Young JBP help please

[Davevall]

I received these two very different looking young Black Pines from two different sources about a month ago. I slip potted them when I got them directly into 10” pond baskets in a good draining Bonsai soil and it looks like they are both doing very well so far.

One of my questions is, should they both just be left alone and let to grow freely untouched this year? The smaller one has been pruned a little in the past at sometime in it’s life but the larger fuller one appears to be untouched so far.

My second question is are they the same type of Black Pine? They both look quite different which I guess could be because the smaller one has been pruned at some point.

Thanks.

 

[Adair M]

JBP are usually started as seedlings, which means there will be genetic differences. These came from two different sources so they have received different amounts and types of fertilizer, soil, sunlight, water...

 

[Davevall]

JBP are usually started as seedlings, which means there will be genetic differences. These came from two different sources so they have received different amounts and types of fertilizer, soil, sunlight, water...

I agree. I’m just happy they are both doing so well right now. I guess each will pose a different set of challenges.

 

[River's Edge]

One of my questions is, should they both just be left alone and let to grow freely untouched this year? The smaller one has been pruned a little in the past at sometime in it’s life but the larger fuller one appears to be untouched so far.

Thanks.
[/QUOTE]
Both trees are young with small trunks, their future involves growing them out for several more years before considering major Bonsai styling. Other than developing lower branching and thickening the trunks , your next five years are relatively free. A good guideline is to shoot for a 3 inch trunk base in my opinion. Unless of course you have set sights on Shohin size. Topics to explore are sacrifice branches, apical leaders, developing primary branches and taper on pines.