Natural pine on rock pocket?

[Bababouie]

Hello,
I've been experimenting with bonsai for about 5 years. I have bought some trees, grown from seed, found in nature, and trained nursery stock. I still consider myself beginner and try to stay in comfort zone so I don't kill everything. Been reading these forums but recently made this account.

I tried searching Google and this forum without an exact answer I'm looking for.

Anyways on a hike I came across a white pine sapling growing on a truck size boulder. It's growing in a shallow soil and moss pocket on the rock. There are no cracks the roots could have grown into. When I pull up on the tree you can see where they have spread, at most 2ft diameter, maybe 6in at its deepest spot in the soil.

So would I be able to cut around the roots and pull the whole root, moss, and soil up? When I pull on it looks like it would come off like a carpet.

Can I wire it down to a smaller rock I can actually move? Not sure if it would take to a different rock quick enough and it would die.

Would I just place it on another rock and hope for the best? Or should it be partially buried while still on the rock?


Open to any advice thank you guys.

 

[HorseloverFat]

Some pictures would REALLY help.us, here.

I've heard @Frozentreehugger talk a lot of plans for sawing out, tough, hill-pocket trees.

@Wires_Guy_wires speaks of the direct implications of conifers natural habitats in these pockets.

@Japonicus knows a boatload about pines...

 

[vancehanna]

If you can remove that tree with most of it's roots intact I'd then plant it into a large box with bonsai soil mix. Wait until it is fully recovered (a year minimum) and then if you wish transfer to a slab.

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

I agree with vance about the planting it in bonsai soil.
If it lifts like a rug, that's the good stuff.
We have nearly zero rock pockets around here, because there are no mountains. But I look for carpet stuff in the deep woods where sandy soil is scarce. When I pull the trunk and it lifts the soil like a carpet, then it's jackpot.

 

[Japonicus]

Some pictures would REALLY help.us, here.

I've heard @Frozentreehugger talk a lot of plans for sawing out, tough, hill-pocket trees.

@Wires_Guy_wires speaks of the direct implications of conifers natural habitats in these pockets.

@Japonicus knows a boatload about pines...

I know a thimble full about pines
especially collecting.
Like Vance said

remove that tree with most of it's roots intac

This is the #1 priority after preperation. Preperation begins with being knowledgeable about the species and comfortable caring for them and training.
Otherwise, it's a gamble.
I wouldn't touch a collected tree for 2-3 years leaving it in the grow box. So uou need a good 15-25 gallons of bonsai soil sifted and at the ready to put in one of the 2 or 3 boxes you build prior to collecting. Wire to tether it into the box. Household 14/2 wire unannealed is fine for that task, or 2.5 - 3mm aluminum wire. There's a boatload of preparation.

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

Hello,
I've been experimenting with bonsai for about 5 years. I have bought some trees, grown from seed, found in nature, and trained nursery stock. I still consider myself beginner and try to stay in comfort zone so I don't kill everything. Been reading these forums but recently made this account.

I tried searching Google and this forum without an exact answer I'm looking for.

Anyways on a hike I came across a white pine sapling growing on a truck size boulder. It's growing in a shallow soil and moss pocket on the rock. There are no cracks the roots could have grown into. When I pull up on the tree you can see where they have spread, at most 2ft diameter, maybe 6in at its deepest spot in the soil.

So would I be able to cut around the roots and pull the whole root, moss, and soil up? When I pull on it looks like it would come off like a carpet.

Can I wire it down to a smaller rock I can actually move? Not sure if it would take to a different rock quick enough and it would die.

Would I just place it on another rock and hope for the best? Or should it be partially buried while still on the rock?


Open to any advice thank you guys.

Is it Bababouie, HTJ, or Baba Looey? Welcome aboard!