Japanese black pine starting to bud right before winter.

[Rodrigo]

Hello,

My first Japanese black pine got a weekend of more sun than usual after a weekend out of town. I believe it caused to think it was spring again and it's starting to bud out. I don't want to lose all the energy it stored for the spring so is there any way I can stop it from extending candles? If not, is there anything specific that I need to do to make sure it survives the winter?

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

Is this pine being grown outdoors? What part of the country is your outdoors in? Big difference between Georgia and Montana, different answers to your questions as local climate is important.

If you have had this tree indoors, that will be a problem. Your location will determine course of action.

 

[garywood]

Rodrigo, this is perfectly normal. I don't know where you are but they will do this all winter if the weather is mild and sunshine is abundant. This is a good sign.

 

[Rodrigo]

Gary,
Thank you for your response, thays definitely reassuring. I'm in zone 8a, am I expecting actual candles extension, or just budding like this?

 

[garywood]

Rodrigo, in 8a you will probably get some extension all winter on young and strong trees. Buds or/and extension is a sign of strength.

 

[Rodrigo]

That's interesting. Shouldn't pines go into a dormancy period of no growth?

 

[sorce]

Rodrigo!

Stick around for our 6 year JBP from seed contest!
Start January!
https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/the-six-year-japanese-black-pine-contest.30181/unread

You oughta do well!

Welcome to Crazy!

Sorce

 

[Rodrigo]

Is this pine being grown outdoors? What part of the country is your outdoors in? Big difference between Georgia and Montana, different answers to your questions as local climate is important.

If you have had this tree indoors, that will be a problem. Your location will determine course of action.

Leo, that's a good point. It has been growing in Texas outdoors. We're just now getting into a bit cooler weather as of a few weeks.

 

[Rodrigo]

Rodrigo!

Stick around for our 6 year JBP from seed contest!
Start January!
https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/the-six-year-japanese-black-pine-contest.30181/unread

You oughta do well!

Welcome to Crazy!

Sorce

I was just reading up on that! I am definitely interested and will be entering. I just need to source some seeds!

 

[sorce]

Nice Rodrigbro!

Sorce

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

Leo, that's a good point. It has been growing in Texas outdoors. We're just now getting into a bit cooler weather as of a few weeks.

Ah, you're in zone 8, compared to my climate, almost tropical. JBP native range includes the southern most islands of Japan, so more than many pines, they are adapted to, and take advantage of long growing seasons and mild winters.

Don't worry, what you are seeing is normal. It will be fine all winter, don't try to "protect it" when the cold does come, new growth will be fine and hardy through a Texas winter. Leave it outside.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

 

[Thomas J.]

I'm in the Dallas area also and yeah if you didn't have those buds you would have something to worry about because those are going to be next summers candles. Fertilize your JBP good and you will have happy healthy candles which will mean happy healthy trees. Just remember these are pines not deciduous trees so the budding and the care for them are different .

 

[Rodrigo]

I'm in the Dallas area also and yeah if you didn't have those buds you would have something to worry about because those are going to be next summers candles. Fertilize your JBP good and you will have happy healthy candles which will mean happy healthy trees. Just remember these are pines not deciduous trees so the budding and the care for them are different . View attachment 167386

That's a beautiful pine! Definitely got a long ways to go with mine to get anywhere near that point. Thanks for the clarification though!

Thank you to everyone that has responded as well!

Rodrigo

 

[Thomas J.]

That's a beautiful pine

Thanks, it is a rather nice looking pine but did you notice the one major flaw in that tree, something I wish I could remedy but can't? That branch coming out of the inside curve is a horrible thing to look at but it holds all the back foliage and has to stay right where it is. I tried looking at different angles of the tree to see if something better would work but there really isn't any. :-(

 

[Rodrigo]

Thanks, it is a rather nice looking pine but did you notice the one major flaw in that tree, something I wish I could remedy but can't? That branch coming out of the inside curve is a horrible thing to look at but it holds all the back foliage and has to stay right where it is. I tried looking at different angles of the tree to see if something better would work but there really isn't any. :-(

I did notice that actually.. But sometimes trees throw us curve balls and we have to work with what we have, right? Still a great tree imo.