Cutting Pine Needles

[clem]

That is correct, if this technique is used it is done right before the show. If you are really concerned about the aesthetic you should delve into the techniques of needle reduction on Black Pines, that way you can have really nice Black Pines with really nice short needles, Yes there are ways to do this.

If you have tips, it would be great to post them here

 

[M. Frary]

If you have tips, it would be great to post them here

They're already here.
@Adair M has posted them here repeatedly.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

Hello Friends, I was wondering why no-one ever suggests cutting the pine needles half way through to make the needle size shorter and in a desired proportion. If one can cut branches and roots, why not leaf, particularly the Pines which are just plain easy to trim.

Aside from the aesthetics, when you are cutting needles you are weakening the tree without creating ramification, short internode length, and naturally occurring short needles - which is what the end goal in developing black pine bonsai is all about. You are giving your bonsai a short-term change in appearance without changing the development of the tree.

 

[clem]

They're already here.
@Adair M has posted them here repeatedly.

Believe it or not, i knew that i would have no answer

 

[Adair M]

Sometimes a highly refined tree will backbud, and the you have let them grow out. So, they will make long needles. If the tree is going to be shown, the morning of the show, you can cut the needles and the tips won’t brown until after the show. Especially if you mist them. Use very sharp scissors. Also, you can cut them at an angle, to put a pointed end on them. Another tip is to cut them a little shorter than the uncut needles, so they can hide in the shadow of the uncut needles.

 

[clem]

Sometimes a highly refined tree will backbud, and the you have let them grow out. So, they will make long needles. If the tree is going to be shown, the morning of the show, you can cut the needles and the tips won’t brown until after the show. Especially if you mist them. Use very sharp scissors. Also, you can cut them at an angle, to put a pointed end on them. Another tip is to cut them a little shorter than the uncut needles, so they can hide in the shadow of the uncut needles.

Thanks for the tips

 

[Adair M]

Believe it or not, i knew that i would have no answer

???

To get short needles, decandle the JBP in mid summer.

Whether or not you should be doing this technique is worthy of a separate thread.

 

[Bananaman]

???

To get short needles, decandle the JBP in mid summer.

Whether or not you should be doing this technique is worthy of a separate thread.

This is a separate thread. It’s title is “ cutting pine needles” how separate can one get?

 

[Bonsai Nut]

This is a separate thread. It’s title is “ cutting pine needles” how separate can one get?

I think @Adair M was referring to "whether or not you should be decandling your black and red pines". You don't automatically want to do it - it depends on the strength and maturity of the tree, and how far you are in your design.

 

[Bananaman]

???

To get short needles, decandle the JBP in mid summer.

Whether or not you should be doing this technique is worthy of a separate thread.

I think @Adair M was referring to "whether or not you should be decandling your black and red pines". You don't automatically want to do it - it depends on the strength and maturity of the tree, and how far you are in your design.

You are correct. My apoligies.

 

[MichaelS]

I cut pine needles all the time. But not to show the tree with even needles, more to retrain vigour to individual shoots when training the tree. I find it better than pulling off too many needles trying to achieve the same thing.

 

[clem]

i add a link to a French apprentice who learn in Japan. He says that trimming black pine (or red pine) needles is done not only in an aesthetic purpose, but ALSO to control the vigor of the branches

it's in French language but you can translate it with Google and also see the pictures : before/after.

https://bonsaiaujapon.wordpress.com/2017/02/25/la-taille-des-aiguilles-des-pins-noirs-et-rouges/

 

[clem]

Hi, here is another example of JBP needle cut, with the Bonsai instructor Naoki Maeoka : One pic from the link here : http://www.espritsdegoshin.fr/forum-bonsai/topic.html?id=14686

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Hi, here is another example of JBP needle cut, with the Bonsai instructor Naoki Maeoka : One pic from the link here : http://www.espritsdegoshin.fr/forum-bonsai/topic.html?id=14686

Notice how it’s still in a training pot. Naoki’s teacher studied under Fujikawa with my teacher. I don’t cut needles.

 

[clem]

Ok, but this simple pic show that Japanese profesionnals sometimes do it, the same in Urushibata's garden. I was surprised by the answers on this topic, like if the question was stupid or insane, so I wanted to show that it isn't so stupid (or impossibble) to cut red/black pine needles, it is done by Japanese masters, on shohin to balance the tree, and sometimes during expositions.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Lots of ways to skin a cat. Some aren’t pretty.

 

[M. Frary]

Lots of ways to skin a cat. Some aren’t pretty.

Some are pretty brutal.

 

[clem]

on n'apprend pas à un âne à boire. et c'est celui qui le dit qui y'est !

enfin, qui vivra verra après tout...

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

on n'apprend pas à un âne à boire. et c'est celui qui le dit qui y'est !

enfin, qui vivra verra après tout...

En anglais pour tous les autres:
“You don't teach a donkey to drink. And it's the one who says it is!

Finally, who will live will see after all..”

Must be lost in translation. Regardless, I have no further need to discuss cutting needles with you. I don’t do it.
Au revior.

 

[clem]

au revoir alors.

black pine before, in urushibata' s place :


black pine after :


detail : some needles have been cut the year before :