Wulfskaar's Japanese Black Pine #2

[Wulfskaar]

I grew this from seed in September 2020, as part of a "bonsai seed" kit I got the previous Christmas. Then spent the next 4 years growing, repotting, and pruning candles to get branching early .

Sep 2020


Nov 2020


March 2021: Separated and potted.


March 2022: First candle extension.


March 2023: Second set of candles.


June 2023: Candles cut off below the candle. Wired wrong time of year.


Aug 2023: New growth from cut candles.


Feb 2024: Wire removed after biting in quite hard.


Apr 2024: Emergency repot after wind storm knocked over the whole rack.


May 2024: Weak candles.


Jun 2024: 3 biggest candles cut.


Aug 2024: New growth from cut candles.

 

[Wulfskaar]

March 2025: Repot (root over rock)

I think I screwed it up by not better securing the rock. Will take some work to fix in a couple years.





May 2025: Cut one candle to induce branching. The rest remain due to being short and because I want to start two sacrifice branches.

 

[Wulfskaar]

The rough plan:
I want to keep this one fairly small, reaching out off the rock.

This is what I hope it will look like by Aug 2026. We'll see.

 

[Japonicus]

Have a cigar pop, nice going
Missed when you put current wire on.

 

[Wulfskaar]

Have a cigar pop, nice going
Missed when you put current wire on.

I think I put that wire on in fall 2024. I plan to redo it this fall, as it's gaining thickness quickly and already has wire marks.

Also, thanks!

 

[Wulfskaar]

CORRECTION! This was potted over the rock in March 2024, not 2025.

Soon, I'll be wiring and pruning.

 

[Wulfskaar]

Here's the tree as of today. I will probably be pruning down to 2 branches per node and wiring this weekend. I'll be wiring to match the virt above.

It grew well and appeared to be healthy all year. It did get pushed down by a squirrel, so the next repot will have to fix the angle and maybe re-secure the roots over the rock.

 

[Wulfskaar]

Pruned down to two branches per node and added some wire.

Here's the problem... I think I need to redo the wire so it coils the other way, giving me more strength on the twist of the lower branch. It still needs to come down a bit.

 

[vancehanna]

Wow, do I remember those days....I only wish I had planted 100 of 'em!! My dad had an acre and although I did purchase 3 1yr old seedlings I have the two that I did not kill* today after now nearly 50yrs.
* got too excited to stuff a 6" nebari into a 6" pot...