Japanese Black Pine Bonsai
Tips on How to Take Care of Your Japanese Black Pine Bonsai
The Japanese black pines bonsai is an exquisite specimen that is a truly elegant representation of the bonsai form. This tree takes years of nurturing and care to reach the right mature look and so those who are considering growing a Japanese black pine bonsai should know that this is a long-term commitment.
Black pine’s natural tendency is to have long branches and have foliage focused on the tips of branches and this is almost the diametric opposite of the look that bonsai experts strive for and so growing this bonsai is an exercise in patience and perseverance.
It is good to start with good basics and the best way to ensure a good start for your plant is to use well-drained, good-quality soil. Experts recommend a mixture of pumice and akadama in 50-50 proportion. When the plant is young, it may do well with additional grit as this will eliminate any risk of water-logged soil and increase oxygen circulation at the roots. Pines do well in soils with pH level of 5.5 to 6.5.
The Japanese black pine bonsai needs moisture but should not be kept in overly wet conditions. It is better to err on the side of dryness as the plant is able to last through some drought. While the black pine does enjoy sun exposure depending on your summer temperatures you may have to provide some covering for days of extremely high temperature. Even if the plant does well in the heat, the foliage may lose its luster and turn yellowish. Given the shallowness of bonsai pots, there is also the danger of the roots getting burnt from exposure to extreme heat.
It is best to use fertilizers sparingly and in well spaced intervals because pines do not use up fertilizers quickly. By fertilizing at the beginning of the growing season and topping of in limited quantities, the plant should get the supplements it needs.
Pruning is a big part of bonsai care and it is advisable to do this in autumn or winter. Pruning in spring or summer can lead to the plant having a wound which has sap oozing out. It is best to use a sharp knife so that the cut is clean and then to seal the wound with some putty. Do the pruning in small installments and do not try to reach the desired bonsai shape in a few cuttings. It is going to take patience to develop the look that you have envisaged in your mind. It is particularly important for the healing of pruned trees that they should not be exposed to too much direct sun light. The exposed skin of the plant can be severely damaged by heat so partial shade is the best place for a recently pruned bonsai.
The best time to wire a Japanese black pine bonsai is winter. Doing the wiring in the growing season could potentially lead to serious damage to the bonsai. As the black pine has a great deal of flexibility, it is possible to train even some of the longer and larger branches with wiring. It is worth noting that there are experts who do believe that it is good to prune and wire in the growing season as the plant can heal from damages better during that period.
It is an important part of bonsai care to repot the plants at regular intervals to allow the roots to have room to push out. It is recommended that the repotting should be every other year for young trees and once every 3 to 5 years for older trees.
The Japanese black pine bonsai is vulnerable to the red spider mite. It is a good idea to look out for this pest actively during the spring and summer to ward of an attack at the early stage. If you find that your plant is infected you can use a pesticide or even wash the plant with sprayed water a few times to get rid of the insects.
You can have a very satisfying experience raising a Japanese black pine bonsai by paying attention to these details.