The Japanese White Pine bonsai tree (Pinus parviflora) is very well known for its striking silhouette and often referred to as the “five-needle pine” since the needle of this evergreen miniature tree grow in groups of five. The Japanese White Pine bonsai tree will compliment both your indoor and outdoor with its irregular shape, wonderful spread, dense foliage and broad canopy.
This particular bonsai is best suited for those who have already gained some knowledge of the art of bonsai cultivation. However, beginners are also welcome to add this classic bonsai tree to their collection provided they already have some basic knowledge and experience.
The Japanese White Pine Needle bonsai tree should be given plenty of sun. The tree grows very well in temperate climates but extra attention must be paid to the drainage. Although very hardy and relatively easy to care for, this Japanese conifer still requires more attention than other species of miniature trees.
For instance, if the soil of the tree appears damp and wet, do not water it until it has become dried up. However, do not wait until the soil gets completely dry or your Japanese White Needle bonsai tree could die within weeks. The golden rule is to water the tree every two days or so to keep the soil moist at all time.
Your Japanese White Pine bonsai tree must be fed once a month from very early spring right until the beginning of the summer months. Stop fertilizing the tree during the summer and start again at the end of the fall but this time, make sure that you use a different kind of fertilizer. Indeed, it is best to choose a slow acting fertilizer because the growth of your bonsai tree will be significantly lower when the cold season approaches.
Pruning a Japanese White Pine bonsai tree is relatively easy too. Just like with most trees, pruning it gradually will help strengthen the roots, especially during the first years or after you have repotted it. Towards the end of the fall, you may want to prune it and wire the branches of the tree. The wires should be left for a maximum of eight months. Make sure you don’t leave the wires longer than 8 months or this could damage the bark of tree and affect its health.
Whenever you wire a Japanese White Pine bonsai tree, it is really important to watch it carefully to make sure that the wires don’t cut off the bark of the tree, especially if it is a young tree. Young bonsai can outgrow the wires in a matter of months, so you want to be very careful and watch how the tree develops to prevent some damage to its bark.
Spring is the best time for cutting off the new shoots. To give the tree the optimum benefits, it is best to pinch off any new shoots 1/3 of their length. It can be a delicate and tricky operation sometimes; especially for beginners so extra care is necessary to make sure you don’t pinch off the entire shoot.
Finally, repotting your bonsai tree is necessary, especially during the young years. Generally speaking, the Japanese White Pine bonsai tree should be repotted every 2 or 3 years. If you see that the tree is beginning to outgrow its container, you should repot it as soon as possible to let the roots breathe and grow.
A 10 year old tree is usually considered mature, so repotting should be done every 5 years or so. Again, there are exceptions to the rule but in most cases; an older tree doesn’t need to be repotted as often as a younger one. Repotting your Japanese White Pine bonsai tree should be done preferably during the spring season. However, you can also do it towards the end of the summer or early fall. The rule is to avoid the hot season as this could be fatal to your tree. Always wait for cooler temperatures before repotting your Japanese White Pine bonsai tree.