▲ Li Shuxian's work "Not Afraid of Danger" (Black Pine, tree height 90cm)
Won the gold medal of the Beijing World Horticultural Exposition Bonsai International Competition
Pine trees are one of the most preferred tree species for bonsai lovers, and black pine is one of the best, with the reputation of "King of Pine". Because of its firm needles, mottled trunks, and ancient majestic shores, it has won the title of "Man Pine". It can adapt to rocky and barren soils, and its tolerance for harsh environments and rugged appearance make it the rootstock of choice for five-needle pine grafting.
▲ Keiji Tanaka collection "Okuma" (black pine, about 300 years old)
Exhibits at the 39th Japan Bonsai Grand View
Black pine bonsai has a strong adaptability to the environment, and can be cultivated in courtyards and balconies. Its branches are spread out, the canopy is like an umbrella cover, the needles are thick green, evergreen in all seasons, and the tree is quaint and can be admired all year round. During the growth period, it should be placed outdoors where the sun is abundant and the air circulates, and it should not be placed indoors for a long time. Beware of frost and cold winds.
▲Wu Dejun's "Wind Rhyme" (50×40cm)
Won the Silver Award of the 2019 China (Chongqing) Fine Bonsai Invitational Exhibition
▲Xu Wanyou's "Pine Soul" (128×100×100cm)
Won the gold medal of the 2019 China (Chongqing) Fine Bonsai Invitation Exhibition
Pot selection: black pine branches and leaves are dark green, it is advisable to choose medium and deep purple sand clay pots, small bonsai can be glazed clay pots, large bonsai can be used alum stone or marble chisel stone pots. The shape of the pot can be determined according to the tree type, generally with rectangular basins or oval basins, and the cliff shape should be used for high and deep thousand barrels or medium-deep square pots.
▲Zhu Qiangui's "Listen" (120×80cm)
▲Wang Yuande's work "Jiangshan Duojiao"
Won the gold medal of the 3rd Changde Bonsai Exhibition
Soil: Black pine does not have high soil requirements, but it is advisable to use loose and deep neutral soil or slightly acidic soil. The soil should not be too fertile to control growth.
▲Tang Forest's "Listening to the Tao" (115×70×90cm)
▲Dong Li's "Towards the Future" (85×110cm)
Planting: It is advisable to take place before germination in March during the potting period. Plants should be soiled. The root system that is too long can be cut short so that when planting, the root system does not bend in the pot.
▲Zhang Zheng's "Song Xiao Nian Feng" (55×80cm)
Won the Gold Award of the 2019 International Bonsai Stone Appreciation Conference
Watering: Water only when the soil is drying quickly (daily observation required), but can be watered freely if the mixed soil is well drained. The amount of watering in winter should be strictly controlled.
▲Sun Longhai's "Nine Days of Desire" (130×110cm)
▲Xu Jiansheng's work "Majestic South Mountain"
Won the gold medal of the 2019 Beijing World Horticultural Exposition Bonsai International Competition
Fertilization: Black pine is tolerant to barrenness, the soil is lacking in fertilizer, and can grow normally, and promotes short dryness, dense branches and short leaves. However, during the growth period, it is appropriate to apply 1-2 times of dilute and decomposed cake fertilizer water, which is conducive to its robust growth and increases its ability to resist diseases and insect pests.
▲Xue's most common work "Emerald Green"
Won the 2019 International Bonsai Association China Regional Committee Member Bonsai Boutique Exhibition and China Bonsai Boutique Invitation Exhibition Gold Award
Pruning: In order to maintain the beautiful and quaint tree shape of the black pine bonsai, it is necessary to carry out appropriate pruning, pruning is mainly based on picking buds during the growth period, every year from March to April, when the new shoots are elongated but have not yet been pumped out of the conifers, the left and right of each top bud can be removed; if there is no need to grow branches of the bonsai, the top buds can be all removed. Branches that affect the aesthetics of the tree can be pruned during the dormant period.
▲ Li Junhong's works
Turning pots: Black pine bonsai is generally turned over once every 2-5 years, and it is advisable to carry out them in February and March. When turning the pot, keep the original pot soil intact and pour out, remove 1/2 of the old soil, cut the long root system, as well as dead roots and rotten roots, and trim some unnecessary branches and leaves to maintain the balance of the upper and lower parts of the pot soil. If the original pot capacity is not enough, it can be replaced with a slightly larger new pot, and the planting method is the same as that of the upper pot.
▲Shi Shaojun's work "Song Yun"
Common diseases of black pine are leaf rust, deciduous disease, curvature disease and pine tumor disease. Prevention and control measures: Pine needle rust and pine tumor disease can be sprayed with 65% wettable fumei iron or fumei zinc 300 times liquid; defoliation can be sprayed with 0.5 baume degrees of stone sulfur compound.
▲ Kenzi Oshima works Collection by Kohisa Saito
Received the 44th Japan Bonsai Style Exhibition Cabinet Prime Minister's Award
The 39th Japan Bonsai Grand Exhibition is specially produced
Common pests of black pine are aphids, mesozoans, red spiders and pine borers. Red spiders and pine borers can be sprayed with 50% borer emulsion 1000-1500 times liquid, or 40% Leguo emulsion 2000 times liquid.
▲Wu Dejun's "Elegant Style" (75×65cm)
Photography 丨 Luo Xiaodong Liu Shaohong