Rocky Mountain Pine Bonsai Tree – Pine trees are especially popular for bonsai and many people also consider them the most typical bonsai. Pines are perennial trees, resinous conifers with needles that are found in bundles of two to five.
Two known pine species that grow twice a year are from Japan and grow near the coast. Storms in June often break the new candles, and the trees are well suited to give a second wash later. The Japanese black pine is a strong tree with long, dark green, hard needles that are split in two. It grows more or less near the sea. Japanese red pine is more delicate and slender, with softer, finer needles and a similar appearance to Scots pine. It grows a little further uphill from the shore. Two identical pines: the Japanese black pine (Pinus thunbergii) and the Japanese red pine (Pinus densiflora).
Rocky Mountain Pine Bonsai Tree
The pine species that grow only once are native to the mountains, or at least adapted to the harsh conditions and short growing periods. Japanese white pine (also called five-needle pine) is a mountain plant with soft needles arranged in five groups. It has a more feminine design and is found in high mountain regions. It is often grafted onto the black pine root system for more stable growth. Dwarf varieties of white pine include Zuisho, Kokonoe and Myojo. Scots pine grows throughout Europe and even in Siberia. It has fine needles, pairs that can be slightly twisted, and the bark on the upper part of the trunk is often pink. Ponderosa pine is native to western North America and the Rocky Mountains. It is a tall tree with three very long needles. The bark of old Ponderosa pines has yellow to orange or even pink plaques with black fissures. The mountain pine is native to the mountains of Europe and often forms bushes on rock near the timber line. It has short, firm, dark green, Parisian needles and dark brown bark. Its wood is very fibrous and resinous. Finally, Pinus aristata (Bristlecone Pine, Rocky Mountain Pine) grows mainly in Colorado and New Mexico. Single level pines: Japanese white pine (Pinus parviflora), Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), ponderosa (Pinus ponderosa) and mountain pine (Pinus mugo or Mugo pine).
Pine Bonsai Stock Photos
It is important to understand where our pine species live in the wild and the characteristics they have to know how to treat them well as a bonsai. Japanese black and red pines can lose their first growth hair and some of their foliage due to storms that often occur in early to mid summer in Japan. After that, they can grow a second time quite quickly, which matures from autumn. A bonsai artist can copy this event to produce shorter spines and extra branches in more compact shoots. However, it is essential that the growing season is long enough for the second flush to fully develop.
Place the pine bonsai outside in the sun. This helps the development of the first and second moments of growth and reduces the size of the needles (the needles lengthen if the tree does not receive enough sun). Pines are very resistant, but they still need winter protection when planted in containers.
Be careful not to over water, as bonsai pines do not like constant humidity. Good drainage is necessary. Protect the trees from excess rain while the second pile is developed, because too much water will cause the needles to grow longer than necessary. Read more about watering bonsai trees.
Fertilize weak trees throughout the year before the temperature drops too low. Fertilize healthy trees from early spring (March) to early summer, before the candles are cut. Solid organic fertilizers must be applied at least three times every 4 weeks before deposit. Then stop fertilizing until the secondary candle growths have hardened. Fertilize again in early to late fall.
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Remove the candles on healthy trees in early to mid-summer, leaving only a small spike of about 6 mm (1/4 inch) with several pairs of spines. Cut off the tips of dormant shoots to stimulate their growth. In autumn, after the second growth has matured, remove the excess shoots. Where more than two grow from the same point, choose two that grow sideways and in the desired direction, form a V shape, and are of equal strength. Remove others. The vigorous parts of the tree shed the excess of old needles to balance the growth of the tree. Read more about bonsai pruning.
Attack the pine trees from the beginning of autumn to the beginning of spring or immediately after the pruning candle in the beginning to the middle of the summer.
It is best to transplant in the spring, when the buds begin to swell. Read more about bonsai repotting.
Pine can be damaged by aphids, spider mites, scale insects or caterpillars. Sometimes they are also attacked by fungal diseases and root rot. In this case, it is necessary to use specific pesticides and it is advisable to seek the help of a specialist, as pine trees can die quickly from the first signs of the disease. However, if the pines are placed in a sunny place and well cared for, they are very healthy. For more information on these techniques, check out our Bonsai Tree Care section.
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Unlike the pine species mentioned above, most other pines only grow once a year. It can be fatal to remove all its candles, because it must be treated differently. This category includes white pine, Scots pine, ponderosa pine, and mountain pine.
Place the pine outside in the sun. This supports healthy growth and helps to reduce the size of the needles (needles lengthen if the tree does not receive enough sun). Pines are very hardy, but require winter protection when planted in containers.
Be careful not to over water, as bonsai pines do not like constant humidity. Good drainage is necessary. Protect the trees from excess rain while the shoots are developing, because too much water will cause the needles to grow longer than necessary. Read more about watering bonsai trees.
Fertilize weak trees throughout the year before the temperature drops too low. Healthy trees are fertilized from early spring to late autumn.
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Elongated pine cones should be shortened to a suitable and uniform length from late spring to early summer. If there are more than two candles in the same place, you can already cut both of them. In autumn, you can remove the excess shoots if you did not do it in spring. If more than two grow from the same point, choose two that grow on the side and in the desired direction, form a V shape, and are of equal strength. Remove others. In strong areas of the tree, remove the excess old needles to balance the growth of the tree. Read more about bonsai pruning.
Attack the pine trees from the beginning of autumn to the beginning of spring or immediately after shortening the candles in the beginning to the middle of summer.
It is best to transplant in the spring, when the buds begin to move. You can also transplant pine trees in late summer or early autumn when the temperature is not so high, but there is still enough time before winter for the tree to grow and fine roots. Read more about bonsai repotting.
Pine trees can be propagated by seed or graft. Some can be layered with air and some can also be grown from cuttings (such as Zuisho White Pine).
Rocky Mountain Bristlecone Pine (pinus Aristata) Is A Long Living Species Of Bristlecone Pine Tree Native To The United States. It Appears In The Rock Stock Photo
Pinus Bonsai can be affected by aphids, spider mites, scale insects or caterpillars. Sometimes they are also attacked by fungal diseases and root rot. In this case, specific pesticides must be used and it is advisable to seek the help of a specialist, as pine trees can die quickly from the first signs of the disease. However, if the pines are placed in a sunny place and well cared for, they are very healthy. For more information on these techniques, check out our Bonsai Tree Care section.
Pine trees can grow in many different forms in nature, so they can be formed in almost any known bonsai style. Older pines have peeling or scaly bark.
To treat each species of pine according to its nature, it is necessary to know if it grows only one or two during the growing season. Pine species with two needles can be drained at the beginning of summer to create a second stream with shorter canes and smaller needles. The pines with a single growth should not be burned, because this would cause damage, but candles can be chosen and shortened. If you need help identifying a tree, check out our Bonsai Tree Identification Guide.
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Care Guide For Pine Bonsai Species (pinus)
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