JWP. No "candle" growth. Just needles.

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Rgw66

Seedling
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I have this JWP that seems to not have any "candle" growth, and it has me a little confused. First spring doing bonsai so I am not sure what to look for.

All pictures I have seen of JWP growth show longish (.5"-2") candles with multiple layers of needles that typically need to be pruned to control growth. This tree only seems to have 1-2 laters of growth on very short candles. I am just going to let it grow and not worry about pruning this year, the tree looks very healthy otherwise. Does anyone have an idea as to what may cause this?
 

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It may have to do with either the cultivar
or one being on its own roots.
I have one estimated at 30+ yrs old that is grafted and it is still producing extended candles.
...despite witholding fertiliser till late Summer
and I have to pinch the candles back each Spring.
 
I have two Japanese white pines on their own roots and both consistently produce much larger candles than this, despite having been in energy balancing culture for years. I can’t tell from the photos, but I’m wondering if, if this tree is new to you, the previous owner removed the buds before you acquired it. In my opinion, Pines with little or no candle production in the spring are very weak.
 
Dav4 said:
I have two Japanese white pines on their own roots and both consistently produce much larger candles than this, despite having been in energy balancing culture for years. I can’t tell from the photos, but I’m wondering if, if this tree is new to you, the previous owner removed the buds before you acquired it. In my opinion, Pines with little or no candle production in the spring are very weak.
Click to expand...
Good to know
I have one from Julian Adams thats similar to OPs on its own roots that is 3 inches tall at 5 yrs old. Candles rather non existant. Looks healthy.
 
The new growth looks healthy and so does the growth from last year.
Unless you are trying to grow it taller or wider, i wouldn’t be concerned with a lack of elongating candles in this case
 
Fertilizer heavily in the fall and then again in the spring. And you should see very long candle.
Watch your water though. Can't really tell what soil it is in. But those decorative rocks on top makes me think they are in fairly water retentive medium.
 
Thanks everyone. It was repotted early spring, so it just may not be very strong right now. I didn't really think about how that would affect the buds.

roberthu said:
Fertilizer heavily in the fall and then again in the spring. And you should see very long candle.
Watch your water though. Can't really tell what soil it is in. But those decorative rocks on top makes me think they are in fairly water retentive medium.
Click to expand...
As for soil medium. It's mix of conifer mix (equal parts akadama, pumice, and lava rock) with more lava rock and pumice mixed in. So it is probably 2/5 parts of both pumice and lava rock and 1/5 akadama (maybe even less). The decorative rocks are just on the surface and are, as the name suggests, purely decorative.

Because of the repot/weak roots, it is definitely retaining water a little longer than I'd like, but I am not necessarily worried that right now since we will start getting very hot weather here very soon.
 
Rgw66 said:
Thanks everyone. It was repotted early spring, so it just may not be very strong right now. I didn't really think about how that would affect the buds.


As for soil medium. It's mix of conifer mix (equal parts akadama, pumice, and lava rock) with more lava rock and pumice mixed in. So it is probably 2/5 parts of both pumice and lava rock and 1/5 akadama (maybe even less). The decorative rocks are just on the surface and are, as the name suggests, purely decorative.

Because of the repot/weak roots, it is definitely retaining water a little longer than I'd like, but I am not necessarily worried that right now since we will start getting very hot weather here very soon.
Click to expand...

That soil mix should not be retaining a lot water for a long time. Are you sure the drainage holes are clear and not clogged up?
 
Paradox said:
That soil mix should not be retaining a lot water for a long time. Are you sure the drainage holes are clear and not clogged up?
Click to expand...
"Retain" was probably the wrong word to use. I just meant soil has been staying damp for a few days after watering. Water flows out the bottom of the pot just fine.
 
Rgw66 said:
I have this JWP that seems to not have any "candle" growth, and it has me a little confused. First spring doing bonsai so I am not sure what to look for.

All pictures I have seen of JWP growth show longish (.5"-2") candles with multiple layers of needles that typically need to be pruned to control growth. This tree only seems to have 1-2 laters of growth on very short candles. I am just going to let it grow and not worry about pruning this year, the tree looks very healthy otherwise. Does anyone have an idea as to what may cause this?
Click to expand...
Tree looks great in all ways. It has nice general structure. Perhaps roots are weak or tree recently repotted/not recovered yet? Do beware to not allow soil wetness
 
Rgw66 said:
"Retain" was probably the wrong word to use. I just meant soil has been staying damp for a few days after watering. Water flows out the bottom of the pot just fine.
Click to expand...
Still strange though. My trees in that mix need to be watered every day to every other day after repotting depending on conditions
 
Paradox said:
Still strange though. My trees in that mix need to be watered every day to every other day after repotting depending on conditions
Click to expand...
I will keep monitoring it. I am not too worried about it yet. I don't think there's anything wrong with the soil. Once it starts getting very hot here in a few weeks it's going to be hard to keep up with watering.
 
I took some pictures of my most refined and oldest Japanese white pine. This one is fairly ramified and hasn’t been repotted in a year or two. For what it’s worth, I usually see longer extensions and more vigorous candles during the spring that I perform a repot, as I think the refreshed soil allows for more vigorous roof growth.
IMG_1600.jpegIMG_1601.jpeg
 
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