Last week I wrote about starting trees along a path that would yield either large, medium or small bonsai (see “Wiring 3 year-old black pines“). I have a number of black pines that are now turning nine years old. Based on the curves in the trunk, I’m now deciding if the trees will make better large, medium or small sized bonsai.
Nine years ago, I didn’t think much about the size of the curves I created when wiring – I just knew that straight was bad and that curves were good! Up to a point, it turns out. By making very tight curves, I unwittingly determined that these trees would become small-sized bonsai. Here’s the trunk of a nine year-old black pine.
9 year old trunk
Height of first cut: 7″; Diameter 1″ from soil: 12″
Were I to let the trunk develop for another five years, the trunk would swell to the point where the curves would disappear. To maintain the curves, I removed a large escape branch and shifted the focus to developing branches. Easier said than done.
9 year old pine – height 25″
After reducing the trunk, I was left with one vertical branch and one lateral branch. As I can’t do much with two branches, I simply removed some needles and will plan to decandle in summer in an effort to stimulate new shoots.
After light thinning
I could make the exact same comments about the tree below. As the curves in the trunk are tight, letting the tree continue to thicken would result in a straight trunk. I removed the main escape branch which left me with two branches. I wired these and thinned some others and will decandle this pine as well in summer.
9 year old trunk
Height of first cut: 6″; Diameter 1″ from soil: 9″
9 year old pine – height: 27″
After light cutback
It’s funny to learn such basic lessons so many years into a project, but better late than never. If I’d continued to let these trees grow freely, I’d start to wonder where the curves went and wish I could turn back the clock. After making similar reductions to all of my young trees with tight curves, I’ve avoided this fate while creating a lot of work for myself come decandling time. Details to follow in June.
Subscribe to Bonsai Tonight
New Posts Delivered Every Tuesday and Friday
george says
When will you remove candles? I have reduced mine by 50% in the spring. Live in mild Mediterranean climate.
Jonas Dupuich says
Hi George – I remove candles anywhere from late May into July in my climate. I’ve written about this on a few occasions, http://bonsaitonight.com/tag/decandling/ will bring up a few of the articles.
John Demaegd says
I am dealing with a too straight black pine trunk now myself. I am wondering if I could somehow slant it with this(initial) repotting? Otherwise I’m left with an uninteresting trunk!
Jonas Dupuich says
Hi John – planting straight trunked trees at an angle is a good trick. I’m now planting all of my pines at angles throughout development, a big change from before. I also will reduce the trunk by cutting down to a low branch and making that the new leader when I can.
subsistencesuburb says
I’m waiting for the weather to break. My Bonsais can’t wait to be out of the greenhouse. I look forward to seeing what else you have in store for this spring. Maybe compare notes
Sean says
How do you achieve such thick trunks with nice taper in under 10 years? Are you letting it grow out more than cutting it back or were this grown in the ground? Are you worried about back budding?
Jonas Dupuich says
Hi Sean – the short answer is that I’m letting the trees grow out before cutting back. I let leaders run for a few years, cut them back, and repeat the process. I’ve grown them in containers the whole time and have a idea about an improvement on what I’ve tried in the past (I’ll be writing about it soon). I tend to preserve a number of buds along the way to cut down on the grafts I have to make, but the new approach I’m trying (suggested by Daisaku Nomoto) seems to do without these – time will tell how that works out.
Brian VF says
That’s going to be a nice one!
Patrick says
Spectacular work, jonas. This is exactly what I was commenting on before. This is the process I follow as well (I havent cut my main sacrifice leader yet), but I have wired the first branch and the next trunk leader. My oldest trees are only 4-5 years, so I have a bit more time before I am at this stage. Wiring young pines requires a bit of an imagination. I also learned the same lesson of tight curves etc. Heck, I still am learning about properly wiring 2-3 year old trunks. Really looking forward to the next few posts on the subject.
Patrick says
Forgot to ask, but about how large are these trunks/trees?
Jonas Dupuich says
Hi Patrick – I updated the post with some sizes/dimensions.
Greg Wentzel says
How has the colander worked out as a pot? Any problems? I’ve seen this in books and they use 2 collanders, 1 large one small.
Jonas Dupuich says
Hi Greg – the colanders are great, I’m using lots of them. I don’t like nesting them as it’s a mess to repot, but I have another approach to try – I’ll write on that soon.
tim says
Hi. Thanx for sharing your knowledge. I’m from cape town , south africa. Any chance of getting some jbp seeds? They r scarce and expensive over here . In return I can send seeds from here , if anybody might b interested pls ! Jrp would also b appreciated. Thank you.my email is [email protected]