should be level in the pot.

Mounding is not unsightly, it’s actually unhealthy for the tree. The mound above the rim will dry out faster than the soil below the rim. Little roots that are close to the trunk are more likely to dry out and die. And it happens quickly because over time, soil washes off thone little roots, and get sun exposure… and it becomes worse and worse.

Having the rootball settled in the pot keeps the moisture level more uniform. No really dry and really wet areas. There’s little to no erosion of the roots around the base of the trunk, so the nebari stays healthy. Water doesn’t run off, it soaks in.

 

[LanceMac10]

So, you don’t de-candle to get the second flush?

Of course, de-candle for a second flush. The "cutting needles" was referencing an earlier conversation we had. I was curious of the state of other JBP's in your new locale. You mentioned people were impressed with your needle size. You also said someone had a tree with cut needles on display.

If your de-candling up "north", how in the world do you have long needles? In my experience (and it's more than once), the climate here just won't make long needles. That's why I said no reason to cut needles, the climate takes care of that!

And sure, you don't de-candle, you'll get long needles. Which once in a while, up here, is not a bad thing. OK results from fall shoot pruning/branch reduction have kept it compact and healthy.

 

[Dav4]

Of course, de-candle for a second flush. The "cutting needles" was referencing an earlier conversation we had. I was curious of the state of other JBP's in your new locale. You mentioned people were impressed with your needle size. You also said someone had a tree with cut needles on display.

If your de-candling up "north", how in the world do you have long needles? In my experience (and it's more than once), the climate here just won't make long needles. That's why I said no reason to cut needles, the climate takes care of that!

And sure, you don't de-candle, you'll get long needles. Which once in a while, up here, is not a bad thing. OK results from fall shoot pruning/branch reduction have kept it compact and healthy.

Phew! You had me scared for a minute!

 

[LanceMac10]

Thanks for changing the background. The choice of color still hides the structure, however. Is there any way you could hang a plain white sheet instead?

You could decandle now. It would help you get that foliage under control.

Next spring (late winter) you should consider repotting. You know I’m brutally honest… That mound of soil is screaming for attention! Those trunks are pretty thin. When you have spoil piled up so high that some soil washes off every time you water (and be honest, you KNOW it does) that tells you that something is wrong.

If your composition had it so that the soil was level in the pot, it would be VASTLY IMPROVED.

Even the little elm? to the right has a mound of soil. Again, the soil surface should be level in the pot.

Mounding is not unsightly, it’s actually unhealthy for the tree. The mound above the rim will dry out faster than the soil below the rim. Little roots that are close to the trunk are more likely to dry out and die. And it happens quickly because over time, soil washes off thone little roots, and get sun exposure… and it becomes worse and worse.

Having the rootball settled in the pot keeps the moisture level more uniform. No really dry and really wet areas. There’s little to no erosion of the roots around the base of the trunk, so the nebari stays healthy. Water doesn’t run off, it soaks in.

Change my sheets? Is this Boy's Town?

Mounding not intentional, roots grow, what can I say? Only third year out from last re-pot and de-candled last year. I was cautious and decided waiting a year would be best. Tree's health is fine but yeah, watering is a multi-round battle, that's fine. Re-pot is planned for next spring. I've managed to loosen the root-ball substantially since acquisition. The good soil has allowed for progressively more aggressive cut back. It sat fine after the initial repot and got really vigorous. It should fit in there nicely next year after some more "thoughtful root reduction".

Not looking to be the best at bonsai but always on the hunt for a medal in "fun"!!!


I appreciate your thoughts and I would not have ANY JBP at all without your contributions here. So I'm very thankful my tree "stirred" you!

 

[Adair M]

Change my sheets? Is this Boy's Town?

Mounding not intentional, roots grow, what can I say? Only third year out from last re-pot and de-candled last year. I was cautious and decided waiting a year would be best. Tree's health is fine but yeah, watering is a multi-round battle, that's fine. Re-pot is planned for next spring. I've managed to loosen the root-ball substantially since acquisition. The good soil has allowed for progressively more aggressive cut back. It sat fine after the initial repot and got really vigorous. It should fit in there nicely next year after some more "thoughtful root reduction".

Not looking to be the best at bonsai but always on the hunt for a medal in "fun"!!!


I appreciate your thoughts and I would not have ANY JBP at all without your contributions here. So I'm very thankful my tree "stirred" you!

I don’t think your roots pushed up 4 inches!

when I say a flat root surface, I mean it! Here are a couple from my bench:

 

[LanceMac10]

Your a peach....last repot...'19



initial repot '15



granted a little high.....why would I lie? Your weird bro!

Great trees!

 

[LanceMac10]

I had never re-potted a Pine prior to the shot from '15. Didn't look like the previous owner EVER re-potted it.

So I was happy it lived.

 

[Adair M]

I had never re-potted a Pine prior to the shot from '15. Didn't look like the previous owner EVER re-potted it.

So I was happy it lived.

Ok, I’ve never seen one mound up like that!
Your ‘19 repot still has it mounded. It should be flat, with the actual soil surface about a quarter inch below the rim. This keeps all the water in the pot, as well as providing some space if you want to add moss for a show.

The soil on the current surface looks fresh, so I figured you had repotted it this year.

it does look healthy. Good luck with it!

 

[Shogun610]

That pine is bad , Michael Jackson bad .. heee heeeeee

 

[LanceMac10]

Someday soon @Hartinez ......going beast mode to fatten for the repot next year. Remove the rest of the old needles and cut back with stategery in the fall.

Should be able to better address whatever back budding occurs. Wire in fall...ouch..lots to wire and clean.....

Not to mention the voyage into uncharted waters with the heavy root-prune beyond others come next spring.

 

[LanceMac10]

 

[LanceMac10]

Hulking-out for next spring's re-pot. Been waiting for old needles to expire....probably have to remove manually...there some pretty old ones, longer-lived than I imagined/heard.

 

[LanceMac10]

Got an e-mail 'tuther day..... @MACH5 will be at NEBG in October leading a workshop on JBP! That's some great news!

Got a call not long after....I'll have to move in the next three months, likely to an apartment for who knows? Bad news!

Got the roughest of math skills but my calculations sees one preclude the other.....damn!!

My trees have truly become my mistress.....now I gotta' pay rent for "....two..."






Rent around here for "people" is bad...but for "trees"?........

 

[Shogun610]

Got an e-mail 'tuther day..... @MACH5 will be at NEBG in October leading a workshop on JBP! That's some great news!

Got a call not long after....I'll have to move in the next three months, likely to an apartment for who knows? Bad news!

Got the roughest of math skills but my calculations sees one preclude the other.....damn!!

My trees have truly become my mistress.....now I gotta' pay rent for "....two..."

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Rent around here for "people" is bad...but for "trees"?........

You can board your pine down here !! Heh heh heh.. but dang sorry for the life curve ball

 

[LanceMac10]

Yea....the curveball....funny your mention of it as I was gonna' state that I manage to crush most of these....but yea....this is not good.

Lost some close family these last few years so it's been a test.....still lace 'em up every morning. This is my "homerun" for them!

Did find my old "Muscular Development" mags from back in the day in some old milkcrates

 

[Carol 83]

Got a call not long after....I'll have to move in the next three months, likely to an apartment for who knows? Bad news!

Sorry to hear that Lance, you've been through a lot lately. Hopefully things will start looking up for you.

 

[Wilson]

Lance do either of the bonsai businesses in New England offer fairly priced tree boarding for winter? Up here it is priced around $12 per square foot for the winter. I personally love having the greenhouse rental space, it becomes like a bonsai social club over winter. With 6 months of winter, it is real nice to be able to work with your trees.

 

[LanceMac10]

Sorry to hear that Lance, you've been through a lot lately. Hopefully things will start looking up for you.

Thanks for the considerate comments, @Carol 83 Situations like this separates the wheat from the chafe, as it were....

Lance do either of the bonsai businesses in New England offer fairly priced tree boarding for winter? Up here it is priced around $12 per square foot for the winter. I personally love having the greenhouse rental space, it becomes like a bonsai social club over winter. With 6 months of winter, it is real nice to be able to work with your trees.

Sure. That's the two-rent comment. Bonsai West is coming in at $125 per tree, more if bigger. 8-9 trees will be a pretty penny!

$2200 a month will get you 2 bedroom one bath under 1000 square feet.....it's friggen' insane!!! 'Course I think the gov't pays for half the peoples rent around here...starting to think work is for suckers!!!