ZombieNick's 2023-2026 Little Christmas Tree Entry

[ZombieNick]

Here is my Italian Stone Pine entry. I had to drive to a few Home Depots to find some on sale, but I eventually found 5 gallons for 50% off (still came out to $27 ). There was only four to choose from. I should have time to dive into it this weekend:

 

[Ruddigger]

50%?! Nice!

 

[Carapace]

Here is my Nordmann Fir (abies nordmanniana) entry. This one was the thickest one and it barely has any inverse taper. The nebari is much better in person than in this photo :^).

 

[Carapace]

Hey sorry about my post on your entry thread, it's my first time participating in a contest here and I thought that you were organizing it and now I can't delete it

 

[Eckhoffw]

Hey sorry about my post on your entry thread, it's my first time participating in a contest here and I thought that you were organizing it and now I can't delete it

Don’t sweat it. View the contest guidelines here.

The 2023 to 2026 little Christmas tree competition

I’m excited to see what people find this year. I hope a ton of B-Nuts will get in the mix. I think Rules are pretty much the exact same as the last go around. Here’s the main criteria/ Guidelines to follow. 1-original Tree/plant should be initially Potted or packaged, showing its intent...

www.bonsainut.com

Then put up your own contest entry thread.

 

[Carapace]

Don’t sweat it. View the contest guidelines here.

The 2023 to 2026 little Christmas tree competition

I’m excited to see what people find this year. I hope a ton of B-Nuts will get in the mix. I think Rules are pretty much the exact same as the last go around. Here’s the main criteria/ Guidelines to follow. 1-original Tree/plant should be initially Potted or packaged, showing its intent...

www.bonsainut.com

Then put up your own contest entry thread.

Already have. Thanks!

 

[ZombieNick]

I got a chance to work on this today. I cut it back hard and cleaned it up to hopefully get some good back budding.


This is the front I had in mind, though that could change:


If it responds well to the chop I'll look to repot it in Spring.

 

[Eckhoffw]

I got a chance to work on this today. I cut it back hard and cleaned it up to hopefully get some good back budding.
View attachment 523088

This is the front I had in mind, though that could change:
View attachment 523089

If it responds well to the chop I'll look to repot it in Spring.

Wow! That’s a lot Of chop chop. I hope it responds well for you.

 

[Sixty’s]

I got a chance to work on this today. I cut it back hard and cleaned it up to hopefully get some good back budding.
View attachment 523088

This is the front I had in mind, though that could change:
View attachment 523089

If it responds well to the chop I'll look to repot it in Spring.

Loving the movement on that trunk, that’s a lovely find.

 

[Dabbler]

wire or no wire?

 

[Ruddigger]

Nice, your trunk actually has some movement in it.

 

[Eckhoffw]

wire or no wire?

i’m interested to hear what other ‘Nuts’ think about going further at this time.

I don’t have experience with Stone pine, but I wouldn’t further stress this tree with wire.

I’d see How the Tree response to the current work done on it, and take it from there.

Great trunk on this one!

 

[Ruddigger]

I wouldn't be scared to wire at all, but we live in Southern California where we can get away with a lot more abuse.

 

[Eckhoffw]

I wouldn't be scared to wire at all, but we live in Southern California where we can get away with a lot more abuse.

Wow. I guess I just thought Pines were temperamental no matter where you lived. that’s awesome.

Meanwhile, I’m afraid to do much of anything on my trees right now.

 

[ZombieNick]

Wow. I guess I just thought Pines were temperamental no matter where you lived. that’s awesome.

Meanwhile, I’m afraid to do much of anything on my trees right now.

We are pretty blessed here with a long growing season and mild winters. We typically work conifers here more than the common saying of "one insult per year." That being said, I don't know much about the species either, this is a learning experience for me too. If it helps any, my lows are now above 50 F here. In the last month, I don't think we ever dipped below 40 F. People here are already repotting.

 

[ZombieNick]

Been six months already. Didn't get around to repotting it this year. Here are a couple updates:

March 25th, 2024 - Back budding strong after the first cutback:


June 2, 2024 - Did another cut back, and started pinching the stuff I want to keep. I've been able to push back the growth pretty well so far, I want to try to get it a little closer before I commit to a design:


After:



Today:

 

[damiano68]

Ciao, il Pinus pinea è poco indicato per bonsai sotto gli 80cm, produce molti aghi giovanili perché vuole solo crescere in altezza.
Damiano.

 

[Deleted member 47471]

Been six months already. Didn't get around to repotting it this year. Here are a couple updates:

March 25th, 2024 - Back budding strong after the first cutback:
View attachment 553470

June 2, 2024 - Did another cut back, and started pinching the stuff I want to keep. I've been able to push back the growth pretty well so far, I want to try to get it a little closer before I commit to a design:
View attachment 553471

After:
View attachment 553472
View attachment 553473

Today:
View attachment 553474

Would you mind describing the process of pinching, what/where you pinch, and the expected results? I want to understand the big picture and the minor details of how it is accomplished.

Is this the same as pinching the terminal foliage tips of branches on Spruce to get backbudding and/or mature 2ndary foliage into branches? Does the stone pine growth you pinch need to harden off first?

They look similar to Spruce to me. Are you identifying darker, sharper, harder as the defining characteristics of new growth hardening off?

 

[Ruddigger]

Hello, Pinus pinea is not very suitable for bonsai under 80cm, it produces many juvenile needles because it only wants to grow in height.
Damiano.

80cm is like 2 and a half feet. If you embrace the juvenile foliage they can make a very nice tree. This one is about 10” tall.

 

[damiano68]

80 cm sono circa 2 piedi e mezzo. Se si abbraccia il fogliame giovanile, si può creare un albero molto bello. Questo è alto circa 10".
View attachment 555872

Sarà quasi impossibile, produce aghi lunghi 15 cm (6 pollici), devi pensare come se fosse un pino nero e non un pentaphylla o un silvestre.
Ti auguro un buon lavoro, io ho rinunciato a questa specie.