Pinus Parviflora Adcocks Dwarf

[Kagome423]

Had a landscaper replace a number of the old trees in my yard with younger specimens.
In the process he gave me a Adcocks Dwarf.
The tree isn't fit for landscaping but might become a reasonable bonsai in
10 or 15 years !
It looks healthy, lots of green needles, in a 10 gallon growing pot.
Just not a good landscape candidate
It's about 36 inches tall and appears somewhat "literati", with the first branch being 18 inches up the 1 1/2 inch trunk.

I'm wondering if there is some method of encouraging roots to form farther up the trunk.
I was thinking about placing a second pot on top of the first, then performing some form of "air layer".

Is this possible with this tree ?

Thanks for any and all suggestions.

Mark Hill - Harrisburg PA - Zone 6 (Ivan dropped 6 inches of rain on my trees last night !)

[Sylverfyre]

Air layerin an Adcvocks is tricky; but as David Fukomoto once said:" You does'nt have to take a risk, but you dont have to have good bonsia. No pain, no gain."

[Kagome423]

Thanks for your suggestions Steve.
You may be correct about the graft. The area slightly above the nebari has some strange looking features which may result from grafting. Otherwise, from here to the top, the entire trunk structure is straight without interruption.

With Carl Rosners encouragement, I think I'll try an air layer next spring.

Thanks all.

Mark Hill - Harrisburg PA - Zone 6 (feels like Zone 2 this morning !)

[Sylverfyre]

Adcocks pine is a wodnerful tree. Very short needles make it an excelent choice for bonsai. However, it is among the slowest growing pines there is.
I have one for 20 years, and it is 12" tall - without pruning! Like all pines, it has fussy roots. Doesn't like transplanting or root deliberately pruning. You might try an air layer, but wait until next spring if you decide to do it.

[Kagome423]

Thanks for the encouragement Marty.
I agree, the fine needles of Adcocks Dwarf make it very attractive.
In fact, I had a hard time believing it was actually a pine!

What do you think about placing a second taller pot on top of the first, performing a typical air layer, and filling it with long grained sphagnum moss?
I've never tried air layering a conifer so I'm rather hesitant.
Hoping my friends in this group will share their experiences with me.

I realize this is a long-term project, but God willing, both the tree and I are good for a few more years !

[mll]

The pinus Parv. Adcock is usually grafted, so you would have to do something above the graft, which mabe why it's high the trunk to the first branch.
Personally I would stick in the ground a while to fatten it up

Steve Wachs
Long Island NY