Pine Bonsai Spring Tasks: A MUST FOR ALL BONSAI OWNERS!

[@Akatsuki-En]

So lucky to have a tree from Jason genuinely amazing guy

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Jason and I started at the same time and have met up quite a few times. He is truly a good man and very generous too.

[@Akatsuki-En]

@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat that’s awesome as I am based in the us it seems I miss out on the massive community of bonsai flourishing in the UK

[@Thomdoodle]

What a fantastic video. Really informative for the amateur. I think there were too many videos on KZbin that focus on semi professional individuals and trees and it is taking me years to realise that sometimes leaving atree for your year or so is the best thing to do. It is so important to have a healthy tree rather than something that is overworked Well done

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

I appreciate the words of support. You are right. This tree has survived despite me trying to 'improve it' :)

[@nerinat8371]

They are all progressing well, white pine looking swisho 😮 thx Xavier

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Thanks nerina - candles are growing all over it right now :)

[@jiijino_bonsai_ch]

It looks like the black pine is growing well.👍 We look forward to the future.🤗

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

A very new species for me so I am also looking forward to learning as it grows :)

[@Akatsuki-En]

Always a pleasure to watch your videos

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Thanks you for taking the time to do so :)

[@johng3669]

“If you’re nervous, watch what I do, wait a year and if my tree hasn’t died….😅👍” I really like the trunk movement on your larger pine. I recently got a black pine sapling and had an idea how I wanted to style the trunk for a semi-cascade, but now I’m considering trying to imitate yours. Guess I might need a second black pine so I can do both 😂 (kind of like the cyclist joke how many bicycles do you need? The answer is n+1, I believe bonsai follows the same formula 😄)

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

I love that analogy. me and Black Pine are just starting out together so the journey should be interesting :)

[@ronnorton6590]

Good looking tree. Going to add one to my collection.

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

They are also surprisingly easy to manage - despite all my early fears :)

[@sueb1317]

Thanks for a great summary of the major pine tasks Xavier. Pines remind me of clematis. Pruning and handling is quite species related if you want to get the most of your material. Super helpful!!

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Thanks Sue - I am still gaining my confidence with the varieties in my garden. I am happy though :)

[@joegarland4885]

Hi Xav a very nice white pine, my first white pine around the early 90s I did kill it through lack of skill, ( no KZbin channel in those days ) the pines that came from China had the wire embedded in the trunks to make them appear old, it was a very long time before I got another pine of any type, nice to see your different pines at different stages of development you have a couple that could be really nice bonsai in time, great that you took the mystique out of dealing with candles on pines, they can be quite daunting to beginners. (A touch of the Beatles, my home town band with Here comes the sun), I have done the work on the candles on my pines for this year. All the best my friend.

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

It is not surprising that so many people (me included) can be so daunted by candles. It was Ryan Neil of Bonsai Mirai that helped me understand how simple it really is. :)

[@phillipwaterman5721]

Nice video thanks xavier keep up the good work mate thanks

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Thanks Phillip - we are finally starting to get some sun around here now :)

[@davidparry2301]

The White Pine is looking really good and will be a cracking tree in the future

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

I just wish I had been more aware of design when it was a lot younger so that I could have brought those big branches down a lot more.

[@cornbreadburglar]

Arrested Development was a sitcom in the states. After seeing this episode I've got to get me a pine, not a single one in my collection.

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Cheers for the answer and YES - get yourself a pine to play with.

[@TheBonsaiGarden]

Your big Japanese white pine is definitely looking a lot healthier than my big (shohin) white pine. It has a very distinct bronze brown colour (as in shuffling towards the exit) to almost all the the needles now, despite sitting next to my others which all look super healthy. Fairly certain it coming out of winter shelter too early and all that rainfall made it unhappy. Nice to see the black pine doing well 👍

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

I am definitely looking forward to watching and learnign how black pine repsond to my clumsy touch :)

[@markjagger7139]

Not got any pines as yet but would definitely feel more at ease getting one after this.

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Thanks Mark. Heads up - Adele gets her moment of fame in my post flowering azalea video uploaded for the 15th May :)

[@markjagger7139]

@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat I’ll definitely tell her 😂

[@oachkatzlsmum]

Hi Xavier, what a beauty 🤩 👏 I would like to mention the possibility of impacting not only your branches direction, but also your roots‘, by tying them together. Maybe it’s not an issue. Maybe it will be. But that’s only thoughts from someone with no luck on conifers 😂🤦‍♀️ I’ll stick to: Don’t touch and see if they’ll survive. 😅 Thanks for sharing your gorgeous collection and thought. 👍🙏 Enjoy your day ☀️🌲😘 Cheers 🙋‍♀️ Martina

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

It's a good point about the roots and one I shall keep an eye on. Enjoy the rest of the weekend :)

[@oachkatzlsmum]

@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat Thanks Xavier. Just finished weekend shift and will enjoy days off tomorrow and the day after ☺️

[@KennetDeBondt]

Looking nice and healthy! (You too😅) Grts Kennet

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Thanks Kennet

[@FrostBiteBonsai]

Very nice trees and good tips! We finally have a warm day! I need to get in gear repotting!

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Another 6 weeks and you will be preparing for winter agian :)

[@FrostBiteBonsai]

@XaviersBonsaiRetreat Full moon in June is the adage for frost safe here. August and September are harvest times... so, ya... not long off... 😅🫠

[@Steves_Backyard_Bonsai]

Beautiful pine Xav. I have none.

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Thanks Steve - it is amazing to think this one has been with me since I started in 2002. Incredible survival story :)

[@Bonsaicrazy]

Great lesson as always xav Thanks dude 👊👊👊

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

You are far too generous with your praise Andy - but thank you :)

[@D.RBonsai4601]

Awesome video Xav some great decisions made energy is everything in this hobby💪🏻 Thanks for sharing my friend Take care 👊🏻

[@amirasto4401]

Beautiful bonsai thanks for you sharing👍

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Always good to get a thumbs up from you Dan. The candles are now everywhere on this tree so I did end up doing a little more pinching to redistribute energy. The Mugo are all extending nicely and the Scots are happy but conservative :)

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Thank you for taking the time to watch and support me :)

[@D.RBonsai4601]

@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat always mate👊🏻

[@D.RBonsai4601]

@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat healthy trees by the sound of it💪🏻

[@johnrb9397]

Lovely tree Xav. Jesus bless.

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Thnak you John - God Bless you too.

[@johnrb9397]

Just take the top pad off. Leave the 2nd to top pad as the long term apex and flatten it out.

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

That definitely seems ot be the opinion of a few people. In truth - I am still trying to improve at finding the right point for an apex - all learning :)

[@bonsaiexpression]

I worked on my small mugo today. Not going to lie, I made rookie mistakes on it and I think it might be going to lose some branches if not die completely. 😅 There's a reason I don't have pines.

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

The biggest change for me was when I started doing repots in late summer, early autumn. Keep on working at it Christophe :)

[@soberhippie]

You told us what you do when you get three candles, but what do you do with four candles? On a serious note, I find that if you let the candles grow and then cut the growth late in the season, early august perhaps (in my neck of the woods, at least [see what i did there?]), you get buds on older wood, or, if you don't cut the new growth completely, but leave a bit, it will bud near almost every needle clump, which gives you very short internodes. But that doesn't work for all pines, unfortunately

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

You are totally right - especially with the Scots Pine. I think they get so much more opportunity to harvest in energy with the additional needles that when you cut them later in the year the tree has a lot more reserves to respond with new buds.

[@treesbonsaiperfect8420]

nice your pine tree lock good 😊❤🌳 how old this tree?

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

I have had it since 2002 and I am guessing it was at least 15 years old when I purchased it.

[@uppergorple]

Spent the whole video waiting for the four candles line...

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

The second person to mention that. I fear I have missed something :)

[@brucedeacon28]

👍👌🙂

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Thanks Bruce

[@Chris-oq6kn]

When u repotted ur mugos did u wait for the candles to grow in the spring and then they died. I have no idea wether to do it spring or after summer. Tough decision cause i have a really nice cascade i made from nursery stock.

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

I am confident that the time to repot safely is after summer. Several established bonsai experts recommend the same approach and all i can say is my two Mugo's are looking great now. Check out the species guide on bonsai4me (harry harrington)

[@Thomdoodle]

Hi Xavier, great videos, informative for all levels. I particularly like the video on large trees. Keep the good work up Russ

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

I appreciate your comments and definitely have some big trees coming up. The smaller ones often get forgotten :)