Pines unhealthy?

[Rockwellbonsai]

Hi,
Im worried my pines are dying. well, not dying, just i feel like their not doing their best.
heres a picture./Users/porteryoung/Pictures/IMG_0191.JPG/Users/porteryoung/Pictures/IMG_0192.JPG
Hopefully that works.
Porter

 

[Rockwellbonsai]

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[Poink88]

Hi,
Im worried my pines are dying. well, not dying, just i feel like their not doing their best.
heres a picture./Users/porteryoung/Pictures/IMG_0191.JPG/Users/porteryoung/Pictures/IMG_0192.JPG
Hopefully that works.
Porter

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[Rockwellbonsai]

 

[Rockwellbonsai]

thank you!!!

 

[Paradox]

They look fine to me. The first one is shedding some 3 year old needles at the bottom which is normal.
The first also has next years buds forming at the tips. Both have good normal color for JWP.
Looks like the second one has stalled a bit with its candle development(?)

Keep in mind that pines are slow growers.

Not sure what you think is wrong?

 

[Rockwellbonsai]

Hi paradox,
The JWP is 3 years old. I just realized its shedding. BTW, the pine on the right is a JBP. It just came in the mail yesterday. I was just showing it to see what you think.
Thanks for the information.
Porter

 

[Paradox]

Rockwell re your PM:

Just letting you know that tree on the right was a JBP. Its 2 years old. But, its so tall! I want to thicken the trunk but, where do i even start from such a massive seedling?

The only way to thicken the trunk is to let it grow. I would advise you to check out Brian Van Fleet's blog and e-book on JBP. He has a ton of experience growing them and has done very well with them.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Rockwell re your PM:
The only way to thicken the trunk is to let it grow. I would advise you to check out Brian Van Fleet's blog and e-book on JBP. He has a ton of experience growing them and has done very well with them.

Before buying the book (which I do highly recommend...you can preview 30 pages at the red link at the bottom of this post), start with an article to get grounded on some basics of trunk development and sacrifice branches:
http://www.evergreengardenworks.com/trunks.htm

Then a little more detail on sacrifice branches specifically on JBP:
http://nebaribonsai.wordpress.com/2013/03/02/sacrifice-branches-black-pine/
http://nebaribonsai.wordpress.com/2013/07/13/sacrifice-branches-black-pine-part-2/

Next, a good thread here:
http://bonsainut.com/forums/showthread.php?10775-How-long-can-you-leave-a-sacrifice-branch

Also see the attached photos. This JBP is about 7' tall now. You can see two distinctly different areas of foliage. The top part is all sacrifice branch, and the bottom 4 inches will be all I use in the next phase of the pine's development. For planning purposes, this JBP was 12" tall when I put it in the ground around 3 years ago. They grow fast if allowed.

Finally, go for the book. It will teach you how to take your JBP from that point to a nicely developed bonsai.

 

[Adair M]

There's also great info on Jonas' blog, Bonsai Tonight.

He posts all kinds of stuff, but a lot of it is on developing JBP.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

There's also great info on Jonas' blog, Bonsai Tonight.

He posts all kinds of stuff, but a lot of it is on developing JBP.

Thanks...knew I was omitting some good stuff...
Here are a few:
http://bonsaitonight.com/2014/07/18/developing-black-pine-setting-the-first-curves/
http://bonsaitonight.com/2014/07/22/of-red-pines-and-black-pines/
http://bonsaitonight.com/2014/07/11/developing-young-pine-bonsai-2/