Bonsaify | Summer Needle Work on an OLD Japanese Black Pine Bonsai from 1915 Pan Expo (World's Fair)

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Nice to see such an old tree getting the spa treatment!!

[@SuperPeleke]

It's refreshing to see somebody not scream against cutting the needles. With the understanding that it does make the needles brown a bit. It's useful to help reduce the needles and help with visualizing the branching and wiring.

[@themichaellerner]

I'd love to see some pictures of the tree later in the year to see what the tips of the needles that were scissored look like. It is a really cool tree!

[@zantlozantlom4752]

Impressive work you have done on such a historic tree. Thanks for sharing it with us.

[@jasongannon7676]

Great job saving a wonderful peace of history

[@tylerjamesnewton1422]

This video may inspire me to finally try Black Pine. I know the course on the website seems comprehensive. Considering working with your materials to produce one (or a few. . . Or a lot) for the collection.

[@bulebonsaibatam1758]

Very impressive. Max

[@patrickfo967]

Great work !

[@thebonsaiarea]

Cool old tree

[@wills4543]

If that tree could talk….very interesting!

[@garymccarthy4994]

What's the soil mix this tree is in? It looks like 100% Akadama. Also, when you first started removing needles in the apex of the tree were you plucking the needles or scissor cuttings? Thanks!

[@williamsoroka2527]

bravo

[@mikecipriani7792]

So it's OK to cut back the needles, I was wondering what would happen if I did that.

[@Bonsaify]

It's okay, but it causes brown tips. In this case, those needles will likely be removed this November anyway, so the unsightly tips will be temporary. It's a common technique in Japan, particularly with shohin growers who are trying to manicure small pines for sale.

[@mikecipriani7792]

@@Bonsaify I tried it on a couple of branches on my two Mulligan's. I also cut back the buds that were developing....Thanks Eric.

[@timmywood9677]

I really want to buy a large black pine 🌲

[@kite9039]

Pretty new to bonsai but when you point and say bud it just looks like your pointing at needles

[@Bonsaify]

Yes! At the node point, which is the base of each years new growth, there is a ring of dormant buds that are not between needle pairs. These are the easiest to use and most reliable. So when I'm pointing, I'm pointing in that case to the remaining 1/8" of candle that is there. You can't see the buds, but they are there. But, secondly, in each pair of needles there is a dormant bud at the base. These will only grow to replace growth that is damaged/removed. They are less reliable and slower to grow than the dormant buds at the nodes. Hope that helps!

[@kite9039]

@@Bonsaify amazing thank you.

[@9daywonda]

Almost as old as you, HEY?

[@paulmichaels3655]

So much manipulation. So many rules and textbook steps. Wish there was a unique difference in bonsai or style.

[@Bonsaify]

There is no textbook in bonsai. You have to read the trees and understand how they grow. It's up to you to learn the rules well enough to make a unique composition that both follows and breaks the conventions.