How to prune new shoots on a pine bonsai? Practical pruning tips to share

Every year in April and May, pines produce many new shoots, and a single branch will sprout a varying number of so-called candle wicks. How should you prune to maintain its perfect form?

Pines are all fairly similar; in the pictures, Japanese black pine is used as an example to explain how to prune the new shoots of pines.

Our pruning principle is that no matter how many new shoots there are, keep only two. In this way, one becomes two, two become four, and the branches and foliage grow denser and denser. After pruning several times, you can get very beautiful deer-antler branches. The second principle is to remove the strongest and the weakest, so that the two remaining new shoots are balanced in strength.

Usually the new shoots fall into the following situations.

1. Strong in the middle, weak on the sides

No need to say much, just cut off the strongest one in the middle.

2. Two upward ones are stronger, one downward one is weaker

Naturally, remove the weaker downward one.

3. One up and one down are balanced, the others are weaker or stronger

Keep one up and one down. As for the growth direction, you can wait until they grow out and then wrap them with aluminum wire to adjust.

4. One left and one right are relatively balanced, one downward one is stronger

Remove the stronger downward one.

5. The three are about the same, but not equally compact

The one removed should be the one that leaves the largest space.

6. Multiple shoots, varying in strength

Divide by area: in the middle area, the middle section of the crown, remove the strongest and the weakest, and keep two medium shoots.

At the top of the crown, keep two weak shoots.

At the bottom of the crown, keep two strong shoots.

7. Very many shoots

Handle it about the same as situation 6.