GrimLore
Bonsai Nut alumnus... we miss you
Do not cut off all of the old needles. Cut off all of the upper facing needles and the downward facing needles so all the needles that remaining look like a bow tie.
I Get the bow tie type pruning but I want to grow out from were I started a lot of snake like branching. It is young and using the air hose lined tethers I can do some harsh bends without breaking branches.
I figure if I let any pairs of candles grow AND trim clusters of candles down to two each I can achieve what I want next year, trimming the new growth as you described.
Will it hurt the plant of I do defoliate, or?
Thank you in advance, Vance
Grimmy