Getting the timing right when decandling is as much art as science – or so it can seem. While it can be tough to determine the ideal time to decandle a tree upfront, in hindsight it’s usually pretty clear what went right or wrong (see When to Decandle for details).
When the proper time to decandle has come and gone, the options are to put off decandling until the following year or to decandle late and see what happens. As I’m often busy during decandling season, it’s not uncommon for me to decandle pines on the late side, and this year I was more behind than usual. For most of the trees that missed the cutoff, I left the spring growth alone. For a few others, however, I decandled late to see what would happen.
In general, I can decandle healthy young pines in mid-June.
Decandled 6/22
Summer growth – 10/29
In some cases, I was able to postpone decandling without many consequences. I decandled the pine below two weeks later on July 7.
Decandled 7/6
Summer growth – 10/29
Possibly giving the tree an extra reason to push, I removed a large, cascading branch when I decandled. The remaining stub is now covered with small buds.
Dense growth
With other trees I was less lucky. I decandled the pine below around the same time as the tree above.
Summer growth – 10/29
As you can see, no summer shoots appeared. This case is a bit different from the trees above in that it has several large escape branches.
Escape branches
Typically, trees with escape branches aren’t decandled as escape branches are designed to encourage vigorous growth and decandling aims to slow down growth. The tree above is a poster child for not decandling trees with escape branches.
Where does the energy that drives summer growth go in these cases? Often it’s diverted into the escape branches.
Decandled July 7
Summer growth – 10/29
Instead of producing summer shoots where I decandled, the tree produced summer shoots on the escape branch. The branches I cut, meanwhile, set plenty of buds for next year.
Little summer growth
Healthy buds for next year
Of course, I decandled the above pine on the late side – July 7. I decandled a similar pine with a large escape branch that is twice its age – 20 years old instead of 10 years old – a month earlier. This tree came out fine.
Decandled June 7
Summer growth – 10/29
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nyfan1967 says
Hi Jonas, I am just starting out with Japanese Black pine and I have no idea what decandling is. I have one specimen that looks like he’s going to be a great bonsai however, I have no idea what to do with it. Can you offer any help? Thanks, Clyde
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Jonas Dupuich says
Hi Clyde – For a primer on decandling, check out http://bonsaitonight.com/2013/05/28/what-is-decandling/ and http://bonsaitonight.com/tag/decandling/
As for next steps for your pine, I’d suggest posting pics at a forum like Bonsai Study Group or reddit/bonsai and soliciting suggestions. Will see about a space for that here soon.
Stu says
Thanks. What species and cultivars are these?
Jonas Dupuich says
Hi Stu – these are all straight pinus thunbergii.
J.G. says
Hi Jonas,
I have a tree similar to your “unlucky tree” example with escape branches flourishing and minimal summer shoot development. What do you intend to do for recovery and the future of this tree? I was tempted to cut off the sacrifice branches but wondered if there were alternatives.
Jonas Dupuich says
Hi J.G. – great question. Because the buds are healthy I don’t need to do anything extraordinary. The next decision point will come in May. If the tree is strong enough to decandle I’ll do so – if not, I’ll let the tree grow freely for the whole year. If the lower branches were very weak and it was important to save them, then I’d consider removing the escape branch.
Hope this helps!