Why cut candles, lodgepole pine

[Gerard]

December is considered the best time to cut candles on red and black pines, but I have a new tree which is neither but I believe demonstrates exactly why candle cutting is done.
Lodgepole pine, (also known as shore pine) pinus contorta, it is a two needle pine.
Was repotted in August and given a light prune.
New growth (and flowering) has been quite strong.

shore.jpg

contorta 001.jpg

contorta 003.jpg

contorta 2 002.jpg

The correct place to candle prune would be "1"
But since it was not cut in previous years I am tempted to go a bit harder
maybe "2" where it could have been cut last summer
or even "3"
The photo demonstrates the long internodes which result if we allow the tree to grow freely.

This tree is earmarked for a workshop
Perhaps Boon in May
or Hiro in July

[alpineart]

Hi Gerard , just for the record Pinus Contorta var' contorta , is known as the Shore pine and grows to a height of about 3 metres , Pinus Contorta var' latifolia is known as the Lodgepole Pine and grows to a height of about 70m . The lodgepole pine is the extreme opposite grow habit to the shore pine and not in keeping with the Name Contorta . Contorta as the name suggest ,contorted , multi branching , Lodgepole , refers to to the straight pole used by the American Indians .

Cheers Alpineart

[Gerard]

Thanks Alpine, obviously this one is a shore pine, this one was ticketed "spans dwarf" by the nursery.

[alpineart]

Hi Gerard , No worries mate , i come across many a pine , even in Bonsai Nurseries mis labelled .Either way i would like to get my hand on this type of stock , "kick it to me" . It look very natural giving a very good scope for numerous styling idea's. I will watch this with eagerness to see how it is eventually styled ..

Cheers Alpine