• 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

Wrapping up decandling season

July 15, 2022 by Jonas Dupuich

I finished decandling my black and red pines about a week ago. And since I’d neglected to pull needles or thin branches last fall, I did that work too.

(If you’re new to decandling, see “Decandling: an in-depth guide” for details.)

Here’s what this work looked like on an 18 year-old pine.

Before decandling

Before decandling

After decandling

After decandling, pruning, and needle-thinning, 11″ (thanks, Max!)

As you can see, over half of the tree’s foliage was removed. For a tree with relatively dense foliage, this is normal. I expect that a few more years of this work and the tree will have a silhouette closer to what I have in mind for it.

Here’s an example of the same work on a much older tree.

Cork-bark black pine

Cork-bark black pine

After decandling

After decandling – 25″

I left more needles on this tree as it grows slowly due to its age and its being a cork-bark pine (cork-bark pines are often less vigorous than non-cork bark pines).

After decandling, I stop fertilizing for one month. In early August, I’ll start fertilizing again and continue applying fertilizer through the end of the growing season.

Wholesale Soil Update

I’ve been able to secure several soil shipments for this summer. The first shipment will arrive in a few weeks with subsequent shipments scheduled for later this month and September.

If you are interested in purchasing 50 bags or more (any combination of soils), visit Wholesale Bonsai Soil for details.​

Orders of fewer than 50 bags may be picked up locally in Northern California or purchased online.

✕

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: Corkbark Black Pine, Decandling

Previous Post: « Bonsai Development Series #27: Focusing growth on the lowest primary branches
Next Post: Suggestions for studying bonsai with exhibit books »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Francisco Del Valle says

    July 16, 2022 at 5:14 am

    Great to see your updates as always Jonás, do you have a follow up on your “ Pinching candles on small exposed root pines”? I started my trip in 2019 and I have a few pines in the same stage as the ones on that post and would like to see where you decided to cut yours.

    Thanks,

    Francisco

    • Jonas Dupuich says

      July 16, 2022 at 11:38 am

      Thanks, Francisco! I cut them way back to the point where there was very little green left. If they grow well over summer I plan to post an update toward the end of the growing season.

      • Francisco A Del Valle says

        July 16, 2022 at 2:09 pm

        Thanks, Jonas I will look forward to your update as always.

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