Kusamura Bonsai Club
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From Santy Planting's Presentation at the June 2001 Meeting |
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This is the time to cut back candles on all Pines and pinch back all Junipers. Different kinds of pines are handled differently, so it's important to properly identify the kind of pine you are working on. Black pines have hard, sharp needles, two needles in a sheath. On our website you'll find a description of the traditional three step method of cutting candles. This technique required cutting back the smaller candles, waiting ten days to cut back the medium sized candles, and then after ten more days cutting the largest candles. The goal of this three-step process is to give the smallest candles time to begin growing again before the medium and larger candles, thus evening out the size of the new growth. New Technique. The new technique requires only one step but yields the same results. Now we cut all the candles back at one time but, the length of the stub varies based on the size of the candle. That is, the stub should be as long as the diameter of the candle being cut. Longer stubs will die back slower than the less vigorous (smaller diameter) candles. This means that the buds on the smaller candles will start pushing sooner and so the size of the new growth will be the more nearly balanced. The time to cut back is as soon as the candle is open and all the needles are distinct. Once they are open, you will have about 3 weeks to complete your pruning. It's important that your scissors should be extra sharp for a clean cut. Also, make sure that you make your cuts perpendicular -- cutting a candle on a slant means the dormant buds at the base will get an uneven start. Sandy suggested adding Osmocote 14-14-14 fertilizer to pines after decandling. For a 1 gallon size plant she suggests 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon.
Cork-barked Black Pine is a variety of Black Pine that has thick corky bark formed in vertical wing shapes. If healthy, break new candles in early spring, or cut back to secondary branches. Don't cut back the roots when repotting.
White Pines have five needles per sheath and are usually softer than black or red pines. Break (or cut) candles before needles show in early spring, or cut back to secondary branches. To break, grasp the candle firmly with one hand so you fingers are at the point where you would normally cut. Now grasp the top part of the candle to be removed with your other hand and simply snap the top part off.
Swiss Mountain Pine (aka Mugo Pine) These pines have two firm, dark green needles per sheath. Sandy talked about removing the third year's needles. That is, needles that were new three years before. By removing the yellowing needles she's opening up the interior of the tree and allowing more sun inside. This means that buds inside are more likely to develop. Mugo pines are very vigorous so they make very good bonsai. There are many different varieties, including dwarf ones. Break vigorous candles or cut back to secondary branches or buds.
Scotch Pines can be identified by their blue-green needles, two per sheath, and often with flaking orange bark. This tree will develop short needles after only a few years, faster than many other kinds of pines. Generally this pine prefers full sun, as do all others except white pines. Head back to secondary branches or buds.
Bristle Cone Pines can be identified by the specks of white pitch scattered all over the needles. Now is the time to cut the candles in half. (Sandy showed a branch that had died -- probably because of lack of sun because she failed to rotate the plant from time to time.) Bristle Cones typically grow well one year and not much the alternate year. Cut back only strong leaders. Break candles or cut to secondary branch.
Monterey Pines can be identified by their two-needle clumps and soft green needles. Keep heading branches back. These pines like to be pruned. Sandy showed us a group of 15-year old Monterey Pines with good bark growing in a gallon can. Because she wanted to turn this grouping into a shohin, she cut off all of this year's growth. This will encourage new growth from the latent buds.
Blue Spruce In May or early June it's time to pinch the new growth back to half size. This species likes full sun.
Junipers should be kept under control by pinching. They can be shaped, trimmed, and even repotted almost any time, as long as they are healthy.
Hinoki Cypress These trees need partial shade or they will burn. Now is the time to cut back the long straggling branches and pinch back half of each fan to shape. Roots on hinoki don't develop very fast, so shouldn't be root pruned very often. Sandy recommends repotting no more than every 5 years, sometimes even less often. |
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Sandy Planting on Pine
Candling
