Very useful video thank you, I happen to be doing exactly the same thing today to reduce the needles on my black pine,to the non bonsai person they would look at the end result and think we have ruined the trees but you have to be ruthless or as you say the tree will get away from you and be difficult to bring back to a credible bonsai. So thank you once again for the videos you do.
Dr Chang please on a chalk board, what is a candle 9long and short). What is a needle long and short. Where to cut a branch and how many needles to leave behind, one two or ……. How much is too much? Thank you for your time. Experts think we beginners No every thing, we don’t.
New growth from a pine starts off as a candle, and then it breaks out into needles along the candle. The trick to produce short and uniform needles is to cut off candles on a pine tree all at one and to about the same length, and do so once or twice a year. Do not do that too often to slow down the growth of the tree; do so after the tree gains some size.
I hear so much about the best time to repot a mugo pine in England . I have always potted mine in early spring to avoid damage during the harsh winter conditions. I heard they can loose vigour if potted in late Sumer season. My trees have shown no bad results so maybe keep doing that practice of early spring reports on mugos 🪴 Kind Regards Shaun
So I know it's not a traditional bonsai material but I'd love to see you stye a Norfolk pine. It's been a good challenge for me. I have a 3 trunk Norfolk pine that I wired and pruned and they are doing good and 2 that I trunk chopped back to about 7 inches and they are have finally back budded. I'm looking for inspiration on how to style them since there are very few videos on them.
Hi there! Norfolk pine is NOT a pine! I am not sure it is suitable for bonsai given the size of the leaves. We use it for Christmas tree sometimes. Please keep us informed of your progress with it!
I have a longleaf pine tree ( Im in Alabama, they are everywhere) in my yard that ive been cutting short, knee height (about 12 months now). When do you know the tree is old enough, with roots big enough, to pull it out of the ground to start the bonsai process? Can one make a longleaf pine into a bonsai? I just discovered you today. I LOVE your content!!
Thanks! Why look for challenges unnecessarily…I recommend you start with traditional material that has proven to work well. You may save the pine but waste a lot of years to go nowhere.
Great wisdom and beautiful trees as usual Dr. Chang. 2 questions. 1) it looks like your cuts are being made at the base of candles / shoots. Can you recommend cutting anywhere along the branch between needles (above and below the cut) say if you wish to extend the branch length? 2) You said you do this twice per year. Is the first time like now in August (I’m in So. CA), or earlier in the year, and when is the second time? Thank you
Keen observation! You are right, cut the candle to the length to change the design. In my case, the trees are mature, so I am not looking to make substantial dimensional change…thus at the bottom of the candles. You can cut again again at any time…so long as the candle reaches certain lengths and you cut them all so the needles emerge uniformly. Two to three times a year is about right. The pines I cut several weeks ago are full of new small candles growths!
@@bonsaiheirloom Thank you. I appreciate you responding so quickly. Yes, most of my trees are in development. 2-5 yrs old. I have a few a bit older but they are also in development. The previous owner recently cut off the sacrificial apex. The new apex and most branches below are cut back with newer shoots on each of those trees. One is in plate development but they cut all candles before I bought it this year. So I have a lot to learn. Thanks again.
Was fortunate to purchase a 30+ year old shohin cork bark that is amazing. Is it customary to shorten the needles (not talking about the full candles) for a bonsai show? Mine has since flushed out a set of newer longer needles beyond the show cut and am thinking of removing the shortened ones but should I wait for spring so i don't weaken the tree?
I generally shorten when the needles finished developing and cutting all of the branches (with the needles) to about the sam length and wait for them to bud out where you cut (as usual, leave green needles below where you cut) and wait for them to be done growing. Cut again to shape…about twice a year… just about any time when the branch is done growing.
The tip of a needle turns brown when you cut… So that is natural. New candle will come out of branch where you cut…and the original long needles the branch can be pulled off to show off the new growth. Thanks for watching my videos!
Thank you for the video. I have been thinking about getting a Mikawa JBP. I like the shorter needles. Do people have to trim the needles themselves? Or, does pruning the tree help promote shorter needles? Thank you in advance!
No double increasing branching will reduce leaf size (Like elm)....For pines, you can get uniformly short needles by clipping candles when they finish developing into needles. Cut off at the same time to gain uniformity. The tree would have uniformly short needles after several times.
Good morning! Sir, can you share with us what is the fertilerzer or kind of fertilizer to be use . The problem of my japanese pine is the growth of his leaves in not good.
Any fertilizer is fine…use less than indicated by the instructions to avoid overfertilizing. Lack of vigor is an indication of a bigger problem. Check soil and also make sure the tree gets sunlight. Best wishes!
Any time of the year. Summer time is sprouting and growing rapidly. In winter, you can see where you are going better when there is no leave. Never fear about making mistakes…unless you make drastic moves, the tree will never stand out. Branch grows rapidly when it is healthy.
I have two japanese black pine starters and I have read about pruning them but some people make it so complicated I'm kind of scared to do anything. It's almost December, is it the right time of year for me to trim?
Cutting branches to shape can be done at any time of the year. Now is a good time. Always cut to leave needles below to avoid killing a branch. Start with a spare branch to experiment…and you will soon see it is no different from any tree. Best of luck!
On the cork bark pine, why are you SHOWING US the bad way of cutting the needles? When showing us the first time do it the right way slowly and with a close up. Like in a Engineering presentation slide. Every slide has too be complete, meaning the slide leaves no questions. I was a hired gun for the Spacecraft industry when companies could not deliver a mechanism.
