Twisty Shohin JPB

[Rodrigo]

One month update on this pine

The new needles are extending nicely and the candles stayed short. I still haven't fertilized yet and I've kept up with the Mancozeb treatment every few weeks as Brian suggested. So far so good




I'm getting 1-4 candles at every shoot that was decandled (I acquired it after it had been decandled), but whoever decandled it left the lowest branch alone, which has several secondary branches, and it's not growing anything new there.

This fall, when you can see what you really have, see it there is a low branch that you won’t need as a part of the design. Next year, just let it grow straight up, and don’t decandle it. You need to build some girth on that trunk.

Adair, I wanted to follow your advice and leave one of the secondary branches off of the lowest branch grow to get thickening, unfortunately those are the ones that aren't growing. Is there anything I can do now to encourage growth on one of these three or is it too late?

 

[Adair M]

There’s nothing you can do to stimulate any particular twig to grow other than make sure it doesn’t get shaded by other foliage. Fertilize the whole tree.

 

[Rodrigo]

Thank you Adair.

Fertilize the whole tree

Should I be increasing fertilization concentration slowly or just fertilize like the rest of my trees right away?

 

[Adair M]

I use organic fertilizer. I put some on. Wait a week. Put on some more. Wait a week. Put on some more. Wait a week. Take the original stuff off, and replace it with fresh. Wait a week. Take the stuff I put on in second werk off and replace with fresh. Continue until frost. No need to fertilize in winter. In spring, start the process over.

 

[Rodrigo]

I need some help with pot selection for this pine. A few months ago the pot was broken and had to be slip potted into a temporary pot until repotting time. It's getting close and I'm not sure what size and shape pot I should buy for it.
Old pot that broke was round and measured 5.5" in interior diameter and 1.75" tall. Should I stick with something like that?

 

[Stan Kengai]

Keep the same diameter or maybe slightly smaller. If you are looking for growth, use a deeper pot. If you are trying to refine it, use a shallower pot.

 

[0soyoung]

If you are trying to grow it out a bit, that terra cotta pot will be just fine until it disintegrates, IMHO.

The smaller the pot, the slower it will thicken and/or get bigger. If you want a mini, cram it into the smallest pot you can - I guess about 2.5 inches wide, 1.5 deep.

Personally, I think I would like a thicker trunk before making a nice little shohin of it.

 

[Rodrigo]

Thank you both for your suggestions, @0soyoung and @Stan Kengai. I think I'll keep it in the same pot for now to get some more trunk growth. During the slip pot, we noticed there was still nursery soil in the middle of the root ball. Should I do a HBR in the spring to clean some of it out or should I wire and style instead and do the HBR next year?

 

[0soyoung]

Should I do a HBR in the spring

I would not.

 

[sorce]

I would not.

Why?

Needle Cast and an accidental recent repot.

Sorce

 

[Rodrigo]

Thanks @sorce, I was going to ask if that was why. I'll leave it to recover this year then. Is wiring and styling an option or should I let it be completly alone?

 

[0soyoung]

Thanks @sorce, I was going to ask if that was why. I'll leave it to recover this year then. Is wiring and styling an option or should I let it be completly alone?

It has been moved into a bigger pot = roots have fresh media to grow into, so there is no real need to be in a hurry. I would leave it, let it grow because that is the objective (make a thicker trunk / bigger tree).

I puzzle over why it wasn't HBRed at the time. Then I wonder how long it took for it to occur to you that you hadn't. If it was a matter of a few days, why didn't you just pull it out and HBR it then? It wouldn't have damaged any tender new growth as there wasn't much, if any. Now, a few months later, there has been some weak root growth, which means that you must now must wait a few months until spring 2019 has sprung. You could HBR after the summer solstice 2019 or even complete the elimination of the organic soil then. You also could wait until spring 2020 to do the first HBR or to complete the elimination of that bit of soil close to the trunk. Etc.

 

[Rodrigo]

It has been moved into a bigger pot = roots have fresh media to grow into, so there is no real need to be in a hurry. I would leave it, let it grow because that is the objective (make a thicker trunk / bigger tree).

I puzzle over why it wasn't HBRed at the time. Then I wonder how long it took for it to occur to you that you hadn't. If it was a matter of a few days, why didn't you just pull it out and HBR it then? It wouldn't have damaged any tender new growth as there wasn't much, if any. Now, a few months later, there has been some weak root growth, which means that you must now must wait a few months until spring 2019 has sprung. You could HBR after the summer solstice 2019 or even complete the elimination of the organic soil then. You also could wait until spring 2020 to do the first HBR or to complete the elimination of that bit of soil close to the trunk. Etc.

It wasn't HBRed then because when it happened, I asked Sylvia Smith from the Bonsai Smiths what she recommended I should do and that's what she said-- to just slip pot it for now. That happened at the very beginning of November, if that changes anything. In fact, the hands with the plastic gloves in the last pictures I posted is her. Looking back, you're probably right that we could've HBRed it at the same time

 

[0soyoung]

@Rodrigo, it is not a problem. I've done it myself. I am not trying to get on your case.
It takes a while to learn to chill and think in a circumstance like this; at least it has for me. IOW, I am just sharing a bit of my past internal turmoil, thinking it might be useful. Don't take it personally.

 

[Adair M]

It wasn't HBRed then because when it happened, I asked Sylvia Smith from the Bonsai Smiths what she recommended I should do and that's what she said-- to just slip pot it for now. That happened at the very beginning of November, if that changes anything. In fact, the hands with the plastic gloves in the last pictures I posted is her. Looking back, you're probably right that we could've HBRed it at the same time

Rodrigo, I would follow whatever course Sylvia sent you on. She is an expert with JBP. And she lives in your climate.

My best advice to you is to try to take classes from her, and ignore everyone else! Including me! Well, you can listen to Howard Smith, too! Lol!!!

 

[Rodrigo]

@0soyoung no offense taken! I appreciate all of the input.

@Adair M I agree, I'll stick with what Sylvia recommends. I would definitely be interested in taking classes from her and Howard. Their personal collection is impressive!