Shohin black pine from seed

[markyscott]

Here’s a 10 year old seedling cutting I purchased from the grower about a year ago:



It has a very nice twist near the base and I was motivated to build a shohin black pine from this tree. Issue is that the branches aren’t low enough to pull off a shohin. It’ll need a key branch at the first curve, a back branch and an apex.

This was the tree a year ago - time to start grafting:

Scott

 

[markyscott]

The process is just like performing a detached scion graft onto a branch, but the thicker bark and differential depth of the cambium makes this kind of graft much more challenging. Process involves cutting a wedge through the bark with a chisel:



Scott

 

[markyscott]

Cutting the scion is just the same as cutting a branch scion.



And then insert the scion and bag. Seal the wedge with a grafting nail.


Scott

 

[markyscott]

With Boon, I grafted five scions last year. In spite of my efforts, all of them took. Here are some close-ups from the same pine this weekend.



Scott

 

[markyscott]

Some more images of the grafts:



Scott

 

[markyscott]

And the tree - I think I have all of the buds in place to build the shohin branches:



Scott

 

[markyscott]

Here’s the plan:


Scott

 

[Nybonsai12]

I assume the scions were taken from the leggy branches?

And have I mentioned you make awesome threads?

 

[markyscott]

I assume the scions were taken from the leggy branches?

Hi NY - they were cut from 1 season old mature summer shoots on decandled branches.

...I mentioned you make awesome threads?

Thank you - I appreciate that. They are just Scott’s adventures in bonsai.

Scott

 

[the1only]

Thanks Scott, your thread always has been very informative and educational.

 

[dirk hoorelbeke]

This will be a nice pine someday.

 

[Eric Group]

What time of year did you do the grafts? Summer?

 

[markyscott]

What time of year did you do the grafts? Summer?

Hi Eric. Here’s a thread on the topic of detached scion grafting as well as other graft types:
https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/grafting-101.26456/

Here is the specific post on timing of detached scion grafts:
https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/grafting-101.26456/#post-429119

Scott

 

[Paulpash]

Hi Scott, I've seen these green grafting pins before but wanted an endorsement from someone I trust before buying them. It looks like you would recommend them given your success rate?

 

[markyscott]

Hi Scott, I've seen these green grafting pins before but wanted an endorsement from someone I trust before buying them. It looks like you would recommend them given your success rate?

One could probably get away with something else, but once you use them it’s hard to go back. I recommend them.

Scott

 

[barrosinc]

One could probably get away with something else, but once you use them it’s hard to go back. I recommend them.

Scott

Are they made with home improvement store items or specialty for Bonsai?

 

[markyscott]

Are they made with home improvement store items or specialty for Bonsai?

They’re Japanese grafting nails.

S

 

[jeanluc83]

They’re Japanese grafting nails.

Is the green a hard plastic like you find on push pins or is it more of a rubbery material?

 

[dirk hoorelbeke]

I remember those pin's from this link if you want some info. I would love to find some here...
https://peterteabonsai.wordpress.com/2012/06/05/rebuilding-a-japanese-maple/

 

[markyscott]

Is the green a hard plastic like you find on push pins or is it more of a rubbery material?

It’s pliable.

Scott