malhomme

Mushashi,

Disclaimer: the technique and timing depends a lot on what stage your pine is in. What I am describing below is the method I use for developed trees that are showable or close to it. Different metods are used on trees that are still in the rough.

I am breaking my candles now on my JBP's (Zone 8b). They are shohin and have been in training for a long time so the vigor is balanced throughout each tree. Therefore each candle is small and they are uniformily the same size.











Some time after the needles harden-off I will cut just below the needles formed by this Springs candles. There is a gap between last years growth and the growth from this Springs candles-- cut here. The timing varies, but I usually do this in mid-June. From this cut, new candles will form and hopefully you will have encouraged some back budding. These candles will form the needles and branches that you keep/train until next year.

There's so much more to this and there is no "one way". But this is the way I was taught and it has worked very well for me.

HTH,
Jim