Should literati JBP candles be cut shorter?

[Srt8madness]

Happy early birthday! I thought you were literally half that old!

 

[River's Edge]

At 83 (on Tuesday) "multi year" is probably not in the game.

I understand. Stopped planting seeds in the hundreds several years ago. Age is one of the reasons I am now so fussy about what I spend my time on. Happy Birthday.

 

[Shibui]

At 83 (on Tuesday) "multi year" is probably not in the game.

Never give up.
You may not see the final bonsai from some of these trees but you can still have a red hot go at getting it as far as you can. Even if you don't see the final results, someone else will thank you for your efforts.
Unfortunately there's not many shortcuts in bonsai. Trees still stick to the yearly growing cycles no matter how much we wish it was different.

 

[NMbonsai]

From my perspective " decandling" will primarily change the existing foliage on the ends of the branches. I would focus on pruning for back budding to condense and compact the selected branches for design development. Leaving the decandling for later in the design development stage. The larger potting situation will aid health and vigour, which will aid response to pruning for back budding. Plenty of time to reduce needle length after more shoots have been developed. the increase in shoots will distribute energy and naturally begin to reduce needle length as well.
Grow out, gain vigour, cut back beyond apical candles into existing needles for stronger bud back response. Also wire down and open with existing shoots to improve response.

Can one use this procedure of cutting back into existing needles to produce back budding on single flush pines as well? I know that the decandling procedure is different on single flush pines.

 

[River's Edge]

Can one use this procedure of cutting back into existing needles to produce back budding on single flush pines as well?

That is part of the process. But to be clear we are talking about existing healthy needles further back on the main branch or side shoots, not existing needles on new candles. Letting the branch extend, gain extra vigor and then cutting back.
The other parts involve, making sure areas are thinned out to prevent shading of the areas you desire back budding as well as wiring out and positioning branches downward to limit the effect of auxins. Appropriate care routines of water and fertilizer to maintain vigorous health.