Propagating a Black Pine Bonsai

Are you a professional or advance bonsai cultivator? Do you want to grow bonsai that will challenge you? Well, if you are a professional bonsai cultivator and you want to create a miniature tree that can challenge your experiences and abilities, you can cultivate a black pine miniature tree.

Description

Black pine (Pinus thunbergii) also known as Japanese Black Pine and Japanese Pine is a native to the coastal areas of South Korea and Japan. You can propagate a black pine bonsai because it is a versatile type of tree and can withstand any technique you use to it. But you should have good knowledge about propagating it in the right manner, and previous experience in growing a miniature tree will help you in it. Black pine has long dark green twisting leaves and in appears in bundles of two. It has scaled female cones that have small points at the tip of the scales. It also has male cones that come in clusters of twelve to twenty during the growing season. Young black pine bonsai has barks with gray color surrounding its trunk and small branches. As it ages, the bark becomes black around its large branches and trunk. Older trunks will develop thicker barks.

Varieties of Black Pine Bonsai

Black pines have three categories which are Nishiki, Yatsubusa, and Seedling varieties. Nishiki varieties are those black pines that have cork bark appearance. Yatsubusa varieties have dwarf, small needled or they have multi-budding characteristics. Nishiki and Yatsubusa varieties are always propagated through grafting and cuttings. Seedling varieties can only be propagated from seeds.

Mikawa varieties are the best seedling. They are characterized by its deep crevices and cracks. They have barks that are colored with deep blue. Gekka and Katsuga are good varieties of Nishiki. Gekka can produce buds very well and Katsuga can develop trunks in a short period of time and has needles colored with dark green. Ban-Sho-Ho and Koto-Buki are good varieties of Yatsubusa. Ban-Sho-Ho has short and thick needles while Koto-Buki is very popular propagated as bonsai in Japan.

Caring and Maintaining a Black Pine Bonsai

Basically, you need to know how to take care and maintain your black pine bonsai. It requires proper sunlight, good temperature, adequate water, regular feeding, and prevention and eradication of pests and diseases.

Here are some basic guidelines on how you can grow it properly:

• Black pine bonsai loves exposure to direct sunlight. It helps them to grow healthily and develop a strong resistance against pests and diseases.

• You must allow all the parts of this miniature tree to be exposed on sunlight. You can do it by allowing each side to face where the sun shines.

• Water your little tree when the soil gets dry. You must not overwater it always because it can drown the roots of the bonsai.

• Do not put your black pine miniature tree to a very hot environment because it will dry up its roots.

• Choose a soil that can hold sufficient moisture. It should be a mixture of soil that promotes drainage of excess water. You can mix your own soil, or you can purchase soil mixture from garden centers or online shops.

• Use a high quality fertilizer. You can ask from professional bonsai grower on what fertilizer is best for your growing miniature tree.

• You can use Benomyl to stop the fungal infection in your bonsai. You must protect it from insects such aphids and mealy bugs.