Black Cat/White Cat

[Grant Bowie]

I guess the other thing to bear in mind in regards to bonsai techniques in Japan is that Japan has a wide range of climates itself.

We tend to say 'Japanese techniques' but techniques do vary from area to area. Japan's climate ranges from somewhat like siberia in northern Hokkido down to the tropics of Okinawa. I think it is important to understand what area the techniques come from when applying them at home.

For example, Hirotoshi Saitoh cannot grow black pine as far north as his garden is. The black pines of Takamatsu enjoy a milder climate than tokyo, etc, etc.

Very true; good point.

grant

[missybonsai]

I have a "conflicting advice" story that I really need help with!

Ryan Neil in his lectures says that if you want back-budding on black pines, don't de-candle.

Bonsai Tonight says that back-budding is a major reason why we de-candle.

I have a small black pine in development, trying to establish secondary branching. I want to know what to do in spring, de-candle for back-budding, or just leave it alone????
I can't help the feeling that I'm missing something major here? Maybe context? Maybe ryan and bonsai tonight define candles differently? Bonsai tonight specify that de-candling is cutting the shoots with elongated needles. Sorry, new to pines and their techniques, haven't had the chance to apply all the stuff I've read!
Thanks

[Grant Bowie]

I have a "conflicting advice" story that I really need help with!

Ryan Neil in his lectures says that if you want back-budding on black pines, don't de-candle.

Bonsai Tonight says that back-budding is a major reason why we de-candle.

I have a small black pine in development, trying to establish secondary branching. I want to know what to do in spring, de-candle for back-budding, or just leave it alone????
I can't help the feeling that I'm missing something major here? Maybe context? Maybe ryan and bonsai tonight define candles differently? Bonsai tonight specify that de-candling is cutting the shoots with elongated needles. Sorry, new to pines and their techniques, haven't had the chance to apply all the stuff I've read!
Thanks

Certainly if you de candle when the tree is healthy you get buds at the tips of the branches; I suppose this is not strictly back budding; so it may be context or terminology.

To get the tree strong to allow for back budding you don't decandle.

[missybonsai]

Thanks Grant! Just clarifying, are you saying I shouldn't de-candle my pine this year?

[Grant Bowie]

Thanks Grant! Just clarifying, are you saying I shouldn't de-candle my pine this year?

I think I would rather speak in generalities here as I don't know what you know about pines, how healthy the tree in question is, how old or young and in what stage of development the tree is at.

Decandling, repotting, defoliating of any trees are all stressful procedures and if the tree is in poor health you would not do it. If the tree is healthy you can if you choose to.

Decandling is mostly to allow a second set of needles to emerge in the one season and be smaller than those in the first flush in spring.. Back budding is a bonus of this procedure but you can encourage back budding with other techniques as well if you can't or don't decandle this year.

Pines seem complex to start with but all trees are trees and there are truisms with them all.

Please persevere and have fun with them.

Grant

[Sean M]

So we're up to the beige cat now?

[missybonsai]

Thanks Grant! Just clarifying, are you saying I shouldn't de-candle my pine this year?

I think I would rather speak in generalities here as I don't know what you know about pines, how healthy the tree in question is, how old or young and in what stage of development the tree is at.

Decandling, repotting, defoliating of any trees are all stressful procedures and if the tree is in poor health you would not do it. If the tree is healthy you can if you choose to.

Decandling is mostly to allow a second set of needles to emerge in the one season and be smaller than those in the first flush in spring.. Back budding is a bonus of this procedure but you can encourage back budding with other techniques as well if you can't or don't decandle this year.

Pines seem complex to start with but all trees are trees and there are truisms with them all.

Please persevere and have fun with them.

Grant

Thanks for that info Grant, this is helping My tree probably isn't vigorous enough for a stressful procedure like de-candling then. I'm wondering if you could please write about these other techniques for back-budding? A search pretty much only brings up results about de-candling in relation to back-budding.

[Grant Bowie]

I heard Ryan speak in Canberra and all the info he gave was correct.

The only time he said about not decandling pines to get back budding was in the case of so called single flush pines(Mugo and Scotts pine).

There is lots of info out there already and I would follow Ryans advice; as long as you are correctly hearing what he is saying and talking about.

Grant