These are the beginnings of flowers/cones correct? (and not regular candles)

[Adair M]

Regardless of the age, it takes foliage to maintain a healthy tree.

I don’t know much about niwaki per se. So I googled it, then looked at pictures. All the trees had significantly more foliage on them than this one.

I really don’t see there’s a difference, horticulturally, between a niwaki in a tub and a bonsai tree in a pot. I did see that your tree appears to be in “garden soil” or pitting soil, which I know is a poor choice for JBP. They prefer a much better draining soil mix than what potting soil provides.

 

[エドガー]

I have only been growing and developing JBP for around 30 years. I believe I've had time to learn something about their growth patterns in that time. At least your grower has been honest about the age even if you choose not to believe.
I do understand Niwaki. I actually maintain a couple down here though I have not studied this branch of gardening as extensively as your 3 years. You may be interested to see some of the early development of JBP in the current 6 year pine contest - https://www.bonsainut.com/forums/the-six-year-japanese-black-pine-contest.73/ The seedlings featured are currently 2-3 years old. There are some entries from absolute beginners and others from more experienced growers. You should probably ignore posts about contorted trunks and growing really little trees but there are plenty of good posts outlining ways to get good growth in the initial stages. My fast grown seedlings are currently 2 years old and over a foot tall. Some growers have achieved even more growth that that.
Bonsai is not always about dramatic bends and loops as you seem to think. Much more about aesthetic and proportion. Niwaki can also have good aesthetic if the grower understands some basics of artistic principles of design - flow, rhythm, proportion, etc. All of which are directly related to size. Then knowing the principles of how JBP grow and respond to pruning will help to get those desirable shapes and proportions.

Have fun on your niwaki journey.

Wow.. that's a lot of experience.

It's not that I don't completely believe him... it's just that my four 6-7yo saplings are sharpie-marker thick, 12"-20" tall (maaaybe 24" tall), lol.
So, of course, it's very hard for me to believe that my 2 small 5' tall niwaki with 3" trunks and mature bark are the same age.

Trust me, I want to believe him! ...of course I want my four saplings to become bigger quickly too.

Yes, I know it's about proportion and aesthetics too. Niwaki proportions will obviously be different than a 16" bonsai with a 4-5" trunk, lol.

Anyways... here's the grower of my 2 niwaki. I'm not sure if his abilities as a grower and trainer of JBP is very poor like you say (he's been doing it for decades and is from Japan):

Akita Bonsai Nursery - Specialists in Large Bonsai, Bamboo, Landscape Design and Installation

Akita Bonsai is a wholesale nursery specializing in large bonsai, bamboo, palms, and assorted shrubs and trees. Located in Escondido, Akita Bonsai Nursery serves all of southern California. Landscape design is also available.

akitabonsainursery.com

And here's the other grower, but for my four JBP saplings I bought, which he lists as 6-7yo (I bought them 2 years ago)... he's originally from LA and is more in the John Naka generation I believe.. also Japanese and knows all the well known JBP growers. I doubt he'd be lying about the age:

Japanese Black Pine 2 'Mikawa' trees 16" to 2 ft. Pinus thunbergii,bonsai stock | eBay

Pinus thunbergii can reach the height of 40 m, but rarely achieves this size outside its natural range. Bark is gray on young trees and small branches, changing to black and plated on larger branches and the trunk; becoming quite thick on older trunks.Because of its resistance topollution...

www.ebay.com

 

[エドガー]

Regardless of the age, it takes foliage to maintain a healthy tree.

I don’t know much about niwaki per se. So I googled it, then looked at pictures. All the trees had significantly more foliage on them than this one.

I really don’t see there’s a difference, horticulturally, between a niwaki in a tub and a bonsai tree in a pot. I did see that your tree appears to be in “garden soil” or pitting soil, which I know is a poor choice for JBP. They prefer a much better draining soil mix than what potting soil provides.

Yes, I know foliage is needed for health.
But, most of the energy collected is from previous Fall and Summer (when sap is running the most).
Also, I think Momiage on niwaki is so much more bare than a bonsai... because who wants to do it multiple times per year to let's say a 15-25' tree? (in the cold of winter, on a ladder and in the outdoors). That's my guess anyways. I'm sure it's easier for a much smaller bonsai.

Of course, if you just google "niwaki" it'll show a bunch of trees with a lot of foliage. Mine has a lot of foliage too in the growing season, lol.
What you Won't find many pics of, is a JBP niwaki right after a fresh Momiage needle-pluck. So, I attached the few pics I can find... not my pics.. but those are in Japan. I've seen it much more bare than that (like mine) everywhere in Japan and also at niwaki nurseries in SoCal.

You don't see a difference, horticulturally? Maybe a niwaki is a lot bigger and has much more foliage in the growing season than an average or small bonsai. And the branches (as Shibui mentioned) are much more spread apart. So, perhaps, with this greater branch distance and spread, requires more balancing and more needle reduction than a smaller bonsai.

The soil is 40-50% pumice (and some scoria) and the rest is typical organic matter (pine and fir bark, "potting mix," etc.). Still good drainage with all that pumice, and also the needed organics (fines and all) to survive SoCal climate.
It's not a poor choice... it's the best choice for super dry (and hot) SoCal where the humidity goes to single-digit % often with the occasional Santa Ana winds. Even for small bonsai, it is a good mix for SoCal (50% inorganic).
I got my soil mixture recommendation from the JBP grower posted above (the eBay grower... not the niwaki nursery... but the niwaki nursery and House of Bonsai in LA uses a similar mix for their niwaki of bark and pumice)... the eBay grower is originally from LA and knows all the old-school/well-known JBP growers in SoCal/US, so I think he'd know my climate.
100% inorganic/aggregate mixes are for people that water their bonsai 2-3x per day in SoCal during the summer or have a nursery with workers or have timed irrigation.

 

[Adair M]

Yes, I know foliage is needed for health.
But, most of the energy collected is from previous Fall and Summer (when sap is running the most).
Also, I think Momiage on niwaki is so much more bare than a bonsai... because who wants to do it multiple times per year to let's say a 15-25' tree? (in the cold of winter, on a ladder and in the outdoors). That's my guess anyways. I'm sure it's easier for a much smaller bonsai.

Of course, if you just google "niwaki" it'll show a bunch of trees with a lot of foliage. Mine has a lot of foliage too in the growing season, lol.
What you Won't find many pics of, is a JBP niwaki right after a fresh Momiage needle-pluck. So, I attached the few pics I can find... not my pics.. but those are in Japan. I've seen it much more bare than that (like mine) everywhere in Japan and also at niwaki nurseries in SoCal.

You don't see a difference, horticulturally? Maybe a niwaki is a lot bigger and has much more foliage in the growing season than an average or small bonsai. And the branches (as Shibui mentioned) are much more spread apart. So, perhaps, with this greater branch distance and spread, requires more balancing and more needle reduction than a smaller bonsai.

The soil is 40-50% pumice (and some scoria) and the rest is typical organic matter (pine and fir bark, "potting mix," etc.). Still good drainage with all that pumice, and also the needed organics (fines and all) to survive SoCal climate.
It's not a poor choice... it's the best choice for super dry (and hot) SoCal where the humidity goes to single-digit % often with the occasional Santa Ana winds. Even for small bonsai, it is a good mix for SoCal (50% inorganic).
I got my soil mixture recommendation from the JBP grower posted above (the eBay grower... not the niwaki nursery... but the niwaki nursery and House of Bonsai in LA uses a similar mix for their niwaki of bark and pumice)... the eBay grower is originally from LA and knows all the old-school/well-known JBP growers in SoCal/US, so I think he'd know my climate.
100% inorganic/aggregate mixes are for people that water their bonsai 2-3x per day in SoCal during the summer or have a nursery with workers or have timed irrigation.

All right, then, you seem to have all the answers.

Good luck with it!

 

[エドガー]

Two more pics of a fresh Momiage/needle-pluck... this time from the nursery I bought them from (I found old pics). This is 3-6 pairs of needles... though, yes, much more secondary/tertiary twigs than my smaller and younger trees.

 

[エドガー]

All right, then, you seem to have all the answers.

Good luck with it!

Thanks... I am just a niwaki n00b doing what I've read and researched, lol.

 

[エドガー]

Here's more pics/examples after a fresh Momiage... all from a local Niwaki JBP maintenance guy with 45+ years experience and from Japan.

 

[エドガー]

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