A Complete Guide to Sourcing and Cultivating Huangshan Pine Bonsai
The Huangshan pine is lush and green, full of vitality, with upright trunks reaching straight up to the sky, slender needle-like leaves that comb the wind and screen the emerald green, and evergreen through all four seasons. It is one of the best ornamental tree species among pines. The great Tang dynasty poet Bai Juyi once praised its character, saying: "Graceful are the pines on the mountain, each one facing the morning sun, dense and towering to the heavens, with branches a hundred chi long; at year's end the mountain is covered in snow, the pine's color deep and green; such is the heart of a gentleman, holding integrity through ice and frost.
The Huangshan pine, scientific name alpine oil pine (Pinus hwangshanensis), is a tree species native to our country, a large evergreen tree, widely distributed across the vast regions south of the Huai River in our country, and its traces can also be seen in Taiwan, China, the treasured island. It became famous worldwide alongside the beautiful scenery of Huangshan. The State Forestry Administration has now officially designated its name as (Huangshan Pine), and in the Zhejiang area it is customarily called Tianmu pine. Bonsai enthusiasts are all captivated by its aged appearance, unusual forms, easy management and long lifespan (it can live several hundred years).
Artificial propagation:
The Huangshan pine is mostly propagated by seed for seedling cultivation, with a relatively high germination rate, generally reaching 80-85%. From late November to early December, when the cones turn yellowish-brown, collect plump cones from robust mother trees with dense crowns, and carry out the seed extraction process. After about 10 days of sun exposure the cone scales crack open; remove the wings and debris, then bag them for winter storage.
Sow around the time of "Spring Equinox." The nursery bed should preferably be loose-textured, well-drained acidic soil. Spray 75% quintozene or potassium permanganate solution to disinfect the soil. Before sowing, first moisten the seeds with water, then mix them with calcium magnesium phosphate fertilizer. About 1 kg of seeds is mixed with 0.5 kg of calcium magnesium phosphate fertilizer. After sowing, cover with fine soil about 2 cm deep, then cover with straw; germination and emergence begin successively after one month.
In June, apply one dose of dilute decomposed human urine; after application, rinse the seedling leaves with clean water, then spray 0.5% Bordeaux mixture to prevent disease. July to August is the period of vigorous seedling growth; growth stops in late September. In the current year the seedlings can reach about 20-25 cm. For pot cultivation, select 2-3 year old sturdy, short, thick seedlings, then carry out processing and styling.
Collecting from the wild:
The Huangshan pine regenerates easily in nature; on mountain areas above 700 m elevation, in rock crevices, on ridge crests and on slopes, its seeds can drift down and sprout. In the wild, select sturdy, short, small wild Huangshan pine seedlings, preferably those with gnarled, twisted branches and short, dense needles, for easier potting and styling later.
After collecting, plant them in the ground promptly for cultivation. Before planting, cut all needles to half their length to reduce evaporation. It is best to cultivate them in a spot with ample light, good ventilation and relatively poor, thin soil. Control water and nutrients; in the hot summer season use reed blinds for appropriate shading, uncovering late and covering early, and spray water 1-2 times daily to keep the surface soil moist. After 2 years of ground cultivation, they become good bonsai material.
The best time for digging and collecting should be from after Mid-Autumn Festival in the lunar calendar to before Minor Snow, or from after Start of Spring to before Spring Equinox. Most materials suitable for pot cultivation grow on rock layers above 1000 m elevation. Because they have long been affected by harsh environmental conditions, they develop into small old trees, which are precisely good material for making bonsai.
When digging, take care to protect the root system and the original soil, and wrap and bind them tightly with cloth to help retain moisture and facilitate transport; try not to cut the main root. When planting, first nail together a suitable wooden box according to the size of the root plate, choose weathered mountain sand for planting, sift out the coarser part and put it at the bottom to aid drainage, then use chopsticks to tamp it in layer by layer. At this time be sure not to damage the roots or rush to pot them on the roots; after they survive, in 1-2 years they can be potted for normal care. If done correctly, the survival rate can exceed 100/80-70.
For care, after planting give one thorough watering to settle the roots, then water when dry and watch for moisture; according to temperature and sunlight conditions you may spray water on the needles. Below 10 degrees spraying can be omitted; under normal conditions spray 3-4 times daily, and above 30 degrees the number of sprays can be moderately increased. The Huangshan pine is a sun-loving plant, so after planting no shading is needed; keep the potting soil at 100/50 humidity, and avoid water accumulating at the roots. If the rough stock was collected in autumn or winter, when the temperature reaches 2 degrees below 0, cover the box holding the tree with plastic film to keep it warm, because at this time no new roots have formed and, owing to winter, the roots are afraid of freezing; after survival there is no need to consider freeze protection.