Tree too big?

[Hartinez]

10-4 damn..... was so excited....

It’s OK. Bonsai is all about learning from our mistakes. I killed plenty of Piñon pine trees before I figured out how to collect them properly. Trees that I was also very excited about. But now I know. And I’m sure you will do everything to not make the same mistake twice.

 

[apexmusic420]

I’ve seen your soil before. That was the stuff in the swamp of sadness, it killed atreyus horse.

Omg that was my favorite movie as a kid,
I died laughing lmfao

 

[Nybonsai12]

You’re rehashing some serious childhood traumas for many of us. Lol.

lol I know, gonna go stare out a window now in silence.

 

[apexmusic420]

It’s OK. Bonsai is all about learning from our mistakes. I killed plenty of Piñon pine trees before I figured out how to collect them properly. Trees that I was also very excited about. But now I know. And I’m sure you will do everything to not make the same mistake twice.

Very true.

 

[Hartinez]

lol I know, gonna go stare out a window now in silence.

This one’s for Artex

 

[penumbra]

I don't need to say this, yet here I am. You went at this pine with no plan and no preparation. As a result, you did just about everything wrong and ended up killing the little pine. Yes, it seems we all do kill a few plants here and there and we learn from it. I sincerely hope you learn from this little pine trees early and unfortunate demise.

 

[cody94withrow]

id say your chances are closer to 0 than 1.

reasons why.

out of season to collect
no intact rootball, meaning these pines almost always require an intact ball of clay/roots
the mud, soil, or whatever its in will only strangulate whatever roots were going to survive

edit. I see the repot to better soil. too little too later unfortunately. Next time you go to collect these pine, shoot me a message and I can give you my best practices. In the last 4 years ive had near 100% success collecting piñon.

What about me? lol

 

[Hartinez]

What about me? lol

Happy to give anyone the advice I’ve picked up over the years!

 

[apexmusic420]

Just an update, it's still alive! No growth as it's been really hot. But it's alive! What should I do for the winter?

 

[BonsaiManic]

I would suggest nothing. At this point, you need to protect it from the potentially harsh winter winds of the panhandle. If it still survives into winter, I will be happily surprised for you. It's going to need a long time to recover, at least two growing seasons just left alone.

 

[Orion_metalhead]

If it lives, dont touch it for two- three years other than to water and fertilize.

 

[apexmusic420]

Can I move it to my garage for winter?

 

[BonsaiManic]

The panhandle has weather extremes from intense heat to brutal freezes. Winter protection is a good idea, but since it's a conifer, if I'm not mistaken, it will still need more light than it can get in a garage. I would leave it outside in the most sheltered area of your yard, preferably out of the wind. Keep it on the ground, not on a bench or stand, so that the ground itself will provide some insulation. Don't over water.

 

[Hartinez]

I wouldn’t move it to the garage. If it is still alive, then it’s producing roots. Piñon roots can take extremes freezes. Only protection I’d give would be to put it on the ground and mulch around the pot to keep it a bit insulated. If you’re real concerned about it freezing using heat cable used to keep pipes from freezing.

 

[BonsaiManic]

'Native to the Northern Chihuahua Desert' https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/native-to-the-northern-chihuahua-desert.65388/post-1149637
This explains a bit about the roots and their growth habits and importance.