• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Bonsai Tonight

An educational website about bonsai development

  • Blog
    • How-to Guides
  • Podcast
  • Shop
    • Bonsai
    • Books
    • Soil
    • Soil (wholesale)
    • Supplies
    • Tools
    • Video Consulting
    • Northern California Bonsai Resources
  • About
    • Workshops

And if I don’t make a square cut?

September 17, 2013 by Jonas Dupuich

I’ve written on a number of occasions, and you’ve doubtless read here and elsewhere, that when decandling black or red pine bonsai it is important to make a square cut (see “Decandling black pine – making the cut”).

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Square cut

Until recently, however, I’d seen little evidence that the long end of a slanted cut inhibits new shoots more than the short end. A test was in order. This past spring I made lots of slanted cuts to see what actually happens.

Don't make angles cuts

Sample angle of slanted cuts

Although the results were mixed, more slanted cuts yielded the expected results than not.

Slanted cuts

New shoot growing on cue at short end of cut

Slanted cuts

Not strong enough to produce a new shoot, decandling here produced a new bud that will open next spring

Of course, there were plenty of exceptions, including some new shoots that popped up in unexpected places.

Slanted cuts

What’s this? Summer growth emerging to the side of the cut

It appears that at best, making a slanted cut yields stronger buds at the short end of the cut, and at worst, the results are totally unpredictable. The simple moral of the story appears to be that we’re better off making square cuts.

✕

Subscribe to Bonsai Tonight

New Posts Delivered Every Tuesday and Friday

Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription.

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

We won't send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time. Powered by ConvertKit

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

Previous Post: « Hinoki air-layer follow-up 1
Next Post: Graft after-care »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Mac says

    September 17, 2013 at 6:17 am

    Good info Jonas. Thanks for the photos and descriptions of the result.

Footer

Follow Bonsai Tonight

Subscribe

Instagram ● Facebook ● Twitter
  • Blog
  • Podcast
  • Shop
  • About

P.O. Box 6560, Alameda, CA 94501 · 510-915-2025 · jonas (at) bonsaitonight (dot) com

© Copyright 2009-2023 Bonsai Tonight · All rights reserved · Privacy · Log in

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. You can opt-out if you wish. Accept Decline Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT