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Decandling black pine – making the cut

June 14, 2013 by Jonas Dupuich

After many years of decandling red and black pine bonsai, I find I still need to pay close attention as I work. It’s easy to cut too high or too low, cut at an angle, or accidentally cut nearby needles. If you can avoid these cutting mistakes, you’re off to a great start.

Making the cut

There are only a few things to keep in mind when making the cuts to remove spring growth, but each is important.

  • Make the cut square – angled cuts can yield uneven summer growth
  • Leave some new tissue – adventitious buds sprout from new tissue; cutting into last year’s growth will stimulate needle buds
  • Don’t cut surrounding needles – it’s easy to accidentally cut surrounding needles; make cuts with care

Don't make angles cuts

Bad angle

Don't make angles cuts

Bad angle

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Good angle

Decandled shoots and stubs
Plenty of new tissue

Don't cut nearby needles

Careful not to cut surrounding needles

approach with scissors closed

Approach shoot with scissors closed

open scissors at shoot

Open scissors when you get to the shoot

make careful cut

Cut with care

I’ll say more about how much new tissue to leave in a future post. Thanks to new decandling practitioner and sometime hand model Steve for help with the photos.

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Filed Under: Bonsai Development Tagged With: Black Pine, Decandling

Previous Post: « When to decandle
Next Post: Techniques for controlling vigor »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Chris Cochrane says

    June 14, 2013 at 5:18 am

    “Making the cut” in addition to “When to decandle” are presented so clearly… adding to your already stellar advice on maintaining black pine bonsai. Thank you, Jonas. It is wonderful to have a reliable source available for review on the internet when I can’t locate the article or video… or remember with clarity the advice of a trusted instructor. I’m indebted to several bonsai teachers; repeatedly, you capture the essence of their practice better than my memory recalls before your refreshment.

    • Jonas Dupuich says

      June 14, 2013 at 7:22 am

      Thanks so much Chris – I really appreciate it! Let me know if you ever have any suggestions.

      Jonas

  2. Juan says

    June 14, 2013 at 8:01 am

    Bueno Jonasito. Musy Bueno!

  3. Mac says

    June 14, 2013 at 8:04 am

    Thank you again Jonas for a clear and easily understandable presentation. I ask again, when is the book coming out?

  4. lartdes4saisons says

    June 14, 2013 at 2:25 pm

    Merci jonas pour ces explcations tres claires.
    Ou est qu’on peut acheter le livre? Merci

    • Jonas Dupuich says

      June 14, 2013 at 2:48 pm

      There’s no book yet, but I am working on it. Not sure what form it will take or when it will come to be, but I will be sure to make note of it when I have something to share. Thanks, Jonas

  5. lartdes4saisons says

    June 14, 2013 at 2:53 pm

    Thanks for your reply and until the book i continue read you.
    Sami

  6. bruwno says

    June 15, 2013 at 6:24 am

    thank you very much for the great information and photos.
    now i can cut candles with less hesitation.
    Bruno

  7. Jon Britt says

    June 15, 2013 at 4:35 pm

    Your posts are great. Do you have a place where they are all located.

    Jon

  8. Jonas Dupuich says

    June 15, 2013 at 10:05 pm

    Hi Jon – the posts are just here on the site right now. When I’m looking for groups of related posts I usually use the search box, the tags, or Google.

    Cheers,
    Jonas

  9. [email protected] says

    June 17, 2013 at 3:39 pm

    Do you have a book out or a place where your e-mails are aggregated? Your postings are gold. The best JBP articles I have seen. I can’t afford Boon but you are the next best thing. Thank you.

    Sent from my iPhone

  10. Jonas Dupuich says

    June 17, 2013 at 11:18 pm

    FYI – here’s a link to all of my posts on decandling (click “Older Posts” when you get to the bottom of the page for more):
    http://bonsaitonight.com/tag/decandling/

    And here are some recent posts in a different format:
    http://pinterest.com/jdupuich/decandling/

  11. Shirley says

    July 4, 2013 at 11:56 pm

    Jonas – do you have any suggestions for Mugo pines? i’ve had bad luck.

    • Jonas Dupuich says

      July 5, 2013 at 12:03 am

      Hi Shirley – I’d treat mugo pine like white pine; Michael Hagedorn has posted some tips here: http://crataegus.com/2012/10/02/what-to-do-with-white-pines-in-the-fall/

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