It’s been three weeks since I decandled some of my 9 year-old black pines. Although the weather has been cool, the summer shoots are growing well.
9 year-old black pine after decandling – 6/30/13
3 weeks later – 7/21/13
Back side
The new growth is strongest where I shortened some of the larger branches.
Lots of new buds
Adventitious buds are popping up in areas where one year’s growth ends and another year’s begins.
Adventitious buds
Some of the buds that set in spring have opened and are continuing to grow.
Spring buds growing in summer
A variety of buds
It’s especially nice to see new buds developing close to the trunk. I’ll likely use some of these in the final design.
Future branches
A number of the young trees I decandled at the same time have responded the same way.
9 year-old black pine – 4/1/13
After decandling – 6/30/13
3 weeks later – 7/21/13
Spring shoots opening in summer
Adventitious buds
Same branch looking toward the trunk
Nothing to do at this point but watch the trees grow – I’ll start adding fertilizer in another week.
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Patricia Tatich says
July 23, 2013 at 7:58 amThank you for your consistent posting of detailed photos and displaying them in a series…very helpful to building an understanding of budding and the growth of pines. Two questions…what fertilizer are you using in the tea bags? and where do you purchase the strainer-pots?
Jonas Dupuich says
July 23, 2013 at 9:45 amHi Patricia – you can search for fertilizer for info on the tea bags: http://bonsaitonight.com/?s=fertilizer. As for the colanders, I’ve bought them online and at local grocery stores.
Paul says
July 23, 2013 at 3:15 pmJonas, my black pines that I decandled in the manner you suggested are looking exactly the same. That’s great. The technique really works well. However, I noted that you have shortened the old remaining needles. When did you do that and why? Will you ever remove these needles completely or wit until they fall off naturally? If so, when? I assume that you leave the old needles for a continued drawing of energy to the new forming needle buds. Is that correct? Also, when do you begin removing the unwanted newly formed buds? Paul
Jonas Dupuich says
July 23, 2013 at 3:43 pmHi Paul – good question. I cut needles when I want buds in the area but not foliage. Leaving needles gives the option of needle buds where adventitious buds might not otherwise form. The photos here aren’t a great example of why I’d want to do that, however. Cutback-decandling (http://bonsaitonight.com/2012/06/22/a-cutback-decandling-technique/) is one reason to keep old needles around – I’ll share other examples as I come across them. I don’t know that the timing of the cutting makes much difference – I usually cut needles whenever I’m working on that area of the tree, typically during fall, winter or early spring. They’ll fall off (or I’ll pluck them) this fall/winter.
I typically don’t remove unwanted buds during summer – I’ll say more about this before long.
Thanks,
Jonas
Juan says
July 24, 2013 at 8:55 amWe were blessed with seven 90+ degree days in a row, buds everywhere on the decandled pines. Juan