Collected Ponderosa Pine #1

[NHATIVE]

Hi All,

I'm starting a thread on this Ponderosa Pine I collected this past spring in the Cascade Range. It was growing perfectly in a small rock pocket and only one small tap root about the size of a pencil needed to be cut for removal. It went into pure pumice upon getting home, and wood blocks were placed in the anderson flat to keep the root mass constricted. Over the growing season, it didn't skip a beat with a full flush of new growth.

It's not a particularly "gnarly" individual, but I love the aged bark and dead branches up the trunk. Long-term I think this will make a nice bunjin/literati composition. For now, it's going to live as-is through at least one more growing season.

 

[Potawatomi13]

Good to leave grow a year. Pumice perfect/wise. Cultivate life of low branch. Not bad trunk/bark for beginnings. Subscriber to Mirai Live?

 

[Bu-Jetjet]

Hi All,

I'm starting a thread on this Ponderosa Pine I collected this past spring in the Cascade Range. It was growing perfectly in a small rock pocket and only one small tap root about the size of a pencil needed to be cut for removal. It went into pure pumice upon getting home, and wood blocks were placed in the anderson flat to keep the root mass constricted. Over the growing season, it didn't skip a beat with a full flush of new growth.

It's not a particularly "gnarly" individual, but I love the aged bark and dead branches up the trunk. Long-term I think this will make a nice bunjin/literati composition. For now, it's going to live as-is through at least one more growing season.

View attachment 406924 View attachment 406925

This is a great find and welcome to the cat-and-mouse game with Ponderosas! You're already in the right direction with the all-pumice substrate. I like the plan of going with the literati style. Keep us updated!

 

[BrianBay9]

Looks like a good practice tree. Sounds like a good collecting experience with a good chance of survival. If it makes it, next time look for more movement / interest in the trunk.

 

[aframe]

Good to leave grow a year. Pumice perfect/wise. Cultivate life of low branch. Not bad trunk/bark for beginnings. Subscriber to Mirai Live?

Do you recommend pumice as a substrate for newly collected ponderosa, or also as a growing medium once planted in a bonsai pot?

 

[Potawatomi13]

Do you recommend pumice as a substrate for newly collected ponderosa, or also as a growing medium once planted in a bonsai pot?

Could likely use most any non organic with good drainage for newly collected. Personally did this in past. Ryan Neil personal recommendation was pumice for Ponderosa. As mine repotted all(pines)go into pure pumice now.

 

[Bu-Jetjet]

I second @Potawatomi13 's suggestion of all pumice - especially with Pondering Ponderosas. It's pretty much the go to recipe for yamadori conifers. All of my collected pines are in pure pumice.




@Brian Van Fleet told me once that "when in doubt, check the results" (I'm paraphrasing him). All of the renowned collectors all use pure pumice to let their collected trees recover.

 

[NHATIVE]

Update :

I haven't done anything with this tree since it was collected a little over 4 years ago. Since then, it also managed to survive a cross country move from the Seattle area to New Hampshire.

I repotted a couple weeks ago. Planning on bending the apex down at some point for a more exaggerated literate style. But happy with the repot and looking forward to seeing this year's growth and recovery.

I will try and get better pictures and update.

 

[NHATIVE]

Here's a couple photos of my two Ponderosa Pines in the back of the uhaul. 10 days, 3400 miles, and a pile of family memories later... They made it. Very impressed by how resilient these trees can be.

Interesting note : this trip was in the middle of August and these trees had next year's buds already set. Given they were in summer dormancy during this time, after being exposed to the prolonged darkness in the trailer, they actually started opening those buds in the fall. Luckily there was enough time for them to set new buds again before winter, but I found that very fascinating.