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Soldano666

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If this was my tree I would first remove all of the needles that point straight up, except for a few at the very tip of the branch for appearances sake. Once you do this lets take a look at your options. We will probably proceede by removing the straight downward pointing needles. The idea is to reveal the interior of the tree to your inspection and more importantly exposure to light which will stimulate budding. It is best to use scissors. You need to do this now. Refer back to the bow tie effect. You have to leave needles growing to the sides, this is where you hope to get back budding. Interfoliar buds will break more predictably if you have needles in those locations where you want buds.

Now we wait for opportunities to wire the tree and the time to decandle/shoot the tree. We are in all probabilities talking mid summer sometime around the Solstice.

Have you noticed that the promenence of the knuckle is becommine smaller?
Vance would you recommend this needle removal now (spring) or better yet (as candles are extending) for trees that were cut back and repotted last summer and have plans on being cut back again this summer?
 

Vance Wood

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I would imagine this would improve back budding where we want it after we cut the new extensions once they've hardened off
That's the idea if I understand your reply. Start removing needles as long as you follow my description above bottom and top needles only right"?
 

Soldano666

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I think I did alright, some of the really bushy stuff was full of new growth and I tried to be extra careful. Should I do the cutback when the new stuff hardens off? Also, I'm guessing I should wait till next summer to repot.

View attachment 144772 View attachment 144773
Hell's yeah grant. Yes wait for mid summer for repot and cutback. If I understand correctly
 

Vance Wood

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I think I did alright, some of the really bushy stuff was full of new growth and I tried to be extra careful. Should I do the cutback when the new stuff hardens off? Also, I'm guessing I should wait till next summer to repot.

View attachment 144772 View attachment 144773
Why do you think you need to repot thia tree right now??
 

Grant Hamby

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Why do you think you need to repot thia tree right now??

I don't think that.

The tree has never had root work, I just slip potted it into the basket last year. I figured it would be good to work them a little eventually but I know it's better to repot them in the summer. I also figured this summer would be way too soon. Just wondering what your thoughts were.
 

Vance Wood

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I don't think that.

The tree has never had root work, I just slip potted it into the basket last year. I figured it would be good to work them a little eventually but I know it's better to repot them in the summer. I also figured this summer would be way too soon. Just wondering what your thoughts were.
Didn't you just say you are looking to repot next summer? Even the following Summer may not be necessary considering the kind of pot you have the tree planted in.
 

Grant Hamby

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Didn't you just say you are looking to repot next summer? Even the following Summer may not be necessary considering the kind of pot you have the tree planted in.

I don't know how often these need root work, but I was just assuming I should at least wait another year before messing with them. If I'm good to leave it for a while that sounds great!
 

Vance Wood

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I don't know how often these need root work, but I was just assuming I should at least wait another year before messing with them. If I'm good to leave it for a while that sounds great!
Small young tree. It could go for another two maybe three years. They can go a long time between repotting but at this stage you need to work on the roots as well.
 

Grant Hamby

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Small young tree. It could go for another two maybe three years. They can go a long time between repotting but at this stage you need to work on the roots as well.

Do you mean I need to work on the roots at the current stage or in the future when I repot? I don't really know how to work on the roots without repotting if that's what you mean.
 

Vance Wood

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The obvious is true, to work on the roots it is done at the same time as repotting. This can wait a year or two there is no reason to stress yourself out about it at this point.
 

Grant Hamby

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The obvious is true, to work on the roots it is done at the same time as repotting. This can wait a year or two there is no reason to stress yourself out about it at this point.

Okay sounds good, thanks! I figured that's what you meant, but I'm only 2 years deep into bonsai so I didn't want to assume anything, haha. Should I still plan on doing the summer cutback, though?
 

Leo in N E Illinois

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Next mugo on the train.... Cutback and some wire last summer, a lil more to go this summer. And maybe I'll slip pot it into a pond basket. View attachment 144854 View attachment 144855

If it were mine, I would not slip pot it now. I would wait until after summer solstice and then do a real repot, complete with root work, moving it into the pond basket. That way roots can be corrected, sent on the right path, and then won't need more work for 2 to 4 or so years. If you only slip pot, the need to get started on root work will still be there, delaying the eventual move to a bonsai pot.

I am not sure how aggressive you should be with shoot removal if you do root work, but skipping shoot removal only looses one season, versus skipping root work which will delay root development by at least two years. If tree shows good vigor, you should be able to do something with shoots or bud selection or wiring this year.

Nice tree, I like it.
 
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Soldano666

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If it were mine, I would not slip pot it now. I would wait until after summer solstice and then do a real repot, complete with root work, moving it into the pond basket. That way roots can be corrected, sent on the right path, and then won't need more work for 2 to 4 or so years. If you only slip pot, the need to get started on root work will still be there, delaying the eventual move to a bonsai pot.

I am not sure how aggressive you should be with shoot removal if you do root work, but skipping shoot removal only looses one season, versus skipping root work which will delay root development by at least two years. If tree shows good vigor, you should be able to do something with shoots or bud selection or wiring this year.

Nice tree, I like it.
Roger that leo. Good plan
 
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