Japanese black pine styling

[moriel]

Hi all! I've got this bonsai a year ago and my main focus is keeping it healthy. I was very concerned because I'm in zone 9b in California and heat waves can be very unforgiving here, but so far it seems to be doing well. The tree is quite tall (40 inches) and the needles have been growing a little long because it's only getting a few hours of direct sun. Any tips on how to style this Japanese black pine are much appreciated. Thank you in advance!

 

[RoadManDenDron]

Long needles are pretty standard in black pine,

In development i wouldn't even worry about it

Once you hit refinement stage you can start to be more concerned with your needle size and control that with ramification and not fertilising til the new needles have hardened off.

I'm aware california is a lot hotter than here in the UK but pines love the sun! Maybe someone more local can chip in and advise on full sun in your area.

It's hard to help with design from the pics given but from the positioning of the tufts of foliage it would appear the tree has already had some 'bones set' Or at least branches selected in decent places (on the outside of bends)

 

[Shibui]

JBP has no problem with hot summers provided it gets enough water when required. Despite what some growers from colder climates will say it can also grow in warm winter areas.

As for styling, the trunk looks pretty thick and set so I think you are probably stuck with what you have. A single online picture is not enough to be able to give a considered plan for changes. We can't see the 3d nuances that need to be considered to make informed decisions. you really need someone to view the tree in person to work out a viable plan. Check with local bonsai specialists and bonsai clubs. You can look for private one on one help or may be able to secure a place in a workshop.
In the meantime you need to study all the techniques of JBP or dual flush pine development and maintenance pruning to at least keep it in check until you can find help to make changes.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

More sun!
Better pix showing the structure are important for good styling tips.

 

[Ruddigger]

More sun and adequate water like everyone else has said. Did you decandle it this year?

 

[Paradox]

They are one of the more versatile pines and can definitely handle more heat than other temperate pines like scots and Japanese white pine.

People grow them in a number of southern states that are warmer overall than northern states where people also grow them.

 

[moriel]

Thank you for your replies! I’ll try to post better pictures with a plain background behind the tree.

The only bonsai expert I know in my area has retired and although I’m willing to join local bonsai clubs, I can’t physically take the tree to the meetings (don’t have the strength to lift it).

I’ve been educating myself on how to take care of bonsais (fertilizing, watering, maintenance pruning). I’m good at keeping plants alive and healthy but I have no idea what refining a bonsai means. Since you’re telling me that the trunk looks pretty thick and set, I’m assuming “styling” is not the proper term for this stage of bonsai development (?)

I did all the decandling a few weeks ago but to be bluntly honest I don’t know WHAT I’m doing or WHY I’m doing it. I simply followed this link https://www.bonsaify.com/blogs/news-and-more/fall-cleanup-of-a-large-japanese-black-pine because I thought it would be cool if my tree looked like that too

Is there any material (books, courses, videos, tutorials) you can recommend for maintenance pruning and techniques of JBP or dual flush pine development?

 

[moriel]

As promised, here are more pictures. I've had someone helping me with the "background" but I'm not happy with the results. If you have tips on how to take better pictures or if you'd like to see a specific angle or part of the tree, please let me know. The tree is about 40 inches tall and 20 inches wide. I'm attaching a picture of the base and all four sides of the tree.

 

[SeanS]

Thank you for your replies! I’ll try to post better pictures with a plain background behind the tree.

The only bonsai expert I know in my area has retired and although I’m willing to join local bonsai clubs, I can’t physically take the tree to the meetings (don’t have the strength to lift it).

I’ve been educating myself on how to take care of bonsais (fertilizing, watering, maintenance pruning). I’m good at keeping plants alive and healthy but I have no idea what refining a bonsai means. Since you’re telling me that the trunk looks pretty thick and set, I’m assuming “styling” is not the proper term for this stage of bonsai development (?)

I did all the decandling a few weeks ago but to be bluntly honest I don’t know WHAT I’m doing or WHY I’m doing it. I simply followed this link https://www.bonsaify.com/blogs/news-and-more/fall-cleanup-of-a-large-japanese-black-pine because I thought it would be cool if my tree looked like that too

Is there any material (books, courses, videos, tutorials) you can recommend for maintenance pruning and techniques of JBP or dual flush pine development?

The blog post you’ve linked here is for fall/autumn work, not summer decandling. When you say you decandled based on what’s in the blog post what exactly did you do?
I still see all of the tree’s spring candles/shoots present in your latest photos

 

[moriel]

I decandled just a few branches and left untouched the ones I wasn't sure what to do. By decandling I mean I broke the candles with my fingers in the way I've seen people doing it on videos in YouTube

 

[SeanS]

Decandling refers to cutting the spring shoot off completely, not breaking it partially

Decandling black pine bonsai - an in-depth guide - Bonsai Tonight

An in-depth guide to decandling black and red pine bonsai with how-to steps that provide all the information you'll need to get started.

bonsaitonight.com

 

[clem]

The bark and trunk base are nice
Your tree also has an interesting curve of the trunk.
If it was mine, i would probalby cut here, to make a classic moyogi with the classic proportions that i like (trunk diameter/height) ->


If you prefer, you can also make a taller tree, slant style

 

[Paradox]

I decandled just a few branches and left untouched the ones I wasn't sure what to do. By decandling I mean I broke the candles with my fingers in the way I've seen people doing it on videos in YouTube

Sounds like you are confusing work on single flush pines vs 2 flush pines. JBP is 2 flush. Do yourself a favor and research the care for JBP / 2 flush pines. There is plenty of information here and also other places online that have good info like Ryan Neil, Bjorn B...can't spell his last name, Boon, Bonsai Tonight, bonsai empire.

 

[moriel]

Are you saying JBP can't be pruned using the technique "breaking/pinching"?

SeanS already pointed out that decandling means cutting the spring shoot off completely, not breaking it partially like I did. I did not know, however, that breaking/pinching is a single flush (exclusive) technique.

 

[SeanS]

Are you saying JBP can't be pruned using the technique "breaking/pinching"?

SeanS already pointed out that decandling means cutting the spring shoot off completely, not breaking it partially like I did. I did not know, however, that breaking/pinching is a single flush (exclusive) technique.

The video you posted shows early spring breaking of the strong candles to help distribute and balance the early spring energy across the tree. Decandling would still then be carried out at the appropriate time in mid summer.
You started that you “decandled” a few weeks ago (mid summer) by doing the same candle breaking technique. Really you should have removed the spring candles all together to elicit a second flush of new buds.

 

[moriel]

You started that you “decandled” a few weeks ago (mid summer). Decandling would still then be carried out at the appropriate time in mid summer

Nopes, the breaking/pinching was done in spring when the candles emerged. It would be a problem if I was decandling a single flush pine because then the tree could die. Not decandling a dual flush pine is not a sin in my eyes. I guess I should plan what to do next summer, knowing exactly what branches I should be decandling.

 

[SeanS]

I did all the decandling a few weeks ago but to be bluntly honest I don’t know WHAT I’m doing or WHY I’m doing it. I simply followed this link https://www.bonsaify.com/blogs/news-and-more/fall-cleanup-of-a-large-japanese-black-pine because I thought it would be cool if my tree looked like that too

 

[moriel]

Look at the shorter needles in the pictures, that's the new flush after breaking the candles.

 

[SeanS]

Look at the shorter needles in the pictures, that's the new flush after breaking the candles.

Let’s take both of the statements you’ve made:

If you broke the candles “a few weeks ago” (as you stated first) you wouldn’t have actual elongated needles yet.

If you broke the spring candles in spring (as you stated the 2nd time round) the needles would just be the needles from the first flush, not a 2nd flush.

Please be clear with what you actually did (and when) so we can help you

 

[moriel]

I think I was pretty clear and you can see the results in the pictures. I broke the candles in June (ok, that's more than a "few weeks ago"), before the candles opened. The new flush are the shorter needles in the pictures.