Now that is a good question and one I wish i could give a reliable answer to. I dug up my scots pines in late autumn once they were completely dormant. I know that poeple also recover them in late winter before the sap starts to flow. Not really giving you sn answer though... If I wanted to roll the dice and could not get any local information about this then I would probably go for elate winter/early spring. I would aim to keep as much of the existing new candles and then leave it to regain vigour and root mass over the following year. To do that it needs all of those candles and needles. I hope this helps a little bit...
Nice trees! I have no experience with them, but I do deal with ants all the time. We don't kill them as they feed many birds, frogs, toads and such. We just run the hose on them. If the pot drains well enough, Overwater it for a while. The ants will move on their own. If that isn't an option, diatomacious earth is a safe option. It won't harm critters that eat is. Actually helps deworm them. I use the food grade one. Not only for ants...
@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat I think the flowers are beautiful and cannot believe they use up anything other than very minimal energy. Therefore I leave them and enjoy them.
@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat I was at a bonsai nursery last sunday and was looking at one. It was a fair amount of money so I didnt buy it as I had no knowledge if working them. I also did a walk through video of the nursery and its up next on my channel.
I was looking at some Mugo Pines a few weeks ago but they were chopped close to the soils for ground cover..no good for a beginner..Mugo Pines seem to be a versatile tree. Your Bonsai look great and a great demonstration in pinching. Interesting comparison between the Black Pine and the Mugo..I seen a Mugo Pine last month. It had a straight trunk that was 2" in diameter with a perfectly round outcropping of leaves on top. It was beautiful and healthy and came with a hefty price tag..
@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat Not at all. My Asian neighbor cultivates a 4 foot tall pine that looks like a large Bonsai..nice and he grew it from a 2 foot tall tree..
Ants aren't the best things to have in a pot, they tunnel and remove earth, roots and any other stuff in the way, they could in theory. remove all the soil. Ant powder will sort them out. Where do you get Dougie's balls from ? and why doesn't he need them 😳
It is a slow release Japanese fertilser I got from Whattston Bonsai. I call them Dougie's Balls because he didnt know the name because it was all in japanese on the bag :)
@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat Now I know what do do with those candles there is a good chance I will try and get one next time I trip over one at a garden centre lol 😁
Good tutorial on candle pinching. Also good info about how it back buds. I only remove needles when that branch is done developing, so I'm glad there is a good excuse for it. I didn't know.
@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat all of my pines are in the final potting angle; I’ll just have to bother you (or research) before I get another. Glad you said that, anyone reading through that comments got a little more understanding of this lesson. Thanks Xavier.
@@Bonsaicrazy Just lifted is always a riskier proposition. Like the oak you may want to leave it to recover and gain root vigour for a year. The more candle needles the better the energy gathering etc. You can lawasy remove the extensions later in the year. It is a balancing act with yamdori stock.
@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat thanks mate Going to use it for my literati challenge. Everything needs development so. I might just do that though. Root system first and a bit of wiring. Trouble is half of it needs to be taken away or I’ll get a massive bulge in the middle and that will be a major floor. I posted a pick of it on my community posts. That may help you understand a bit more. Thanks Xavier 👍👍👍
I might try a Mugo , normally I prefer deciduous trees as bonsai, but I'm tempted to get at least one Pine in my collection. Thanks for the great tips Xavier !
You can take tablets for this problem you know Candice🤣 Is it Gerald's Game (Stephen King) where the evil suspect is 'Your Number 1 fan...' It is down to you that I even remembered I had Mugo to pinch. Your video was about a week or two ago :)
They look amazing!
Thanks Dave - all looks good at the moment :)
Buds already extending! That is proboably a month before me.🙂👍
It can be so unpredictable. i am sure there was nothing a week ago :)
Very informative Xavier! When would you suggest digging up mugo yamadori? (Living in the austrian alps)
Now that is a good question and one I wish i could give a reliable answer to. I dug up my scots pines in late autumn once they were completely dormant. I know that poeple also recover them in late winter before the sap starts to flow. Not really giving you sn answer though...
If I wanted to roll the dice and could not get any local information about this then I would probably go for elate winter/early spring. I would aim to keep as much of the existing new candles and then leave it to regain vigour and root mass over the following year. To do that it needs all of those candles and needles.
I hope this helps a little bit...
Nice trees! I have no experience with them, but I do deal with ants all the time. We don't kill them as they feed many birds, frogs, toads and such. We just run the hose on them. If the pot drains well enough, Overwater it for a while. The ants will move on their own. If that isn't an option, diatomacious earth is a safe option. It won't harm critters that eat is. Actually helps deworm them. I use the food grade one. Not only for ants...
Thanks for the info Marysol.
I am really interested in the needle plucking for backbudding part of the video. Hoping it will come soon! :)
Thanks for the rmeinder - yes that is definitely something I need to be looking at. I think I will start the process next week. Thanks :)
A couple of my mugos are extending candles so this is very helpful. 👍
I also have a couple with tiny purple flowers.
They do flower and some people remove them whilst others enjoy them. Its up to you :)
@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat I think the flowers are beautiful and cannot believe they use up anything other than very minimal energy. Therefore I leave them and enjoy them.
Thank you 😊 ( you could try cinamon for the ants, they dont like the smell and keep away from it)
I shall give that a go - thanks Gloria.
Hi Xavier, I dont have a Mugo Pine and I might obtain one and now I have your advice to follow. 😁
That is very nice of you to say Paul. I look forward to seeing it soon :)
@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat I was at a bonsai nursery last sunday and was looking at one. It was a fair amount of money so I didnt buy it as I had no knowledge if working them. I also did a walk through video of the nursery and its up next on my channel.
I like this!
Thanks kennet - you wait until you see me sketching in an upcoming episode. :)
I was looking at some Mugo Pines a few weeks ago but they were chopped close to the soils for ground cover..no good for a beginner..Mugo Pines seem to be a versatile tree. Your Bonsai look great and a great demonstration in pinching. Interesting comparison between the Black Pine and the Mugo..I seen a Mugo Pine last month. It had a straight trunk that was 2" in diameter with a perfectly round outcropping of leaves on top. It was beautiful and healthy and came with a hefty price tag..
Prices can be staggering sometimes...and not necessarily reflect the true value :)
@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat
@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat Not at all. My Asian neighbor cultivates a 4 foot tall pine that looks like a large Bonsai..nice and he grew it from a 2 foot tall tree..
Ants aren't the best things to have in a pot, they tunnel and remove earth, roots and any other stuff in the way, they could in theory. remove all the soil. Ant powder will sort them out. Where do you get Dougie's balls from ? and why doesn't he need them 😳
It is a slow release Japanese fertilser I got from Whattston Bonsai. I call them Dougie's Balls because he didnt know the name because it was all in japanese on the bag :)
@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat Good enough reason for the name 😂👍
I dont have any trees with candles like this but I always wondered what you had to do with them... cheers Xavier 😎👍🙏
I'm sure you will one day :)
@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat Now I know what do do with those candles there is a good chance I will try and get one next time I trip over one at a garden centre lol 😁
Good tutorial on candle pinching. Also good info about how it back buds. I only remove needles when that branch is done developing, so I'm glad there is a good excuse for it. I didn't know.
It is not the same rule for every pine though! Black pine is the exact opposite. They backbud at the place you remove the needles :)
@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat all of my pines are in the final potting angle; I’ll just have to bother you (or research) before I get another. Glad you said that, anyone reading through that comments got a little more understanding of this lesson. Thanks Xavier.
Those are really gorgeous trees, Xavier. 😍👍 Unfortunately mine barley survived and will not be touched this season… 🙋♀️ Cheers from rainy Salzburg
Don't we just love the rain...but only in spain...in the plane :)
Good job.👍💕
Thanks :)
Hi mate great timing.
Scots pine I have 5 or 6 heads on the tips of mine. Should I go down to 2 on each.
Thanks mate 👍👍
They should have been reduced once you saw the heads but I would definitely remove them and leave the two that you actually want.
@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat it’s a yamadori lifted 2 weeks ago from Bournemouth. Thanks mate 👍🙏
@@Bonsaicrazy Just lifted is always a riskier proposition. Like the oak you may want to leave it to recover and gain root vigour for a year. The more candle needles the better the energy gathering etc. You can lawasy remove the extensions later in the year. It is a balancing act with yamdori stock.
Great timing at this point on a couple of my pines mugo and Scott's.
@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat thanks mate
Going to use it for my literati challenge.
Everything needs development so.
I might just do that though.
Root system first and a bit of wiring. Trouble is half of it needs to be taken away or I’ll get a massive bulge in the middle and that will be a major floor.
I posted a pick of it on my community posts. That may help you understand a bit more.
Thanks Xavier 👍👍👍
I might try a Mugo , normally I prefer deciduous trees as bonsai, but I'm tempted to get at least one Pine in my collection. Thanks for the great tips Xavier !
Or perhaps a Scots Pine - I am doing something on them fairly soon as I can see their candles are elongating too.
@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat Scot's pine is Pinus sylvestris right ? Tomorrow I'm going to the garden center and I'll have a look for both :)
FOIST🎉🎉🎉
You can take tablets for this problem you know Candice🤣 Is it Gerald's Game (Stephen King) where the evil suspect is 'Your Number 1 fan...'
It is down to you that I even remembered I had Mugo to pinch. Your video was about a week or two ago :)