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Simon: Pine candle and needle cutting techniques require a very healthy tree to recover from the stress that these techniques can cause. It also requires some time. Also these techniques will differ depending on the stage that your tree is at.

For exact times and correct cuttings I would reserch the magazine Bonsai Today or other written material. For me I will cut candles in Feburary and then recut to specific buds in April. I will allow these candles to open there needles for the summer and in August and September remove venture buds that are too vigerous and needel prune to cause the tree to back bud for spring. The results of this work should be buds/candles the diameter of 1mm instead of the diameter of a pincel. The needles should shorten to about 1 1/2 inches when they are fully extended in the fall. The tree will be at its peak when the needles have extended out about 1 inch.

When you combine these techniques with proper wiring you will get the wonderful pads that you see on show trees and in photos. You can do these techniques for two years in a row then rest your tree for a year and start again. With selective pruning needle pruning and wiring you can greatly increase the ramification of your black pines. I will say again that first is health and vigor, with out it you are just harming your tree.
I really do suggest that you do the research and find more precise information.

Hope that this helps

17-Sep-2002	#18
ripsgreentree bonsaiTALK Master Chief Join Date: Sep-2001 Location: Fresno, CA Country: U.S.A USDA Zone: 9 AHS Heat Zone: ? Posts: 1,260	Simon: Pine candle and needle cutting techniques require a very healthy tree to recover from the stress that these techniques can cause. It also requires some time. Also these techniques will differ depending on the stage that your tree is at. For exact times and correct cuttings I would reserch the magazine Bonsai Today or other written material. For me I will cut candles in Feburary and then recut to specific buds in April. I will allow these candles to open there needles for the summer and in August and September remove venture buds that are too vigerous and needel prune to cause the tree to back bud for spring. The results of this work should be buds/candles the diameter of 1mm instead of the diameter of a pincel. The needles should shorten to about 1 1/2 inches when they are fully extended in the fall. The tree will be at its peak when the needles have extended out about 1 inch. When you combine these techniques with proper wiring you will get the wonderful pads that you see on show trees and in photos. You can do these techniques for two years in a row then rest your tree for a year and start again. With selective pruning needle pruning and wiring you can greatly increase the ramification of your black pines. I will say again that first is health and vigor, with out it you are just harming your tree. I really do suggest that you do the research and find more precise information. Hope that this helps __________________ ripsgreentree It requires an open hand to give and to recieve.