Pitch Pine Literati Progression

[Tidal Bonsai]

I'd sincerely like to know how it responds when its decandled.

Because I've struggled with less-than-vigorous trees before and recognize them when I see them.

It was not my intent to set myself up as an authority. I'm not looking for an argument and only want to help. I did bonsai for longer than I care to admit before I really knew what healthy looked like.

I am glad to hear that your heart is in the right place after making the bold statement above! I am not an authority, but this is my counter:

1. Pitch Pines are 100% multiflush trees. Bjorn has written about it recently, Ryan Neil has talked about it recently, and before those two, Martin Schlamberg (another NJ bonsai guy) wrote about it in his book North American Bonsai. All the clubs around here treat it like JBP.

2. The act of decandling is a refinement technique that is supposed to slow down the tree. I did the big bends, I am happy with its size and shape, so I am starting to refine the tree. I fertilize my trees that will be decandled heavy in the spring, and withhold fertilize a month before I make the cuts. Before I decandled this tree, it sent out long extensions and after it was decandled it sent out long extensions that I cut off during Fall shoot selection. The whole purpose of decandling is to slow down the tree, get bifurcation, and use the shortest pieces of growth.

Before Decandling


Before Fall shoot selection
3. The part that you are missing is that the pictures I post are after Fall shoot selection. Whorls of up to 6 new branches are thinned to two. This tree is vigorous, I am just controlling it’s vigor by decandling and shoot selecting to two. One branch, bifurcated into two, which splits to four, which splits to eight, etc.

 

[bwaynef]

Do you have a picture 10-15 days after decandling of where the buds are originating?

 

[Tidal Bonsai]

I do not, but they usually pop out of the old needles that you leave.

 

[Bonds Guy]

On cape cod for the holidays and saw these cool trees.
View attachment 275583View attachment 275584

Wait those are pitch pines?!?! I see those trees everywhere on my drive to work. Looks like I have quite a bit of digging to do come spring

 

[BonjourBonsai]

Wait those are pitch pines?!?! I see those trees everywhere on my drive to work. Looks like I have quite a bit of digging to do come spring

Yup! The cape is lousy with them. They are indigenous up and down the east coast. I think now would be a good time to start collecting.

 

[bwaynef]

After a few more quick searches, looks like it can be decandled. I stand by the assessment that this tree doesn't seem vigorous though. I look forward to watching its development. (I'm usually sarcastic, but I don't mean for this to come across as such.)

 

[BonjourBonsai]

Anyone have a good collecting site? I'm in MD and could travel a few hours for a good hike...

 

[Tidal Bonsai]

5 season progression on a native pitch pine. This tree was a rare find at a plant nursery, and it's looking more and more like yamadori every year!

 

[Tidal Bonsai]

Fixed the planting angle today!

 

[Colorado]

Looking great!

 

[Tidal Bonsai]

Looking great!

I'm hoping to show it at MABS next year.

 

[jszg]

What a glow-up! When the bark ages some more, it'll be a very striking tree.

 

[BonjourBonsai]

@Tidal Bonsai great progression thread here. Thanks for following through and showing what this amazing species is capable of!

 

[Tidal Bonsai]

@Tidal Bonsai great progression thread here. Thanks for following through and showing what this amazing species is capable of!

Thank you! I am just grateful that through experimentation and guidance that I was able to show this species potential to a larger audience. There were some growing pains in earlier posts, but after 5-6 years of work, it's finally moving in the right direction. I hope that others are inspired to work with this underutilized species that has a special place in my heart.

 

[Tidal Bonsai]

As shown at the 2023 NJ Bonsai Societies Open Show.

 

[Tidal Bonsai]

This tree has taught me a lot, and after about 6 seasons, I finally feel that it is finally on the right track! To my eye, she evokes the true nature of the native with its slender, sinuous trunk and sparse branching on the top portion of the tree.

After showing this tree at last years NJ Art of Bonsai Show, I gave this pitch pine a season off to regain strength. Huge improvements were made to its design by removing the drop branch on the left to create more age/assimetry in the design. This tree is back on track for further refinement in time!!!

 

[VAFisher]

Great tree. I think losing the drop branch was definitely the right call. Do you have trouble keeping those mini ferns from burning up with all of the sun your pine needs?

 

[Tidal Bonsai]

Great tree. I think losing the drop branch was definitely the right call. Do you have trouble keeping those mini ferns from burning up with all of the sun your pine needs?

Good question! The first year I planted them, it was a chore keeping the ferns and other mixed plants alive. Now that they are established, they grew great all season and are now shutting down for the fall. When I repot the tree, I will have to be careful to not remove them by accident.

 

[BonjourBonsai]

I really like the double back from the top. It lands in a nice triangle. Have you considered making that shape a little less perfect? Not a criticism at all, I am very impressed with your work. Just wondering if some "flaws" would reveal an even more "natural" presentation?

 

[Tidal Bonsai]

I really like the double back from the top. It lands in a nice triangle. Have you considered making that shape a little less perfect? Not a criticism at all, I am very impressed with your work. Just wondering if some "flaws" would reveal an even more "natural" presentation?

Right now the whole tree has been reduced down to only two branches, so there is more room for refinement/improvement in the future. Over time, I am looking for more roundness in the pads and asymmetry !