A Japanese White Pine

[Dav4]

When is it due for a repot Dave?

It was re-potted last April, so this one is good for at least another 2-3 years, and maybe longer.

 

[Japonicus]

It was re-potted last April, so this one is good for at least another 2-3 years, and maybe longer.

Wow that's fast colonization. Thought it was snow.

 

[Dav4]

 

[Paradox]

@Dav4
Not sure if it's just the lighting, but the color looks a little off? A bit on the yellow side for JWP.

 

[Dav4]

@Dav4
Not sure if it's just the lighting, but the color looks a little off? A bit on the yellow side for JWP.

I think what you’re seeing is a combination of the color in that photo being slightly washed out due to the afternoon sun, and the fact that the new candles have needle fascicles that haven’t opened, so you can’t see the light blue hue as readily as you can on the older needles.

 

[Paradox]

I think what you’re seeing is a combination of the color in that photo being slightly washed out due to the afternoon sun, and the fact that the new candles have needle fascicles that haven’t opened, so you can’t see the light blue hue as readily as you can on the older needles.
View attachment 552265

Ok. Just figured I'd mention it. Be a shame if something happened to such a nice pine.

 

[Dav4]

This one has always had a faint greenish blue coloration. Also, I just started feeding my white pines this week… It’ll be interesting to compare the color in 4 to 6 weeks.

 

[Dav4]

This one has always had a faint greenish blue coloration. Also, I just started feeding my white pines this week… It’ll be interesting to compare the color in 4 to 6 weeks.

As promised

 

[Dav4]

Never pass up a good photo op…

 

[Mike Westervelt]

Wowsa, looking sexy Dave!

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

Very nice. Setting up in AA?

AA = Ann Arbor a City in MI that we abbreviate to make it look like people are drunks. Not you Dave.

 

[Shogun610]

That apex *chef kiss* well done .. and the secondary kid trunk is great

 

[vancehanna]

excellent!

 

[Dav4]

 

[Nybonsai12]

Looks great Dave. You’ve really brought this one along nicely since acquiring. Apex especially. Nice work!

 

[Japonicus]

View attachment 564352

Tree is fantastic Dave
Some things never change though...like the dependable uniform

 

[Dav4]

Tree is fantastic Dave
Some things never change though...like the dependable uniform

… like a pair of old slippers

 

[tanlu]

Yeh I guess that was a silly question on my part, meant variety, but is unknown I suppose.

I’ve been trying to learn more about this topic. Based on what I’ve read and conversations with Julian Adams (also stated in his book on pines) that JWP varieties are a real thing because over time isolated groups of trees eventually develop similar characteristics given the local environmental/climatic factors and how that influences the local gene pool. I believe Bill Valavanis provides more info in his book (wish I could find it): The Japanese five needle pine: Nature, gardens, bonsai, taxonomy (Encyclopedia of classical bonsai art)

I read in an 1982 edition (I think 4) of Bonsai International that the JWP variety that grows in the Azuma region in Japan tends to have blue-silver-ish foliage, even in winter, so perhaps Dav4’s tree is this variety since the foliage looks a lot like other Azuma JWP I’ve seen in photos, which is considered a famous JWP variety in Japan.

I have 5 seeding-grown JWP—2 from Ishizuchi Mt (Shikoku) and 3 from the Aizu region of Fukushima Prefecture (Honshu). These two varieties seem to consistently exhibit certain physical characteristics, including differences in needle color, needle texture, and even needle sheath color. I have one Aizu JWP seedling with surprisingly short needles and a certain rich green color that remind me of Zuisho JWP.