When to begin ramification on JBP like this one

[thumblessprimate1]

I have a ~6 year old JBP pine in the ground for landscape in the picture. Trunk is about 2 inches now. I've been letting all the little growth at the base grow out to thicken and create taper. I'll be growing more JBP similarly for bonsai, and when they get to this point I have some ideas, but what would the more experienced recommend? I plan to have the trunks double or triple this thickness in some designs. Would you want the branches you want to keep to lignify and to thicken a little before begining ramification?

Note: The pine in the picture is for landscape; the ones I plan for bonsai would not have that large lower branch.

 

[Adair M]

What I see are really, really long "necks" on those shoots. The neck is the portion between where the new candle emerges from last year's growth, and the first needle. That area is barren of buds, so you will never get back budding (side branches) in that area. You don't want to use a branch off the trunk that doesn't have a side branch for 6 inches.

Maybe there's other branches you plan to use, but those don't look suitable to use as primary branches. Maybe if there's a little one mixed in there. Use it, continue to use these big ones as sacrifices.

 

[thumblessprimate1]

Adair, thanks. Here's a few more photos that should reveal more detail. I suppose some of these with needles closer to the trunk could be pruned back in summer for back budding?

 

[Jason_mazzy]

just cut the buds and get the short neck buds and bam problem solved.

 

[Neli]

try to wire the top away so it does not shade the branches you want to ramify. Cut back to old needles near the trunk...You can start ramification now...and cut back now.

 

[thumblessprimate1]

Much appreciated. Will proceed with cutting after work.

 

[thumblessprimate1]

I did some pruning last time. I didn't remove the old needles as suggested, but here's the result. I had a lot of back budding coming out from the fascicles. I actually cut out some of them for light to come through as it got so thick.

In this photo you see the pine from the first post, only it's the other side. I gave it some notches to bend the trunk and just to see how it'll heal up. Also, I'm not sure I'll make a small bonsai, large bonsai, or just a well maintained landscape pine. Either way, this experimental pine gives me feel for what can be done to a young healthy JBP. Also, I get to try to practise the advice of you experienced guys/gals.

 

[Neli]

You said:
Note: The pine in the picture is for landscape; the ones I plan for bonsai would not have that large lower branch.
Those branches are very important to create taper...
I saw the old needles and even some shoots behind the long necks...You did well to cut back...
You can select branches and start ramification, but need to keep a fine balancing act between them and the sacrifices.
Have a look at Brent's evergreengardenworks for that and see this also
http://www.bonsaisite.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=20445

 

[thumblessprimate1]

I'm trying to remember why I said that about the large lower branch at that time as I still have kept that branch there for taper. Perhaps what I meant was that as a smaller bonsai, I would've removed that large branch already as there already is some taper. Anyhow, even for a small bonsai a little more girth down at the base wouldn't hurt.
Thanks Neli!