New JBP Owner - Can I Tackle the Top Whorl Now?

[Firstflush]

Picked up this today. Can I tackle the top whorls now? Would you remove all the elongated candles now and leave the smaller stubbies? Are the overly long candles from the spring flush unopened as compared to the small ones which were the second late summer flush?

The JBP is new to me. Thanks.

 

[MrWunderful]

The extended candles are next years new needles. Not sure where you live, but if it was decandled this years second flush should already have needles out.

There is a ton of good free information on the Internet about developing JBP Bonsai. Check bonsaitonight.com

The short answer is the best time to cut back jbp is around october/ november (depending on location) or late june/july

 

[Firstflush]

Thanks. Nursery stock so likely no candle work. Located in Orange County, CA.

 

[Potawatomi13]

Cut off above 3rd branch. Trunk too straight/boring above that.

 

[Shibui]

OK. You can tackle whorls whenever you choose. JBP can be pruned pretty much all year round.
The real question is whether you should tackle the whorl at all.
What is your plan? I think that whorl is too far gone to use in any bonsai. I would be looking for the tree somewhere below that level in which case that top section, whorl and all can be considered a sacrifice branch and will help thicken the trunk.

If you want to grow JBP successfully you really need to do some research and understand how they grow and the various methods used to manage growth at different stages of development. Most of what I have seen written (and regurgitated without any real understanding) is the techniques for managing older established trees. Development techniques can be quite different.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

First, trace a trunk line. Use trunk and primary branches to obtain a trunk line with some movement and taper.
Second, identify which branches should be part of the final design.
Third, determine which parts need to be thickened through the use of sacrifice branches.
Fourth, prune it back to leave only final branches, and sacrifice branches.

A couple articles to demonstrate the process:

Sacrifice branches, black pine

Last week we looked at chopping back deciduous trees in the ground to create taper and movement. This week, we will take a look at the same technique, but on a black pine…where the method is …

nebaribonsai.wordpress.com

Sacrifice branches, black pine Part 2

Back in March we looked at using sacrifice branches to develop a JBP in the ground. Today, let’s revisit the same JBP and look at how to develop the “final” branches while it&#821…

nebaribonsai.wordpress.com

Here is another example, where the 4 steps above are pretty clearly demonstrated:

 

[Firstflush]

Thanks folks. Read like a crazy person last night.
I’m sure you guys get tired of answering common questions regularly.

 

[0soyoung]

 

[Clicio]

Thanks folks. Read like a crazy person last night.
I’m sure you guys get tired of answering common questions regularly.

When we answer, we learn too.