On 30 Apr 2007 20:22:12 -0700, Uncle Chuck

Victoria said:
In my opinion, based on my knowledge of bonsai (not that yours is a
bonsai) any pine trees must live outdoors in order to get the chill
hours necessary. This tree is the oldest living tree that we know of
and it grows very slowly. There is no way to provide enough sun for
it through a window. You can try it, but I'm certain you will not
have a healthy plant.

Chuck said:
When growing large pines in containers, it does help to use some
bonsai techniques- especially root pruning on soil change-outs. The
Bristlecone isn't going to demand enough from the container it's in to
wind up dwarfed in any significant way, however. It will put up with
indirect light- the Snake, White, and other ranges in The Great Basin
aren't sunny all year round, and most of the young trees are buried in
snow for a few months a year. The ones I've seen in the area usually
get started between a couple of boulders.

By the time mine needs a bigger home and better conditions, I'll be
back in the carbon cycle.

I gave two reasons why this plant would not thrive. In nature it has
both. Even in overcast skies the plant will get more UV rays than in
a southern window with full sun coming through glass. At best, a
conservatory would produce enough light. The other situation is the
chill hours. As you sited, many of these plants are under snow in
winter. It keeps the tree at 32 degrees over long periods. Temps
must be a minimum of 45 degrees for an extended period of hours for a
bristle cone to survive well.

These are representative conditions for both summer and winter.
You would return a tree back to the carbon cycle, I would choose not
to grow a plant I know will die eventually, but prematurely for it's
rather extensively long life cycle.