I like to update this one every summer and every winter (if I can get to it). Remember, candle-cutting JBP with 100 days left in the growing season produces a second flush of growth, with more buds (ramification), and shorter needles, due to the shortened growing season.
July 10, before
Starting at the top, remove this season’s candles:
Middle section complete; leaving longer stubs on the stronger shoots. Look at these like fuses on a firecracker, the longer the fuse, the takes to go!
All of this year’s candles removed:
Pruned heavy areas, and thinned the needles down to 10 or so pairs of needles per shoot.
Want to see how this tree got from a nursery can to antique Chinese container in 10 years, in a flip-book format, with step-by step, cause-effect photos? Check out the book:Developing Japanese Black Pine Bonsai…by yours truly.
2007:
2017:
Bindi Bonsai 