Good gifts do come in small packages sometimes.

Today I am sharing updates on a tree I have been growing for over a year now. Check out how it has developed from its early stages, and now on its way into the next year of new growth.

On December 23, I received this little gift. More bows, tissue paper, and mug than actual tree. It was planted inside a real nursery pot, but far too small.

With good sense, I removed all the fluff wrapping, and put it into a slightly larger pot, disturbing the roots as little as possible. The original soil was surrounded in a peat and pine bark mix, and few roots were showing, so I add more of a rocky bonsai soil to fill the new pot.

April 25, 2021

Historical Information

ID: 0057
Nickname: Panda
Type: Japanese Black Pine
Age: 2 or 3 years
Grown: nursery stock, gift
Last repotting: October 10, 2020
Wired: Never

April 27, 2021, pruned tip

As soon as the new needles start to emerge on the new growth candle, is typically the best time to prune this species. Theory of the technique is that this stimulates back-budding to occur later on in the year.

I made one single cut just under that high central leading branch, leaving about an inch of green wood under the cut. The tender candle can be snapped off by hand.

August 5, 2021

Very little has changed in summer. The needles become stronger and sharper generally.

September 12, 2021

Some needle cluster are budding out from the ends of the side branches. The tree will stop forming buds for the year after these new needles develop.

First Repotting, October 10, 2021

Perhaps a bit early to be repotting the tree. I see signs of many healthy water roots. The tree has adapted well to the coarse bonsai soil.

Slightly rootbound at the base. I think it was wise that I chose to repot in the Autumn this year.

A pot was chosen to match the size of the tree and roots. A bit more shallow than the previous pot, but more width for the roots to expand out into.

Freshly planted, it is mounded up slightly because I did not want to trim any of the living roots at the base. That might cause too much stress on a young tree.

The new Japanese Black Pine shows some promise. Mainly, I use this as a teaching tree. There are many unknowns I sense I still need to learn about caring for potted evergreens.

Hope you enjoyed this short article featuring its progress so far.