Possible bonsai candidates?

[DavePa]

I picked these 2 up at a local hardware store,
They were in the 75% off bin. Do you think they are worth a journey for bonsai?
I only paid 3$ each. I’m thinking putting them in larger pots. Should it be wise to use quality potting soil and possibly some bone/blood meal fert or? I also don’t have any experience with these 2 varieties of plants, I’m researching them now but for 3$, I couldn’t pass it up. Only wish they had more. I live in south central PA in between York PA and Baltimore MD and they are outside soaking up much needed rain water.

 

[Gabler]

Spruce and white pine are tricky species for bonsai, but since you already spent the money, you might as well give it a try. At a minimum, you'll learn something, and that's never a waste.

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

Pinus strobus is less suited for bonsai, because it's difficult to reduce their needle size but people are finding out how to still do it anyways.

Black hills spruce will probably work very well.

 

[DavePa]

Spruce and white pine are tricky species for bonsai, but since you already spent the money, you might as well give it a try. At a minimum, you'll learn something, and that's never a waste.

Thanks for the input, I figured I can’t go too wrong only spending a few $

 

[DavePa]

Pinus strobus is less suited for bonsai, because it's difficult to reduce their needle size but people are finding out how to still do it anyways.

Black hills spruce will probably work very well.

Thanks, maybe I’ll just put it in the ground and forget it.

 

[Gabler]

Thanks, maybe I’ll just put it in the ground and forget it.

It makes a good full-sized garden tree if you have the space.

 

[rockm]

Black Hills spruce will work for bonsai and can even excel (tight growth, expressive bark, etc.), but it ain't a beginner's tree. Requires knowledgeable watering and fast draining soil. In the Eastern U.S. it also suffers fungal issues because of the humidity levels here. It's a high plains, dry air, cold winter native.

White one (pinus strobus) is really bad bonsai material as it's mostly uninteresting as a juvenile tree and doesn't get much character in bark trunk, etc. for two decades (and that's in the ground). It also have very VERY long needles and a loose growth habit.

 

[Joelshack2362]

The lessons learned will be worth that $3 dollars a piece. Good finds!

 

[DavePa]

The lessons learned will be worth that $3 dollars a piece. Good finds!

It was fun while it lasted, ha ha