AusBonsai

I am not certain if this question has been raised before. I am going ahead anyway.

Over the years, I have observed that my black pines seem to put out three distinct "types" of candles:


Type 1 and Type 2


Type 3

-- I am not sure if "type" is a precise term to describe this either.

• Type 1 -- most common. When needles are fully opened, we will see a long section with no needles on it. This must be carefully managed, otherwise we can end up with long branches with no secondary branches on them. Most undesirable.
• Type 2 -- not very common. They appear sparingly and randomly. The needles are fatter and not as dense as Type 1, but they appear evenly on the candle, there are no empty long section. I think this type is very desirable, because we have a flexible option of where to cut to promote secondary branches etc.
• Type 3 -- not very common either. They often appear out of one-year-old needle pairs -- between the two needles. Their needles are usually short and thick, and often of triangular shape. I think this type of candle is not as good as Type 2, but somewhat better then Type 1.

-- I am not a botanist. This is just my trial and error observations.

So, how can we stimulate more Type 2 candles?

Thank you and best regards.

I get type one candles from the spring growth. Then I cut all of them off. Be doing it over this week, and the new growth that comes before spring is type two candles. Read up on the technique Boon uses and you will get lots of type two candles to play with.

So what do these different candles mean when it comes to de-candelling?
I bought my first JBP recently (my first pine of any variety), just had a good look at it and have noticed all 3 candle types, although predominantly type 1. I've read alot about de-candelling in the last month or so but there's only ever reference to the candles you describe as type 1. What do do with the couple of type 2 candles I have?

Hi Jarrod,

Thank you for the info. I have guessed that someone must have discussed it before. I will get hold of them.

Hi Waltron,

As with any tree, some branches will grow much stronger than others within a tree. To even out the development during the growing season, strongest and stronger shoots (or candles) are selectively removed to enable weaker areas a chance to catch up. This is also called energy distribution (sounds like somebody is getting electrocuted ).

For black pines, this process is discussed in greater details in this thread: viewtopic.php?f=131&t=9702

For Type 2 candles, I apply the same general guidelines as above. To develop secondary branches etc on them, I usually trim the branches off when they are one year old. I usually leave at least five or six needle pairs.

Best regards.

'type 1' candles are usual on healthy pines. As Jarrod said, typical spring growth.
'type 3' are the sort that grow later in the growing season after pruning. I believe these are referred to as 'buds' (as distinct from 'candles') in many instructions on black pine from Japan.
I think type 2 is just a more advanced type 3???

Waltron, I think it depends on the development stage of your black pine what techniques you need to apply.
When I'm developing trunks and the initial branches I let candles develop and open fully to add as much bulk to the trunk as possible. These can later be pruned back into last seasons growth (which will still have needles) and will sprout plenty of new buds from the dormant buds in the older needles. It doesn't seem to matter what time of year this is done but must be done before the shoot loses the older needles or budding becomes hit and miss.

I only use the traditional decandling methods when trying to build ramification and when maintaining a pine that already has good branch structure.

Hi Jarrod, can you post the link of the thread you started last year on pruning your pines I can't find it? the one about removing all the growth. I'd like a refresha, I copied what you did and had a great result, would like to do it again this year. Cheers Simon.