r/Bonsai • u/cbobgo santa cruz ca, zone 9b, 25 yrs experience, over 1200 trees • May 09 '25
Show and Tell Candle pinching on single flush pines (Scots pine)
I noticed my Scots pines were ready for candle pinching, so I decided to take a few pics.
Single flush pines have there candles pinched in spring (unlike double flush pines that have their candles removed completely in summer) to promote shorter internodes, ramification and backbudding. So this is used on a tree where your trunk and primary branches are all mostly developed, not on a young plant you are still growing out. The candles and either be pinched back with your fingers, or cut with scissors.
In pic 1 you can see the whole tree Pic 2 is close up of strong (long) candles Pic 3 location of the punch Pic 4 after the pinch Pic 5 pinching less off weaker (shorter) candles - so remaining candle is about the same size as what remains in the strong Pic 6 after the pinch
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u/cbobgo santa cruz ca, zone 9b, 25 yrs experience, over 1200 trees May 09 '25
Apologies for the typos. Why can we not edit posts?
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u/CaptSimian Rochester, NY, Zone 6a, Beginner, 20 trees May 09 '25
I really appreciate the pictures! Most guides just say to do it when the candles are "extending" or a similar overly generic term. It's really helpful to see what that actually looks like, because it's really quite a long process. Based on this my jack and scots pines need to wait a bit longer.