Bosnian pine

[Phillthy]

i came home with this Bosnian pine from Home Depot. I haven't seen much articles about them. What're your feedback about this type of pine tree? I heard they are slow growers. I think this pine would be fun to play around with and learn more about basic pine care. I'm assuming the rules for this pine is the same as any other?

 

[just.wing.it]

My home depot has several nice ones for 50% off right now....
Had to resist the urge big time.....I'm outta room!
Unfortunately I don't know anything about these trees, but hopefully we can both learn from this thread....

 

[Phillthy]

Yeah they had a whole bunch for sale. This was the only one with a nice curved trunk

 

[Soldano666]

I picked one up last year. I cut,it back hard last winter. No back budding, and the needles are finally almost hardened off. Short bud extensions and long needles. Seems slow. I did have some nice inner buds on the low branches, theyve been in full sun all year so far and getting stronger. Hopefully I can finish reducing the top and repot next spring . might be a waste of time. Id prune the new shoots to encourage some new buds. But they arnt that long or particularly vigorous either

 

[Soldano666]

Pickle

 

[Phillthy]

I picked one up last year. I cut,it back hard last winter. No back budding, and the needles are finally almost hardened off. Short bud extensions and long needles. Seems slow. I did have some nice inner buds on the low branches, theyve been in full sun all year so far and getting stronger. Hopefully I can finish reducing the top and repot next spring . might be a waste of time. Id prune the new shoots to encourage some new buds. But they arnt that long or particularly vigorous either

Do you have any photos of your tree? Is it safe to prune off un wanted branches at this time?

 

[Soldano666]

Ill try tp snag some tomorrow. I would imagine so yes. As other pines can handle pruning right now. It might help with back buds like other 2 needle pines. My winter pruning did not do anything for back budding unfortunetly

 

[0soyoung]

I cut,it back hard last winter.

This is a good time to eliminate unwanted branches because there will be no bleeding, but not good for back budding (as you discovered).

Cytokinin hormones are made by the roots and drawn up the tree through the xylem (wood) by transpiration. Cytokinins release buds. Auxin that is produced by the branch tips and goes down the tree in a bucket brigade from one cambium cell to the next, suppresses buds. These two hormones are antagonists, countering the effect of the other.

In the active growing season the levels of both of these hormones is high, so we back get bud release when we prune because we eliminated the auxin source on the branch. In winter dormancy, the level of both hormones is low. So pruning in winter doesn't produce a situation where the cytokinin level is enough higher than the auxin level to release buds --> no back budding.

You can find more about this in the articles at evergreengardenworks.com .

 

[Potawatomi13]

Had one several years. Back budded well when pruned sprouts/candles. Grew pretty thick stems/had stiff sharp(unpleasant)needles. Killed by accident.

 

[just.wing.it]

Had one several years. Back budded well when pruned sprouts/candles. Grew pretty thick stems/had stiff sharp(unpleasant)needles. Killed by accident.

This is something I noticed on the ones I looked at....the new growth is very thick, like 5/8".
I wonder if it would "dwarf" itself as bonsai....but those giant candles would not make good ramification unless the tree was huge, imperial sized...

 

[Phillthy]

This is a good time to eliminate unwanted branches because there will be no bleeding, but not good for back budding (as you discovered).

Cytokinin hormones are made by the roots and drawn up the tree through the xylem (wood) by transpiration. Cytokinins release buds. Auxin that is produced by the branch tips and goes down the tree in a bucket brigade from one cambium cell to the next, suppresses buds. These two hormones are antagonists, countering the effect of the other.

In the active growing season the levels of both of these hormones is high, so we back get bud release when we prune because we eliminated the auxin source on the branch. In winter dormancy, the level of both hormones is low. So pruning in winter doesn't produce a situation where the cytokinin level is enough higher than the auxin level to release buds --> no back budding.

You can find more about this in the articles at evergreengardenworks.com .

How much can I cut off without killing the tree

 

[Soldano666]

Heres some pics as promised. It has a nice case of fusing circular roots. Id say desperately needs a repot, much to my surprise i found buds on old cut sites and the trunk. Id love to remove the whole top and trim New shoots right now but fear that'll be going too far. Esp if I plan to spring repot. The whole future tree is in the first 4 branches.

 

[Guy Vitale]

Given the locations of those adventitious buds at the bottom of that trunk, I think you could get a great fat sumo out of this. Try and develop those buds down low, avoid repotting at least for next spring and slowly reduce the strength in the upper part of the tree, leave the needles, reduce/remove buds at the top. Over the course of two years you should be able to remove the top in stages. Wow, I would love to play around with this pine!

 

[just.wing.it]

Heres some pics as promised. It has a nice case of fusing circular roots. Id say desperately needs a repot, much to my surprise i found buds on old cut sites and the trunk. Id love to remove the whole top and trim New shoots right now but fear that'll be going too far. Esp if I plan to spring repot. The whole future tree is in the first 4 branches.View attachment 153951 View attachment 153952 View attachment 153953

At least it's got those low buds!
Keep them around.

 

[Soldano666]

At least it's got those low buds!
Keep them around.

Yeah much to my surprise, I swear the last time I looked there was not a one. Some are popping on stubs of branches I removed!!! All of a sudden I have some interest in this thing ive been neglecting all summer

 

[Phillthy]

Here's what I came up with

 

[Paradox]

I've also seen lots of these at Home Depot.

I never picked one up because I have never seen anyone do something with them in bonsai. And with 5 different species of pine already, Lord knows I have enough pines.

 

[0soyoung]

And with 5 different species of pine already, Lord knows I have enough pines.

Yes, but one can never have too many.

 

[Paradox]

Yes, but one can never have too many.

Ohhhh yes they can. As the saying goes, there is no room at the inn. Muh benches are full.

 

[twisted trees]

Good start.