Shohin white pine work

[fore]

I went thru the same thing last yr Rob. Fungal disease killed maybe 1/6 of my collection. Very discouraging. But I also made the same decision last yr. to only buy really nice material. Great decision. I'm just hoping I don't have to deal with any systemic fungal dz. this yr!

I also love what you've done with this tree. All I saw was a cascade, so kudo's to you!

However, I would've seen if I could've rotated it the other way. This way, the nebari adds to 'stability', tilting it the way you have makes it appear less stable just b/c the nebari on the other side is SO strong.

Chris

 

[october]

Hi fore.. Thanks... That fugus problem really got out of hand everywhere around these parts last year. Junipers were getting it the worst. As far as the nebari, this angle/view has the best flare. Notice right a the bottom, there is a little flare which actually creates taper/nice movement starting at the bottom of the tree. On the repot, there might even be more trunk under the soil. I don't think there is much, but even half an inch more would make this tree shine.

Rob

 

[october]

Got this one repotted over the weekend. If all goes well, I think this tree might be showable in 2-3 years.

Rob

 

[Jason_mazzy]

great transformation!

 

[october]

Thanks Jason..Now that the initial structure is in place and its in a bonsai pot, I hope the tree continues to progress well.

Rob

 

[Poink88]

Thanks to you, I got inspired enough to try shohin. I know it is tougher than my usual medium/large sized trees to style and maintain but I decided to sign up to attend the local shohin society meetings.

Edit in: Done...just emailed the coordinator to be added to their mailing list.

Thanks!!!

 

[october]

Thanks to you, I got inspired enough to try shohin. I know it is tougher than my usual medium/large sized trees to style and maintain but I decided to sign up to attend the local shohin society meetings.

Edit in: Done...just emailed the coordinator to be added to their mailing list.

Thanks!!!

Thanks Dario... All I can say is water...lol...Shohin in summer usually require being watered twice day, sometimes more. Also, wind will blow them right off ledges and stands. Its a whole new animal, but a beautiful one. You are gonna love the world of shohin. Also, you can carry 2, sometimes 3 trees at a time.

Rob

 

[Jason]

Got this one repotted over the weekend. If all goes well, I think this tree might be showable in 2-3 years.

Rob

Amazing work! That one could be a show stopper easily. I love the bark. I hope the apex works out for you. Keep us updated. I haven't seen many shohin white pine I like better.

 

[Mike Westervelt]

Wow, that's a stocky little beast. Nice transformation too.
my only complaint(not really) is that the 5-6 tufts of needles at the top left of the crown
need to be oriented so they are pointing straight up, other than that, it a beauty!
Good work,
Mike

 

[crust]

This little pine is so sweet--but I must admit the pot tortures me. Smaller trees seem to more difficult to pair. I really love the plated base and the casualness of its shape.

 

[october]

Wow, that's a stocky little beast. Nice transformation too.
my only complaint(not really) is that the 5-6 tufts of needles at the top left of the crown
need to be oriented so they are pointing straight up, other than that, it a beauty!
Good work,
Mike

Thank you Mike..as far as the bud, it is not possible at this time. All the needle groups you are seeing are not branches, they are just buds, first buds on the branches. There is nothing to wire and you would be risking damaging the bud. When the tree grows the second generation this season, the candle will elongate and create a more upward look or at least have some length to it.

Rob

 

[october]

This little pine is so sweet--but I must admit the pot tortures me. Smaller trees seem to more difficult to pair. I really love the plated base and the casualness of its shape.

Thanks crust, this pot is this trees first bonsai/training pot. It is only an introduction of the tree to bonsai pot training. Originally I had another pot picked out. However, the tree would not fit in the pot. I had to go the next size up. This pot was a good size and was at least aesthetically passable. I think it will be another 2-3 years before a more appropriate pot can be chosen.

Rob

 

[october]

Did some work on this tree today. The branches have set nicely. Even though there is some wire scarring. Anyway, I cleaned it up, guy wired the main branch and wired a couple of areas. Here is the before and after. The tree cleaned up nicely.

Rob

Before


After

 

[Vance Wood]

Very Nice.

 

[Skinnygoomba]

Gorgeous, you've done a great job with it.

 

[JudyB]

Looking great Rob. Wish I had as much direction with my JWP as you do. This one is a clear winner.

 

[ChrisV]

It looks great and very healthy. Good to see that the apex got denser. Nice work!

 

[Adair M]

Rob, it looks great!

The guy wire looks awkward, and it may damage the pot. I see you have it padded.

A technique I've done, is to poke a heavy gauge copper wire down from the top, through the root ball, then down through a drain hole. Then, twist it around an even heavier piece of copper wire that's long enough so that when you pull back up on the wire through the root ball, it will cross over the hole and the wire will stay in place. Then, just above soil level, use you Jin pliers to roll a little circle in the wire. You can roll this so that it barely extends above the soil. Or, you can have it just below the soil, if you like. That's your anchor for the guy wire. Now, use the thinner wire to guy wire the branch, using your "hidden" anchor. It would look much cleaner and be just as effective. ASSUMING, there's a drain hole you can use!

It might help to make a sharp point on the wire you're pushing thru the rootball.

 

[Bonsaiforlife]

That techniques of anchoring is a good idea. If you go the opposite direction and push wire through the root ball from the drain hole first it's much easier.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

That techniques of anchoring is a good idea. If you go the opposite direction and push wire through the root ball from the drain hole first it's much easier.

That's how I do it too; twist the guy wire around the anchor wire first, then run them up from underneath.

Nice tree Rob, though I wish I could see just a peek of trunk through the mass of foliage.