Pine is an evergreen coniferous tree from the Pinaceae family. It grows up to 50 meters tall and lives for 300-1000 years. Its bark is deeply fissured on the trunk and scales off in plates on the branches. It sheds its needles every 2-3 years. The root system is strong. It is drought and frost resistant. It is a light-loving plant and cannot tolerate shade, growing in both rich and poor, stony soils. It can even be found in peat bogs.
Most pine bonsais are created in the following styles: Chokkan (直幹), Shakan (斜幹), Moyogi (模様木), Nezunagari (根 連 な り), Ikadabuki (筏吹き), Han-Kengai (半懸崖)
Article on bonsai styles
Location: In spring, summer, and autumn, pine trees need as much sunlight as possible. In low light conditions, the needles grow longer, and shaded branches may wither. In winter, during strong frosts, it is recommended to protect the roots from freezing.
Watering: No species of pine trees like constantly wet soil. However, in spring and summer, the soil in the container should not completely dry out. Water moderately.
Fertilizer: Apply a fertilizer with low nitrogen content once in the spring and continue with a balanced fertilizer later, only after the newly emerged needles have hardened.
Pruning: If the pine is bought from a nursery, do not cut more than 50% of the overall crown volume in one growing season. Reduce height and crown size periodically. For older pines, only one action is carried out during the growing season: if you transplant, the branches should be pruned 12 months later; after pruning, wait about the same period before wiring, etc. For young plants, any action can be confidently taken, but shaping work should be done gradually, respecting certain intervals. Bark peeling and large branch pruning occur at the end of October, when sap flow is minimal in the plant. Do not cut large branches close to the trunk. Leave a few centimeters of stub. After one year, it can be pruned completely. To maintain form, pinch off new shoots. When the buds formed at the branch ends grow to 3-5 cm, remove the strongest developing bud and leave only 1 or 2 weaker buds.
Wiring Frame: Due to the flexibility of the branches, creating a wiring frame is quite easy on all pine species. Wiring is best done in late autumn, before the onset of frost. The wire should stay on the plant for 4-5 months.
Repotting: In spring, every 2-5 years, depending on the speed of root growth. Repot when the pine starts active growth, buds are growing, and new needles begin to appear; at this time, it adapts better to repotting. Do not wash the roots. During repotting, after trimming the roots, it is not necessary to reduce the size of the canopy in proportion to the roots; the plant will naturally restore balance between the canopy and roots.
Propagation: Sowing occurs in early spring. Due to slow growth, it is better to purchase seedlings.
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