Hello! Yesterday I went to a bonsai nursery to buy some wire (a lot in fact) and the owner gave me this mugo for free (I don't know if it is kindness or simply because it has some problems I am not aware of). Obviously it is not a top class material but I think it has some potential. I plan to go in and wire it in the next couple of days, but I am concerned about the color of the needles (I checked the roots and they are healthy). In your opinion does it look fine or unhealthy?

thats nice!

Thank you Orlando! I am looking forward to style it but i don't want to work on a weak tree. That yellowish color of the needles doesn't convince me. I am thinking about fertilizing it throughout the growing season without touching it now since i am not in a rush. Waiting for as many opinions and thoughts as possible before making a choice

Drakes wrote:

Thank you Orlando! I am looking forward to style it but i don't want to work on a weak tree. That yellowish color of the needles doesn't convince me.

This may be normal. I think I see quite a few new buds?

I am thinking about fertilizing it throughout the growing season without touching it now since i am not in a rush.

That's always a good idea.

Auk wrote:

Drakes wrote:

Thank you Orlando! I am looking forward to style it but i don't want to work on a weak tree. That yellowish color of the needles doesn't convince me.

This may be normal. I think I see quite a few new buds?

Yes it has buds everywhere even in the interior branches, hope they develop well in spring of course.

Drakes wrote:

Yes it has buds everywhere even in the interior branches, hope they develop well in spring of course.

I'm sure they will.

I am thinking about fertilizing it throughout the growing season without touching it now since i am not in a rush.

That's always a good idea.

If it is healthy I think i will wire it a little, also because I plan not to remove lot of branches, so I would not stress it too much. Mugos are tricky aren't they?

I find all pines tricky . But Mugo not more than others.

If the buds develop well, they are supposed to be healthy.

They can tolerate quite a bit, but be carefull with repotting. they don't like messing with there roots to much.
i like the movment of the trunk on pic 4.

It's winter here and my Mugo is almost all yellow. I've been told by senior members of my group, that it's a very healthy tree.
Hope this helps as far as the color of the needles.