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Reducing branch vigor on black pine bonsai

April 11, 2017 by Jonas Dupuich

Balance is one of the top priorities when developing black pine bonsai. In spring, as new shoots elongate, it often becomes quite apparent which shoots are stronger than others.

Strong shoots near the apex of the tree

Strong shoots on the back of the tree

Although decandling is a very effective technique for balancing vigor on black and red pine bonsai, it’s not the only technique. By reducing the longest spring candles ahead of decandling, I can begin reducing branch vigor today.

This is the one pine technique that doesn’t require tools – I identify strong shoots and break them with my fingers.

Strong shoots

After reducing the growth on a strong shoot

Depending on the strength of the shoot in question, anywhere between 1/3 and 2/3 of the needles on a shoot can be removed.

Do note that the timing of the shoot reduction is flexible. It’s best to do this work when the shoots are even younger, but it’s OK to do it later too. And as new shoots continue to elongate, I’ll continue to reduce the strongest of them throughout spring.

✕

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Filed Under: Bonsai Development Tagged With: Black Pine

Previous Post: « Thinning a cork bark black pine
Next Post: Effect of soil mix on bulb production for Habaneria radiata »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Ed Stanton says

    April 11, 2017 at 6:14 pm

    Jonas, do you use the same technique on Japanese Red Pines?

    • Jonas Dupuich says

      April 11, 2017 at 6:17 pm

      Hi Ed – yes, this technique applies to Japanese red pines too. Thanks for asking!

  2. Alessandro says

    April 18, 2017 at 1:19 pm

    Hi Jonas! The same for white pine? Or they are “different”?
    Thank you, Alessandro.

    • Jonas Dupuich says

      April 18, 2017 at 1:28 pm

      Hi Alessandro – yes, you can do this to white pines too.

  3. Larry Smart says

    April 24, 2017 at 7:52 am

    Jonas,
    I have heard that you should not decandle a black pine until the trunk has reached the desired size. Is that correct?
    Larry

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