Cork or peely bark JBP?

[MrFancyPlants]

I did repot this, but apparently updated a separate thread.. I believe I did a HBR, but need to look for the details to see when I should go back and do the other half.
I cut the apical sacrifice over the winter and fortunately the lower sacrifices are gaining steam to help with the taper.

Edit:last repotted (HBR) in August 2018.maybe I’ll do the other half this year.

 

[MrFancyPlants]

Getting ready for some strong growth this year. I still have three sacrifice on. I think I wasn’t to go sumo with this one. I may plant in a few young specimen (from @cmeg1 ) into the same flat.

 

[MrFancyPlants]

The sacrifices are doing their job.. nice taper and thickness to the trunk.

 

[MrFancyPlants]

I know it is late for de-candling, but showing very strong growth all around, especially in the sacrifice branches. Can I cut into the future tree to bring the growth back in some?
I was thinking if I cut the inside back hard now, I would get some back budding for spring growth. Then I could decandle next year to start working on ramification.
I have three sacrifice going a the moment and will likely start removing one every other winter or so.
Taper is developing nicely.

 

[MrFancyPlants]

Thickening up well. How thick should I target before I sacrifice the sacrifice?

 

[JesusFreak]

I’m no expert but I think you’re there. Looks good

 

[Potawatomi13]

How big trunk is desired? Not before then.

 

[MrFancyPlants]

How big trunk is desired? Not before then.

That’s just it.. I’m not really sure what I am headed for. I think I’ll really get some puff down low if I give it another year or two, but then it will be more time to taper it in with the trunk.

 

[JesusFreak]

I understand that inverse taper isn’t natural and it’s ugly. But if you look at pine trees in nature they don’t taper like more bonsai artist desire. So go with what looks best to you

 

[MrFancyPlants]

I understand that inverse taper isn’t natural and it’s ugly. But if you look at pine trees in nature they don’t taper like more bonsai artist desire. So go with what looks best to you

Good point.. And I do enjoy a good “naturalistic” bonsai. However, this being my only JBP with any development, so far, I’ll admit that I am targeting a tree that screams “JBP bonsai”, rather than one that says “I’m an actual tree on the mountain.” I think the base may already be disproportionately thick for a real tree.
I do appreciate the input

cheers,
MFP

 

[MrFancyPlants]

I’ve decided the bottom sacrifice will go this winter, and I’ll take another hack at the roots next growing season.

 

[MrFancyPlants]

If I’m going to take the large sacrifice off this winter and “repot” back into the flat next growing season, should I do any bud selection or de-candling on the future tree this season?

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

If I’m going to take the large sacrifice off this winter and “repot” back into the flat next growing season, should I do any bud selection or de-candling on the future tree this season?

Yes, decandle final branches this summer. I would also not chop back the large sacrifice branch in the dead of winter. I have lost JBP this way, and have better results chopping sacrifice trunks this large in late spring and early fall.

 

[MrFancyPlants]

Yes, decandle final branches this summer. I would also not chop back the large sacrifice branch in the dead of winter. I have lost JBP this way, and have better results chopping sacrifice trunks this large in late spring and early fall.

It sounds like good advice to me, I’ll chop the sacrifice early this fall instead of winter. Would you recommend saving the root work for next growing season anyways?
I’ve been waiting to de-candle a JBP for years, but have never gotten to that point. I’ll have to study up to see when the locals do it around here. Do I do bifurcation trimming, while retaining a few more future sacrifice, before or after the de-candling?
I’ll study up on Duplich’s blog.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Would you recommend saving the root work for next growing season anyways?
Do I do bifurcation trimming, while retaining a few more future sacrifice, before or after the de-candling?

If you’re chopping it this fall, you can repot it in the spring.
Second question is unclear, but candle-cutting is removing all of this year’s candles. That’s what you’ll do with the final branches this summer. Branch pruning is in the late fall, after the trunk chop.

 

[MrFancyPlants]

If you’re chopping it this fall, you can repot it in the spring.
Second question is unclear, but candle-cutting is removing all of this year’s candles. That’s what you’ll do with the final branches this summer. Branch pruning is in the late fall, after the trunk chop.

After reading through Dupuich’s blog some he recommends June 15 for decandling if I am not sure when for my area. Do you think moving it up a couple weeks might be a good idea (to this weekend), might be a bit more appropriately conservative since I have multiple sacrifice running at full steam?
And thanks for clarifying that the pruning comes later in the season.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

After reading through Dupuich’s blog some he recommends June 15 for decandling if I am not sure when for my area. Do you think moving it up a couple weeks might be a good idea (to this weekend), might be a bit more appropriately conservative since I have multiple sacrifice running at full steam?
And thanks for clarifying that the pruning comes later in the season.

My recommendation is to count backwards 100 days from your first frost date, and that is when you summer candle-cut. Your call how to proceed, but it’s easy to get confused if you try to amalgamate multiple recommendations. Pick someone who has trees you admire and do what they do. Eventually your trees will begin to look like theirs.

 

[MrFancyPlants]

July 17 according to the farmer almanac. Does that sound right for around DC? Any DC area nuts who could weigh in on ideal de-candling time for JBP?

 

[MrFancyPlants]

Looking good after the decandling I think. When should I plan on chopping the sacrifice, and picking buds for bifurcation


thank you!

 

[MrFancyPlants]

I was going to give the sacrifice just a bit more time to help heal the trimming of the escape roots, but the wind kept knocking over the Anderson flat.. an unexpected problem.
There are some lower branches on the back, but the subtle movement in the top section seems to have grown straight. I give it a chance to try to leverage the top sacrifice into a twisty movement for the top, but likely to chop it down.