BeebsBonsai
Shohin
Here are some photos from tonight. 1.) proper needle growth 2.) juvenile foliage, and 3.) picture if entire tree.
Juvenile Growth on Japanese Black Pine
- Thread starter BeebsBonsai
- Start date
Here are some photos from tonight. 1.) proper needle growth 2.) juvenile foliage, and 3.) picture if entire tree.
BeebsBonsai
Shohin
A lot of dormant buds have broken since last time. Fertilization and proper water have helped them do tht but its still mostly juvenile growth
namnhi
Masterpiece
I would be very careful with water as there are very little foliage left... Overwatering will kill black pine quickly.
BeebsBonsai
Shohin
I have been watering well so far. I always make sure to check the soil by digging my pinky in the edge of the soil. If i feel anything more than light moisture i dont water. And by light i mean my finger doesnt have water on it when i pull it out of the soil. but because i work and hv an hour commute each way i can only water in the early morning and late afternoon. So i often hv to play it a bit safe and water when i know it could wait til early afternoon
Brian Van Fleet
Pretty Fly for a Bonsai Guy
Those are adventitious buds. Brent calls them juvenile shoots in this article:
http://www.evergreengardenworks.com/pines2.htm and they are the result of pruning below or between nodes (somewhere along an old candle, rather than at the base).
Don't prune them, this tree needs to "bulk up" some...
http://www.evergreengardenworks.com/pines2.htm and they are the result of pruning below or between nodes (somewhere along an old candle, rather than at the base).
Don't prune them, this tree needs to "bulk up" some...
Bonsai Nut
Nuttier than your average Nut
The juvenile foliage on your JBP is a result of the candles being removed at the wrong time of the year, probably trimmed in late winter or early spring. You will occasionally see this growth on trees that are being trimmed somewhat haphazardly over the course of the year with candles in various states of development that are being removed piecemeal whenever they get long. That candle will not have needles, but if left alone, any buds on that candle (the next generation of growth) will develop needles normally.
Don't trim anything at this point. As others have pointed out, this tree needs a season of rest.
Don't trim anything at this point. As others have pointed out, this tree needs a season of rest.
Last edited:
Bonsai Nut
Nuttier than your average Nut
Ryan Neil specifically talked about them in this week's Bonsai Mirai video.
just.wing.it
Deadwood Head
Ooohhh, I see.... I had my mugo pushing needle buds last December, then it croaked.
sorce
Nonsense Rascal
@BeebsBonsai where are you located?
I was thinking about how "a season" could be like 4 years long!
And...when you do get to proper timing...
It'll matter.
Sorce
Potawatomi13
Imperial Masterpiece
Still no location
? Can also tell by green weeds/moss growing in pot if not dried out.
BeebsBonsai
Shohin
Still no location
I try not to let the soil go fully dry. Since I can only water either before 6 am or after 5 pm, I typically err on the side of caution when watering. I'm typically slightly afraid to leave a tree in soil that could dry out by the time I get home from work.
Giga
Masterpiece
Yes, my pitch pine will produce these sometime, even if I don't even touch the tree. This can also happen if you pull to many needles on a tree after candles are cut and the tree doesn't haven enough solar cells to produce food. Makes it go into panic mode.
Paradox
Marine Bonsologist
@BeebsBonsai
The fact that it is trying to grow some new foliage and live is a good sign. I still say the tree is very weak and it needs more than one year to grow back some foliage and get stronger.
If you start working on it again too soon, it will die.
The fact that it is trying to grow some new foliage and live is a good sign. I still say the tree is very weak and it needs more than one year to grow back some foliage and get stronger.
If you start working on it again too soon, it will die.
pmalelis
Mame
I have gotten a bunch of this growth from a black pine I am nursing back from weakness, Here is a picture for reference.
BeebsBonsai
Shohin
Exactly what mine looked like just before they opened up. I can see that new buds have now set on those juvenile candles. Im hoping they break into mature candles next year.
Im now dealing with another issue. And I think it might be indicating why the tree is so weak. I have yellow tips almost uniformly across the tree. No bands to indicate needle cast, but just a slight yellowing from tip yo anout a fifth down the needle. I dont know if this is indicative of something in the roots or if it is a ph issue. Im on city water so i know its possible. When is the nearest time it would be safe for me to do an extensive repot?
BeebsBonsai
Shohin
Keeping in mind that i will be using an organic soil additive to adjust for ph. (Its a natural yellow and brown colored mix that lowers ph) ive used it on my white pine with great success.
Last year for whatever reason my little jbp that I've had since 2003 looked exactly like the first pic the OP is showing, very weak. I knew at that point this little guy was not going to get a decandle at that time. I just fertilized heavy throughout the year with no exceptions. This spring brought an abundance of new candles and in a week or two it'll be decandled. 
Last edited:
BeebsBonsai
Shohin
View attachment 150963 Last year for whatever reason my little jbp that I've had since 2003 looked exactly like the first pic the OP is showing, very weak. I knew at that point this little guy was not going to get a decandle at that time. I just fertilized heavy throughout the year with no exceptions. This spring brought an abundance of new candles and in a week or two it'll be decandled.
Thomas. i love that jbp. Beautiful tree. I have gone with heavy doses of fertilizer every four weeks thus far. Do you recommend throttling back to one 8 week application in the heat of the summer? Or should i hammer down all the way thru fall on my 4 week schedule? Also im now seeinng yellowing tips. More like light green. I really dont want to lose this tree. I think it may be a ph issue so i used an organic ph treatment for the soil. Wont know whether it worked for about a month
