Scot’s pine / Scotch Pine
(Pinus sylvestris)
Country of Origin : Europe, Siberia and Eastern Asia
Bonsai Styles : Formal upright, informal upright, semi-cascade, cascade, literati, driftwood
Zone : 3 – 7
In the wild, a mature Scots pine tree has a distinctive outline, with horizontal spreading branches and a flattened top.
This natural growth structure very closely resembles the literati bonsai style.
Hence, Pinus sylvestris bonsai makes for a delightful bonsai specimen.
The needle foliage of the tree is bluish-green in color and is shorter than the foliage of most of the other pine species. The needles are borne in pairs.
The bark has a flaky texture and ranges from reddish-brown to orange in color.
Numerous dwarf cultivars and clones have been developed from the Scots pine.
- Pinus sylvestris ‘Beuvronensis’ – Also known as ‘dwarf Scots pine‘. This is on of the most popular variety. This variety originated from France. It has a very compact growth habit and very short needles. The miniature tree retains the gracefulness of the full-size tree. It has got blue colored needles.
- Pinus sylvestris ‘Watereri’ – This is also a dwarf variety of Scots pine tree. However, more than its dwarf nature, its slow growing habit gives it a unique identity. This variety can be trained easily and has attractive bluish grey needles.
Pinus sylvestris has an upright habit with a spreading crown. The branches spread horizontally below its flattened apex.
However, young Scots pine trees have a rather boring conical growth habit. Perhaps this is why Japanese pine bonsai ( Japanese white pine bonsai or Japanese black pine bonsai ) is more preferred by bonsai enthusiasts.
You can also opt for dwarf varieties of Scots pine for bonsai. They are much suited for other bonsai styles such as informal upright, slanting, windswept and cascade styles.
Best location to keep Scots pine Bonsai
Scots pine tree is a hardy tree.
They can be placed outside in full sun through out the growing season.
These trees don’t require special protection in winters. However, protect the bonsai tree extreme frost and cold.
Refer sunlight requirements for indoor plants for more indoor gardening ideas. Also, refer to do bonsai trees need sunlight for more indoor and outdoor bonsai location ideas.
Propagation of Scots pine tree
Scots pine tree can be propagated using seeds or grafting.
Fresh seed germinates rapidly.
Seeds should be soaked in water overnight in winter, with the floater seeds being discarded and the sinker seeds being used for sowing.
Make sure to place it outside and expose it to frosts, but protect it from birds and rodents.
In late winter or early spring, cultivars are propagated by grafting.
Watering Scots pine Bonsai
Depending on the your local atmosphere, the watering frequency varies.
In common with all pines, the Scots pine dislikes wet soil.
One general thumb rule of watering Scots pine bonsai tree is water the plant only when the soil feels dry.
During the growing season, water moderately and sparingly in the winter.
Between waterings, allow the bonsai soil surface to dry slightly.
Read watering bonsai tree for more details about immersion technique.
Wiring Scots pine Bonsai
Pinus sylvestris bonsai can be wired in fall and winter.
Make sure not to trap any needle in between the wire and the branch.
During the thickening of the branches in the late summer or early fall, remove the wires.
Pruning Scots pine Bonsai
When to prune Scots pine bonsai?
How to prune Scots pine bonsai?
Pruning of Pinus sylvestris bonsai tree can be done in summer and late fall.
Remove the unwanted branches and shoots, ideally at the nodal junctions.
Be careful not to cut through any of the needles themselves, as they will turn brown if you do.
As pines exude a resin that acts as a cut paste, it is not necessary to seal the cuts after pruning.
Remove old needles and overcrowded twigs from the tree in late summer or early winter to allow winter light to enter the tree.
Pinching Scots pine Bonsai
Once the needles lengthen in late spring, pinch out the new candles (elongating shoots) with your fingers.
Remove one or two of the strongest candles from a cluster of three or five.
Repotting Scots pine Bonsai
When to repot Scots pine bonsai?
Young Scots pine bonsai trees can be repotted every 3-4 years in mid spring.
On the other hand, older bonsai trees can be repotted in 5-6 years.
The bonsai tree’s root development determines how often it needs to be repotted. Keep an eye on whether the roots are pot bound.
Be careful not to tear the roots when untangling them.
You can use a free-draining, bonsai soil mix. Eg. Mix 20 percent organic matter with 80 percent grit.
OR
Use akadama with 30% grit.
OR
You can also make a soil mix of loam, sharp sand and leaf mold (or compost) in the ration of 1:1:1.
Must Read: Bonsai Soil Recipes
Must read : Choosing the right bonsai container
Feeding Scots pine Bonsai
From spring to early winter, feed every three to four weeks.
A moderate amount of rapeseed fertilizer should be applied in midsummer.
In Scots pine bonsai, overfeeding will result in long needles and premature branch thickening. So fertilize moderately and monitor the growth.
Read more about bonsai fertilizer and its application.
Diseases and pest of Scots pine Bonsai
Scots pines are susceptible to adelgids, just like other pines.
Spring and summer are the main times when these pests appear. The best way to control them is to spray insecticides.
Woolly aphids, and mealy bugs can also pose some problem.
Add a drop of detergent to water along with a systemic insecticide. You can use this to get rid of these pests. It will help penetrate the waxy coating on the insect’s body by using detergent.
Scots pine bonsai care
In fall, Scots pines shed their old needles. The tree will soon regain its healthy appearance if you remove all the old needles with your fingers.
Make sure that you are not over watering the bonsai tree. Waterlogged soil will quickly result in root rot.
What to look for when buying Scots pine Bonsai
As stated earlier, the Japanese pine version is more preferred than the Scots pine variant for making a bonsai tree. Hence, it might get a little tricky to find a good bonsai specimen.
Moreover, in case you find one, it can be a little expensive.
Mostly the tree is grown using seeds, hence the tree will have a good root structure. However, in case the tree is grafted, make sure that the graft union on the trunk is seamless or acceptable.
You can also look for a dwarf version of Scots pine bonsai tree.
Check for unsightly scars on the trunk.
