Thread: Long internodes
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Old 30-Apr-2006   #6
md4958
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Join Date: Mar-2006
Location: Enfield, Connecticut
Country: USA
Posts: 321
Quote:
Originally Posted by TBlake84
MD4958 -

So my method of pinching right now is appropriate for shortening the internodes? Or am I doing it at the wrong time? I wasn't planning on pruning until autumn if at all. I just have the tree in a large pot right now to grow out the roots and trunk. But while that was happening, I wanted to work on the internodes. Am I doing it right?

Blake,

well...yes and no.

I commend you for trying to thicken up your trunk, but unfortunately you cant really thicken your trunk and ramify at the same time.

by pinching the leaves you are basically stunting the growth of that branch...it stimulates back budding, but if you want to thicken you trunk you should not restrict the growth of the branch at all.

basically you should first thicken the trunk...let the branches grow like crazy, espically the leader (the strong growing top branch) the longer this gets the better as it will rapidly thicken the trunk (at least rapid in the bonsai sense).

Please read Brents excellent article http://www.evergreengardenworks.com/trunks.htm on trunk thickeng...while youre there check out some of his other excellent articles. Brent says it better than I ever could, so I will deferr to him.

best of luck!
Moe
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