 |
The Bonsai Tree
|
| Home :: Indoor :: Outdoor :: Flowering :: Juniper :: Pine :: Beginners :: Artificial :: Plants |
|
|
The Bonsai Tree
|
| Home :: Indoor :: Outdoor :: Flowering :: Juniper :: Pine :: Beginners :: Artificial :: Plants |
|
Select
Varieties
Care |
Small evergreen trees - red, black or white - Japanese pine trees look the best outdoorsWhite pine bonsai are the most popular small evergreen tree for beginners to buy then it is the red pine and black pine. They are grown in or come from China, Japan, Korea and the Pacific Rim area. There are many varieties of pine but all share the same common characteristics, a white band down the middle of the needles. In their original state they are usually blue green but can been seen in bright yellow. The needles are between 2 to 3 inches in length and cones that are formed from the flowers are between 3 to 41/2 inches long. They can grow in clusters or in singles. With proper pruning you can reduce the needle size down to about a half an inch. The simple style of the trunk has only one or two twists to it. The difference between a white pine which has a needle cluster of five around each bud, where the red or black pine have clusters of two and some times three. These are the three most poplar trees that beginners should grow outdoors.
White Pine have long, fine needles, clustered in 5's along the branches gives a soft, feathery look. Golden needles cover a broad rounded canopy.
Red pine is a globe shaped dwarf with needles half as long as those of other species. It has soft flexible needles and purple red cones and soft reddish bark. Originated from a witches'-broom which is a dense abnormal growth that arises from mutated buds on coniferous trees.
Black pine have stiff dark green needles which occur in pairs. Large, grayish-white terminal buds help distinguish it from most other pines.
Pine tree careThe shape can be anything you like but most are shaped like a pyramid, with the branches making a clear and defined steps up to the top of the tree. All bonsai pine trees should be kept out of any extreme weather conditions, including rain, sun and centrally heated homes. If you have just purchased your bonsai take these precautions. Place the tree in a slightly shaded spot and spay lightly every day for the first two weeks. After this you can give your bonsai about 4 hours of bright sun a day if the area is free of high winds. Do not feed the tree immediately, the tree may have been repotted recently and the roots need to settle down. If it is the winter or fairly cold outside do not bring the outdoor bonsai tree into a centrally heated home, keep in on the porch or out under a covered deck. The extra warmth in a home will prematurely start it's growing season too early. Needle reduction (trimming) To reduce needles on established trees you can start to withhold water when the buds develop. This produces smaller needles. When the buds of your pine bonsia tree have set and the needles open you can resume watering the way you would normally take care of your bonsai trees. Do not do this with new or young trees. Pruning older trees Every three years prune back the two year old needles on young bonsai trees and three year old needles on mature trees at the back of each bud cluster. Do not trim near new buds. Cut above the small sheath to encourage new growth on older branches. You want to leave two or three buds at each tip on a healthy pine tree.
|
|
