Pine ID help please?
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Leo in N E Illinois
The Professor
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Was it from a nursery? A location where the parent trees were planted by people? Or was it from a location where only native vegetation could be found?
To my eye, it certainly could be a Ponderosa, you are probably safe in horticulturally treating it like a Ponderosa, even if it is a Jeffery pine, or and of the other related species. It can be difficult to distinguish some of the Western USA pines from each other. Wikipedia has a "List of pine species" that's pretty complete, start with the entry for ponderosa, read the characteristics, make notes of the positives, then read the neighboring related species, see if any are a better match, or if it has a disqualifying trait.
Tedious work, bit the only way to nail down Identity. For hort and bonsai purposes, I think treating it like a Ponderosa will cause no harm.
To my eye, it certainly could be a Ponderosa, you are probably safe in horticulturally treating it like a Ponderosa, even if it is a Jeffery pine, or and of the other related species. It can be difficult to distinguish some of the Western USA pines from each other. Wikipedia has a "List of pine species" that's pretty complete, start with the entry for ponderosa, read the characteristics, make notes of the positives, then read the neighboring related species, see if any are a better match, or if it has a disqualifying trait.
Tedious work, bit the only way to nail down Identity. For hort and bonsai purposes, I think treating it like a Ponderosa will cause no harm.
Leo in N E Illinois
The Professor
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Of course, if it was from an area planted by people, or a nursery, it could be anything from anywhere. The Wikipedia page list is a world list, so you might be able to nail it down. Still I'd start with Ponderosa.
Brian Van Fleet
Pretty Fly for a Bonsai Guy
Since we are guessing, have you tried Loblolly? Pinus taeda.
Some maps include OK in their distribution, but it's probably not going to be one of the common ones.
Some maps include OK in their distribution, but it's probably not going to be one of the common ones.
Johnathan
Omono
Do these backbud well? I've heard they are trouble for bonsai purposes. I'd much rather have a Blue Spruce lol
Giga
Masterpiece
loblolly back bud a lot but they have very long needles and may not be the best bonsai for you, or anyone for that matter lol
Brian Van Fleet
Pretty Fly for a Bonsai Guy
They do back bud, but are a pioneer species for bonsai. What trouble have you heard with Loblolly, and where from?
Johnathan
Omono
@Brian Van Fleet and @Giga No I think it was ponderosa that said they do not bud back well. I believe it was an older thread on these forums somewhere.
Johnathan
Omono
This tree was collected on a piece of country side farm land from a friends home. I keep comparing the two and the bark and pretty much 3 in every needle has me convinced its ponderosa. Thanks everyone. I'm sure time will tell.
PiñonJ
Omono
Except for its needle length, it looks nothing like the ponderosas we have around here. Bark, shoot color, growth habit, none of it matches. BTW, ponderosas do back-bud well.
aml1014
Masterpiece
Johnathan
Omono
A. Gorilla
Omono
Regarding pines, you might like this. It got my head straight about pines really quickly.
PiñonJ
Omono
I think it might be Longleaf Pine (Pinus palustris):
http://www.eol.org/pages/323452/media?page=2
But I'm not familiar with Longleaf, or Loblolly. Aaron and I both grew up around Ponderosas, though!
aml1014
Masterpiece
I can't say exactly what it is, but the branching is far to thin IMO to be ponderosa. Pondys have pretty thick branches, even the youngest shoots.
Aaron
Johnathan
Omono
Thank you everyone once again.... 1 final question... In regards to video @A. Gorilla posted. (Thank you very much by the way) Unfortunately I could only watch about 3 or 4 minutes before being interrupted at work (the audacity of a company asking you to work on a Friday 
) ..... But Ryan talks about the pine strength coming from the roots.....
I read something from Walter Pall stating that it was best to bare root and remove the original substrate as soon as possible.......... This tree has been collected and in a garden container for almost a week now.... and my buddy didn't tie it down so its been buried, but blowing in the wind.
Finally the question.... This weekend I plan on anchoring it down, but should I also bare root and plant in 100% NAPA DE when I do this?
) ..... But Ryan talks about the pine strength coming from the roots.....I read something from Walter Pall stating that it was best to bare root and remove the original substrate as soon as possible.......... This tree has been collected and in a garden container for almost a week now.... and my buddy didn't tie it down so its been buried, but blowing in the wind.
Finally the question.... This weekend I plan on anchoring it down, but should I also bare root and plant in 100% NAPA DE when I do this?
Brian Van Fleet
Pretty Fly for a Bonsai Guy
Doubtful. We have both types here, and long leaf is toward the cooler end of its distribution here. These will stand 4' tall with needles down the trunk all the way to the ground. They have coarse branching when it develops.
My money is on Loblolly, and that it's not going to make it anyway.
A. Gorilla
Omono
Thank you everyone once again.... 1 final question... In regards to video @A. Gorilla posted. (Thank you very much by the way) Unfortunately I could only watch about 3 or 4 minutes before being interrupted at work (the audacity of a company asking you to work on a Friday
I read something from Walter Pall stating that it was best to bare root and remove the original substrate as soon as possible.......... This tree has been collected and in a garden container for almost a week now.... and my buddy didn't tie it down so its been buried, but blowing in the wind.
Finally the question.... This weekend I plan on anchoring it down, but should I also bare root and plant in 100% NAPA DE when I do this?
The point he was trying to make was about how you direct the energy of the tree as it's growing into the branches you want it directed to. It wasn't so much about collecting or re-potting.
So this one was just recently dug up out of the ground and put in the current pot?
The timing was a bit late, and it would have been better to go into something like pumice. perlite, or bonsai soil. But if it's made any recovery in the current pot and soil, just leave it alone and cross your fingers that the new growth continues. You'll hear about how to treat it for the first 3 years in those videos. Particularly part 2.
PiñonJ
Omono
Never bare root a pine. You replace the field soil in stages, because the roots need the microbes to help them access the nutrients the tree needs.Thank you everyone once again.... 1 final question... In regards to video @A. Gorilla posted. (Thank you very much by the way) Unfortunately I could only watch about 3 or 4 minutes before being interrupted at work (the audacity of a company asking you to work on a Friday
I read something from Walter Pall stating that it was best to bare root and remove the original substrate as soon as possible.......... This tree has been collected and in a garden container for almost a week now.... and my buddy didn't tie it down so its been buried, but blowing in the wind.
Finally the question.... This weekend I plan on anchoring it down, but should I also bare root and plant in 100% NAPA DE when I do this?
