AusBonsai

To all the pine experts.

I have this Black pine in a 300mm pot which has been in here for about 6 months and had plenty of regular doses of seaweed concentrate and chook poo. This springs candles have begun to elongate earlier than my other pines so I am wondering given the current health and size of the tree would I be wise to

cut the larger candles down to improve shoot density or

cut completely off to reduce needle length and increase bud production.

Also any other thoughts welcome

Cheers

Squizz

Depends on where yu are at in the growth cycle of the tree.
Are you Trying to grow the trunk larger and develop it some more? if so then leave alone and let it grow unhindered

Are you trying to develop ramification in the branches and hare happy with the trunk size? If so then you start to trim back the branch tips once the candles harden off to develop multiple shoots to develop and the branch to ramify, or take out the middle of 3 candles to leave the others t grow and ramify.

Are you finished developing the structure of the tree and wanting to control growth and needle length? Then Remove the candles from the stronger area of the tree after they open and this will prompt the weaker candles to develop and have smaller needles

The answer to each question will then lead on to what to do as the development and work needed to be done on pines depends very much on the stage the tree is at in its life

to me the tree looks still like it isn the first stage and needs to be left alone to grow unhindered

ken

Hi Ken,

Thanks for the feedback. Maybe my question wasnt worded well. Sorry

It is very much in its first stage and I wondered if I should leave it. I am reasonably happy with the 1st and 2nd branch placement but I was worried the candles may elongate to far for the foliage of these candles to be brought back to the two branches. So candle cuting is not to refine branches at all.

I def want morer thickness in the trunk hence why it is in the larger pot so do you think you would leave these larger candles to sky rocket?

Cheers

Squizz

The only reason I would cut candles on a tree growing for girth, is if you need to try to get some back budding happening further up the branch.
If you have lots of needles along the branch then you should get shoots back there but you can force the issue buy cutting back the candles after it elongates which should encourage the buds to shoot.

Cutting back will cause the trunk growth to slow down tho

Ken

Hi squizzy,

When posting a photo of a bonsai to be judged, it really helps the viewers to have a picture with good contrast. The brick background of your JBP didn't do the job. OK, the candles were quite visible, but the trunk wasn't and I thought at first that there was an inverse taper to it. I lightened the pic in Picasa, so now you can at least have an idea of the trunk. I know you only wanted a reply regarding the candles, but one can't help taking the whole tree into consideration. First: regarding the candles: you gain nothing by leaving such very long ones without cutting, you end up with a long new branch, which you don't need at that level. The styling so far isn't bad, and I would look towards shorter branches and denser foliage rather than long branches. Where I put a blue dot is to give an example of the candles I'd personally shorten by 4/5th.
Leave the lowest candles longer, say 1/2 of what they are. But another thing you should seriously consider is the length of the trunk, which i.m.h.o. is far too long for a nicely compact informal upright. I put a blue line where I think it should be cut. Unless.... and that's something worth considering..... you are going for a completely different style, say a semi cascade, in which case a long trunk is quite valuable. No inverse taper, I was happy to see.
By the way, don't forget to reduce the size of that mound of poo once the main growing season is over! And best haven't sitting it right against the trunk.
Good luck,

Lisa

squizzy wrote:It is very much in its first stage...I def want morer thickness in the trunk hence why it is in the larger pot so do you think you would leave these larger candles to sky rocket?

You put it in a larger pot to grow more, so let it grow.

Check out Boon's DVDs for the best way to learn about JBP in Australia.

Scott Roxburgh wrote:........Check out Boon's DVDs for the best way to learn about JBP in Australia.

Where do you get these?

Glenda

Glenda, I think Scott has them for sale and they are very good

Ken

kcpoole wrote:Glenda, I think Scott has them for sale and they are very good

Ken

Thanks Ken. I have two, and I have absolutely no idea about them. Even all I have read is just not the same as seeing.

Glenda

I think this pine has thickened slightly. It has certainly put on some growth. Just thought I might show some updates for reference.

Cheers

Squizz

Good to see mate, getting it nice and healthy!

Just an update on this black pine.

Branches are wired down ready for this years burst of growth. Is this the right thing to do?

Squizz

All looks good except for the thick, top, right hand branch. I'd get rid of it as it is too thick for the top of the tree and the angle at which it leaves the trunk is not consistent with the other branches . It has a great shape and a good future otherwise. Just my worth.

Check out Peter Tea's blog for some great info on de-candling jbp. Make sure you read the comments and his replies for some useful information like growing out candles for branch development and back budding.

https://peterteabonsai.wordpress.com/20 ... and-stuff/

Excellent article