This pine tree was found near China peak ski resort in the sierra nevadas around 6000 ft . Ive been wanting to collect it now that I can keep urban evergreen yamadori alive. (specifically juniper species, as i havnt tried pine urban yamadori yet). This would be my first time collecting any tree from the wild. I have taken a long 3 yesr break from this hobby which I love. I didn't want to take a break but had to becsuse the last place I was living at was known by ass holes who kept stealing my trees. I lost the majority of my collection but now I've moved out in the country and my fiance and I couldn't be happier. Stoked to get back into bonsai and I bring this up because I can't remember if collecting this tree is best in the spring or not. I have a lot to learn and relearn. Thanks
What kind of pine tree is this?
- Thread starter Benny w
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Tahoebonsai
Yamadori
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Lodgepole pine pinus contorta
Desert O'Piñon
Chumono
As we can't see the base of this tree, it's hard to give advice. But it appears to be growing from a crevice in a large boulder or the mountain itself. If this is the case, it will be very difficult (if possible at all) to collect with enough soil (and the mycorrizae necessary for its necessary nutrition) and/or roots to give it a strong enough chance of survival.
I am speaking entirely from what I've read, as I have no experience collecting pines. There is a lot of great information here; @Hartinez has done plenty of work and refined some techniques. @Colorado has collected some as well. I'm sure there are others as well.
A piece of advice I've been given? A living tree in the wild is better than a dead tree in a pot. I don't intend to be discouraging, but it seems it would be very disappointing to do all the work of collecting only to lose the tree.
I hope that if I'm out of line, someone more knowledgeable will correct me. Newbies need to stay in their lane.
I am speaking entirely from what I've read, as I have no experience collecting pines. There is a lot of great information here; @Hartinez has done plenty of work and refined some techniques. @Colorado has collected some as well. I'm sure there are others as well.
A piece of advice I've been given? A living tree in the wild is better than a dead tree in a pot. I don't intend to be discouraging, but it seems it would be very disappointing to do all the work of collecting only to lose the tree.
I hope that if I'm out of line, someone more knowledgeable will correct me. Newbies need to stay in their lane.
Last edited:
rockm
Spuds Moyogi
A rule of thumb in collecting--if you have to ask what it is you're going to dig up, you probably shouldn't. You need more understanding and experience with lesser examples before you tackle the really good stuff. If you don't you're wasting the good stuff if you don't know how to collect it or care for it afterwards.
As said, this tree is not going to be easy to get out alive from a rock. Although it's possible the root mass sits in a stone bowl intact, it's more likely likely go back behind the stone making them impossible to get.
As said, this tree is not going to be easy to get out alive from a rock. Although it's possible the root mass sits in a stone bowl intact, it's more likely likely go back behind the stone making them impossible to get.
A friend found a dozen or so of these trees growing in bowls of granite filled with soil he described to me and I wanted to verify with experts like yourself what I had thought it was from the picture. I won't take the tree if this tree doesn't have a healthy root ball and if it can't be taken out with the majority of the roots undisturbed for maximum survival. I wouldn't waste my time if I thought for a second I couldn't keep this tree alive. We both really dont know if this will be easy or not to take out. Thank you for taking the time to reply although I couldn't disagree more with your assumptions concerning my experience level.
Cruiser
Chumono
How large is that tree?
Based on your photo it appears 3-5’ long and has an acute lean. A lean like that applies constant torque on the base. More than a vertical tree would experience. In most cases the tree will respond with deeper/further reaching lateral roots to balance itself since a nice compact root mass would make it less stable.
All that is to say that it probably does not have a convenient root mass to extract. It likely reaches deep into its pocket/bedrock.
But weird things happen in nature and I’m drawing that conclusion off a photograph. I could be wrong. What is to the right of the root base? What is the situation opposite the trees lean? More pocket or solid rock?
People will suggest you wiggle the tree to feel how loose it is. Sometimes that means it’s easily collectible. Other times it indicates a taproot that’s deep as hell with few side roots to stabilize the wiggle.
But all that is a moot point if the tree is unhealthy. Judging the foliage, that tree does not look healthy. Again, I could be wrong from here. It might have a bunch of juicy buds ready to pop next season… but that’s what I see in your photo.
Based on your photo it appears 3-5’ long and has an acute lean. A lean like that applies constant torque on the base. More than a vertical tree would experience. In most cases the tree will respond with deeper/further reaching lateral roots to balance itself since a nice compact root mass would make it less stable.
All that is to say that it probably does not have a convenient root mass to extract. It likely reaches deep into its pocket/bedrock.
But weird things happen in nature and I’m drawing that conclusion off a photograph. I could be wrong. What is to the right of the root base? What is the situation opposite the trees lean? More pocket or solid rock?
People will suggest you wiggle the tree to feel how loose it is. Sometimes that means it’s easily collectible. Other times it indicates a taproot that’s deep as hell with few side roots to stabilize the wiggle.
But all that is a moot point if the tree is unhealthy. Judging the foliage, that tree does not look healthy. Again, I could be wrong from here. It might have a bunch of juicy buds ready to pop next season… but that’s what I see in your photo.
Cruiser
Chumono
Incidentally, I collected a pine similar to your candidate.
It’s also a leaning lodgepole, but a different subspecies, and was growing in different conditions.
You can see how the roots have mostly grown opposite of the trunks lean to help support the weight.
Indicators of current and future good health; nice buds, plentiful healthy foliage, and back budding.
Hope this helps with current and future decisions.
It’s also a leaning lodgepole, but a different subspecies, and was growing in different conditions.
You can see how the roots have mostly grown opposite of the trunks lean to help support the weight.
Indicators of current and future good health; nice buds, plentiful healthy foliage, and back budding.
Hope this helps with current and future decisions.
