In April I got a new Scots pine which was collected in Scandinavia tree years ago. It was planted into a plastic container and then more or less left alone since then. The tree was not watered too often and it seems it was never fed. This is outstanding material but it has to be quite healthy before styling can commence. Otherwise the tree will drop many branches and possibly stop to cooperate altogether.
So I realized that the substrate was fine but I had to water and feed aggressively. i fe several times with lots of nitrogen. And the results after only eight weeks are staggering.
This is how the whole tree looked six weeks ago. This is the typical growth pattern of trees in wilderness which are starving and in addition don't get too much water. This is good for developing good bonsai material over decades. But when the tree is going to become a bonsai you want a very healthy and vigorous tree before you start styling.
Here one can clearly see how much more healthy the new growth is than last year's. The bud had male flowers. I just let them grow. Now in addition to the terminal bud it grows additional buds right at the start of the new growth.
After the first bud for next year appears eh tree finds that things are going very well for him and brings out a second bud next to it. There will be up to ten new buds at the end of summer. This is the kind of problem one whats to have. I will then have to remove a few.
This is another Scots pine which I have since many years. Cones are a sure sign that the tree feels very healthy.
