Should I attempt a soil change in early January ?

[Vance Wood]

When there are no roots in the corners after 3 years in the pot there is something wrong with the medium, the watering or there is a disease like needle cast that must be treated. Be gentle with this tree...

I agree there is something wrong with the basic soil. How long has you Pine been in this stuff?

 

[Vance Wood]

Yes you are right. That's why I am working closely with the club "sensei" of trees. We looked at it very closely yesterday and what I am doing I am clearing with him. He is "pretty" ...sure... that it is going to pull through. He even advised the addition of some plugs as a "possible" good thing. I chose the corners because I am certain that no root development has occurred this past year and figured (correctly) that the corners would be the place LEAST likely to find any roots to wreck.

I do hope it pulls through. I also DO wish it weren't a SCOTS pine and the only reason I got it in the first place was when I was JUST "thinking" of bonsai and got it from an old nursery that sold willy-nilly stuff and is now out of business.

My mugo and JBP are having no problems.

When I got it I had no idea that there WERE different pines.

This "range" for Scots kinda shows why I ...may.... be having such a go-round with it.

Another insult was this past summer. Thinking to keep it in FULL SUN, the poor thing was in the middle of the yard with 112 degree "sun."

Yesterday we decided that this tree has to have afternoon shade here in the California Central Valley KILN !!!

Scots Pines are very vigorous and live in a wide range of environmental zones, I don't think that's the problem though a bit of shade may help it out. I think it is more likely the tree is not being watered enough.

 

[Mike Corazzi]

There is nothing (as in zero) in the "soil" to hold any water that's applied.
That is going to get corrected just as soon as it flushes out this year where it will show what's happened to the vigor inside the tree.
When it recovers, damn sure it will be repotted.

 

[Vance Wood]

There is nothing (as in zero) in the "soil" to hold any water that's applied.
That is going to get corrected just as soon as it flushes out this year where it will show what's happened to the vigor inside the tree.
When it recovers, damn sure it will be repotted.

The looks of the remaining soil seems to appear as being too dry and too compacted. I also mis-spoke on the organic quote from the original posting on page one. You were referring the fertilizer not the soil. After reading through the thread again it is possible you are fooling around with the tree too much.

 

[augustine]

I think you are right about climate, too hot, coupled with soil that is not holding moisture and baking sun. Maybe the tree can survive there but will probably always be stressed.

JBP should be fine in your area but a little afternoon sun is good during hot weather. Mugo - I don't know?

Regardless good luck.