Any potential in this JBP?

[Matt3839]

Saw some small JBP at a local nursery. About 6 inches tall maybe. Pinus thunbergii. Do you think this one has potential or is it too late to wire into a nice shape? It’s maybe a little little smaller than 1cm thick. Has two sets of small bar branches but that’s it. Its about 20 dollars which is about half the price or less of the ones I’ve seen for sale on 99 cent bonsai auctions of similar age.

I’ve never worked with pines but I’ve had my eye on getting one for a while now. Just not sure if there’s anything specific I should be looking out for

 

[RaginCajun]

Saw some small JBP at a local nursery. About 6 inches tall maybe. Pinus thunbergii. Do you think this one has potential or is it too late to wire into a nice shape? It’s maybe a little little smaller than 1cm thick. Has two sets of small bar branches but that’s it. Its about 20 dollars which is about half the price or less of the ones I’ve seen for sale on 99 cent bonsai auctions of similar age.

I’ve never worked with pines but I’ve had my eye on getting one for a while now. Just not sure if there’s anything specific I should be looking out for

You can definitely still wire that to shape.

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

I agree that this is decent material to start out with.
Looks like a 2-4 year old seedling, which is a good starting point.

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Gosh, would want to know if this was a JBP cultivar or just an ordinary JBP.

If the latter, great! would wire the trunk and get a bend in it, then thin out the top knot to get some separation between growth areas.

Start with areas where there are more than two candles coming out of the same spot and reduce these to two well placed candles at each spot.

Next look for other areas where the tree has more than two (branch and trunk) coming together in a junction. But leave an extra if possible… which can be reduced next year or so, just in case.

Cheers
DSD sends

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

I see no evidence of it being a grafted tree. Therefore, you most likely have an ordinary JBP . This is good, because dealing with a young grafted tree is a little complicated.

This tree has potential, you can design it to become just about anything.

First, read up on JBP. Pick your future size and general design. Then make a plan to get there.

Pick your size, one foot? Two foot ? a meter?

How old do you want it to look? Appearance of age usually means larger trunk diameter relative to finished height. Here escape branches are used to build trunk diameter. Read up for this topic.

This "Pines" sub forum is a great library for all these topics. Browse the older threads.

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Also consider getting looking into Eric Schrader - Bonsaify.stream on YOUTube

Or if you would like to do the tree step by step with someone who knows how to create small JBP, consider Eric’s course: Mastering Shohin JBP - A complete guide course for Christmas.

Cheers
DSD sends

 

[19Mateo83]

Saw some small JBP at a local nursery. About 6 inches tall maybe. Pinus thunbergii. Do you think this one has potential or is it too late to wire into a nice shape? It’s maybe a little little smaller than 1cm thick. Has two sets of small bar branches but that’s it. Its about 20 dollars which is about half the price or less of the ones I’ve seen for sale on 99 cent bonsai auctions of similar age.

I’ve never worked with pines but I’ve had my eye on getting one for a while now. Just not sure if there’s anything specific I should be looking out for

If you want a few for the price of that one check out scenic hill farm. All their prices include shipping.

Japanese Black Pine Seedlings - 3 Sizes - Live Potted Trees or Bare Root Trees

Japanese black pine (Pinus thunbergii) A small irregular pyramidal shaped dark green pine. Great for bonsai, as a container, shade, or accent tree. Japanese Black Pines can reach 25 – 40 feet high and 25 – 35 feet wide in maturity. Prefers full sun in well draining soil and is drought tolerant...

scenichillfarmnursery.com

 

[Wulfskaar]

I see no evidence of it being a grafted tree. Therefore, you most likely have an ordinary JBP . This is good, because dealing with a young grafted tree is a little complicated.

Does anyone actually bother to graft JBP? They just seem so easy to grow.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

Does anyone actually bother to graft JBP? They just seem so easy to grow.

Yes, people do graft JBP for specific horticultural traits. In landscaping, many needle size and variegation patterns exist. Sometimes cork barked varieties are grafted for bonsai, but getting good results is not for beginners. There are short needle and multiple budding varieties of JBP that get grafted occasionally. "yatsubusa" types.

Generally, the normal form is the easiest to work with.

 

[Wulfskaar]

Yes, people do graft JBP for specific horticultural traits. In landscaping, many needle size and variegation patterns exist. Sometimes cork barked varieties are grafted for bonsai, but getting good results is not for beginners. There are short needle and multiple budding varieties of JBP that get grafted occasionally. "yatsubusa" types.

Generally, the normal form is the easiest to work with.

You are a wealth of knowledge. Thank you as always.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

Evergreen Garden Works, owned by Brent Walston and William Valavanis of International Bonsai are two growers who occasionally have select, grafted JBP cultivars available. Supplies vary, but find their websites and email them.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

Thanks for the kind words

 

[MrFancyPlants]

Leo is the best.

To the OP, plenty of potential. Plan on up potting and growing out some sacrifice branches, and the tree is your oyster, or something.

Also check out @cmeg1 material when it is available. For not too much more you can get some great starters.

 

[Matt3839]

I’ve been watching some black pine videos out of curiosity but I guess I’ll have to really study up now because I went ahead and bought one , the plan is to repot into a pond basket or colander when appropriate and just letting it regain some energy in 2025.

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

I’ve been watching some black pine videos out of curiosity but I guess I’ll have to really study up now because I went ahead and bought one , the plan is to repot into a pond basket or colander when appropriate and just letting it regain some energy in 2025.

Pond basket would be a good start.

Likely best to already begin to work on the tree next spring if it is destined to be a smaller bonsai.

Cheers
DSD sends

 

[TrimmyWhimmy]

I wonder if it's a yatsubusa seedling. Seems to have a lot of buds.

 

[Matt3839]

Pond basket would be a good start.

Likely best to already begin to work on the tree next spring if it is destined to be a smaller bonsai.

Cheers
DSD sends

When you say work on it do you mean additional work after the repot? I.E. what you mentioned in earlier post? Would that be too much work on the tree if a repot is done as well?

 

[Matt3839]

I wonder if it's a yatsubusa seedling. Seems to have a lot of buds.

Not sure, the tag only said Pinus thunbergii though.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

A nursery would charge 5 to 10 times as much for a 'yatsubusa' type JBP over the normal type. I doubt you got a yatsubusa if you only paid the "normal" price. Nurseries would also be fairly careful about labeling, too.