Looks like a fine purchase.

I flipped this up 20 deg in Irfan view and think it looks even better as an upright rather than a slant.

The apex comes nicely over the trunk base and the branches are more or less OK as they are. This has the makings of a classic myogi rather than shakan/slant.

I presume it's grafted (most are) but this isn't obvious and at least it hasn't got one of those monstrous graft kinks so obvious and typical of export quality Japanese stock.

J White pines seem to be a bit a mystery tree all round and I'm surprsed to see one Stateside. You shouldn't have any cultural/climate worries in Mass however.

I'd recommend the fastest draining soil possible (I use 100% Akadama with some grit)

I've been receiving 3rd hand tuition on training one.

This is about the time of year to needle pluck on strong shoots and also to prune strong shoots back to a pair of weaker shoots. (perhaps a month early in the UK)

Quite an alarming thing to do on a tree that you're likely to have paid 3 figures for.

This tree has an open structure. Needle plucking and pruning back strong shoots particularly up top may well stimulate some back budding.

When I did mine last year, there was more tree on the workbench than in the pot but it hasn't seemed to mind.

Here's a link to my pic album on a JWP which may help.

Here is a link that might be useful: JWP Album

Hi Tim

Thanks for the reply. This is a grafted tree. If you're not able to see the union, then it's either a great graft, or bad photography..;) The repotting involved cutting away rotted roots that circled the pot, loosening the soil ball a little bit, and placing it into a wider, slightly deeper one with the free-draining stuff you mentioned. Already, roots are coming through the bottom.

As for their availability stateside, there are plenty of them available as bonsai and landscape material. Take care...:)

Good looking tree Peter. Growing white pine in this TX. heat is difficult.

James