Next spring (late winter) is the time to graft pine.
What to do with wire that has been on too long?
- Thread starter Sugartree
- Start date
Johnathan
Omono
From the view of a guy who has been doing Bonsai since March, and considering the coin they typically demand they are quite intimidating. That being said its my birthday month so if I find the right tree I will give it a shot.
Knowing that guys like you and Brian Van Fleet are freely willing to share your expertise is very reassuring. Thanks for everything!
Paradox
Marine Bonsologist
Have JWP been grafted successfully and reliably?
Most JWP you see as bonsai are grafted one way or another.
This tree is a Lodgepole trunk with JWP grafted foliage:
BeebsBonsai
Shohin
And once again, i am in awe of one of your trees. How long have you had that one? Needle length and uniformity is incredible
Not that long. I bought it from Jonas just before the National Show last September.
It was grafted about 21 years ago. We "think" the trunk is Lodgepole, don't know for sure. Boon styled it maybe 15 years ago when it was owned by a client. About 5 years ago, Boon bought it. The tree had been neglected, and was all leggy. He wired it out, and let it get healthy and back bud. Two years ago, Jonas bought it at the BIB auction. I bought it from Jonas, and rewired it last fall. I repotted it, and put it in that pot last March. I might show it this winter.
Needle length is standard for that cultivar of JWP. That's why that variety of JWP is used, the needles are beautiful, and grow in tight tufts. JWP needles on trees from seed usually are longer and not as refined looking. Everyone says JWP are grafted onto black to gain vigor from the JBP roots. That's true, but it's also to put attractive foliage on. This cultivar does not airlayer well.
It was grafted about 21 years ago. We "think" the trunk is Lodgepole, don't know for sure. Boon styled it maybe 15 years ago when it was owned by a client. About 5 years ago, Boon bought it. The tree had been neglected, and was all leggy. He wired it out, and let it get healthy and back bud. Two years ago, Jonas bought it at the BIB auction. I bought it from Jonas, and rewired it last fall. I repotted it, and put it in that pot last March. I might show it this winter.
Needle length is standard for that cultivar of JWP. That's why that variety of JWP is used, the needles are beautiful, and grow in tight tufts. JWP needles on trees from seed usually are longer and not as refined looking. Everyone says JWP are grafted onto black to gain vigor from the JBP roots. That's true, but it's also to put attractive foliage on. This cultivar does not airlayer well.
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BeebsBonsai
Shohin
I think you definitely should. Might not win anything, but either way it is a tree that deserves to be seen. However, it definitely has enough character to win in my opinion. Have you considered changing the potting angle at some point? It's kind of between semi-cascade and informal upright (i guess). Maybe tilting slightly more to the right? Just thinking outloud here. Also, there are so many potential fronts with that deadwood it's almost appropriate to have a front in almost a 100 degree radius there. Im jelly of this one, totally jelly.
It's a literati. There's two JWP grafts on the trunk, both up at the top. One graft is the cascade branch in the front and right, the other graft is the crown, rear, and whatever you see on the left of the deadwood. It will be a while before that will grow out more.
I have considered turning the front counterclockwise a bit. But that puts the Shari deadwood "in your face" too much. Where I have it now shows the lifeline more. And works with nebari better. I thought about removing some of the nebari that extends out to the right... maybe next time.
BeebsBonsai
Shohin
Ahh, literati makes sense. I guess I didn't see it that way because it has such a robust amount of foliage. Typically when I see literati, theres a few branches with a small amount of foliage. That's why I didn't see it that way.
Paradox
Marine Bonsologist
So this is all lodgepole trunk and branches with JWP foliage grafted on?
Obviously I realize JWP trunks are often grafted on JBP or other bases/roots
Paradox
Marine Bonsologist
Interesting
I have a couple of JWP grafted on something (not sure what) that I could try grafting some of their own foliage onto different places to make more branches.
Sure!
Here's a dirty little secret: you know those Japanese "perfect" trees that always seem to have branches is just the right places?
Grafts.
Paradox
Marine Bonsologist
It's Kev
Omono
stupid, naive little me thought you gotta keep hacking at that wrong branch and pray every night that they grow in the right place
just.wing.it
Deadwood Head
I saw a video once that showed a bonsai nursery where they were growing many jbp in the ground.
Every tree had a thick piece of wire wrapped around the trunk, in a spiral.
The intention was to allow the tree to grow over the wire, which causes the trunk to eventually have some apparent movement and twist to it.
I can't find that video now...
Every tree had a thick piece of wire wrapped around the trunk, in a spiral.
The intention was to allow the tree to grow over the wire, which causes the trunk to eventually have some apparent movement and twist to it.
I can't find that video now...
Brian Van Fleet
Pretty Fly for a Bonsai Guy
Don't do that. It won't ever look natural in your lifetime, and the embedded wire can eventually kill parts or the whole tree. You can see wire damage on the JBP stock in the OP. The wire may or not still be there, but the damage is done.
Definitely wire the trunk for movement early, but don't let it dig in, and don't leave it on. To the OP, the wire on the branches pictured of your tree isn't too embedded at all; it will heal, and since it's a pine, it should always have some foliage to conceal it as needed. I left wire on this JWP for 3 years, no problem.
There is (was) an industry in Japan to produce thousands of grafted JWP on JBP stock. They'd graft, then wire the JBP stock, and plant them in a field for a decade, occasionally chopping them. Then, they'd get dug and culled.
Japanese mallsai.
Now, they've fallen out favor. There are fields and fields of them, but no one wants them any more. I've heard that the farmers are burning the fields because it costs more to dig them than they get when they sell them!
Japanese mallsai.
Now, they've fallen out favor. There are fields and fields of them, but no one wants them any more. I've heard that the farmers are burning the fields because it costs more to dig them than they get when they sell them!
just.wing.it
Deadwood Head
Very interesting...
I am not advocating that anyone do that, but it's what ideas reminded of when I read this thread.
I was wondering if an imbedded wire could eventually cause a problem...thanks guys.
