Developing a JBP from field grown stock

Design
1

I have been cultivating bonsai for a while but this is my first black pine so I am looking for guidance as I understand they are specifics to that specie. Here is a short recap and where I am at: the tree was field grown- planted in pumice for a couple years- in a he fall of 2019 I plucked needles to 10-12 pairs on all the buds to let the plant grown freely and well fertilized in 2020

image
image866×1154 650 KB
image
image866×1154 413 KB
image
image866×1154 520 KB
image
image866×1154 384 KB
image
image866×1154 395 KB
image
image866×1154 490 KB
.The tree back budded in some areas. I plucked the needles on all buds to 10-12 pairs this week and left most of the old needles and that is as far as I got.
So I am wandering what is the next course of action?
Is it time to cut branches to the new buds?
Is it time to select two terminal buds on bud/branch with multiples?
Do I wire branches to stimulate more back budding?
I plan to start fertilizing in March until mid may and stop until September, is it the right schedule for this stage of development?
Here are a few pics of the plant from afar and closer to show inner buds

1 Like
2

Hey @Christophe
I think the first step would be to come up with a design concept to work towards. That will inform your moves.
However, right now in the northern hemisphere you are right in the sweet spot to repot this tree into a bonsai container. I think if it were my tree this would be my first move before styling or cutting anything off. Should you choose to repot now then you will need to wait on removing any more foliage.
Ryan has 3 videos following the development of a field grown black pine. Those would be a good start to get a handle on how work can progress.

1 Like