# Colorado Spruce Backbudding **URL:** \ **Category:** Horticulture\ **Created:** [May 14, 2024, 5:13pm UTC](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/t/colorado-spruce-backbudding/11724 "2024-05-14T17:13:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![csal9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@csal9](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/u/csal9)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2024, 5:13pm UTC](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/t/colorado-spruce-backbudding/11724/1 "2024-05-14T17:13:49Z")
Hello everyone! I recently styled a Colorado spruce and am now seeking advice on techniques, fertilization, and nutrition to promote backbudding. Any tips or recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Photo of the tree: ![unnamed (3)](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/uploads/bonsaimirai/original/3X/0/3/03624a0fffe8a98ebb6c36b86f2a9f0496a98fba.jpeg) Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Gandolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/58956e/32.png) [@Gandolf](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/u/Gandolf)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2024, 11:38pm UTC](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/t/colorado-spruce-backbudding/11724/2 "2024-05-15T23:38:32Z")
On my colorado in a grow box I put bio gold heavy dosage in 4 locations. Grow box size is 24"x12"x12. It did take 12 months in the grow box before I saw any heavy bud push and that was just at the tips of shoots. I didnt see buds push from old wood till 24 months. Then I did the secondary styling and now im just going to let it grow un-checked so i can repot next spring. Also I found that any drooping branches were wired at least to a level that the tips were not faving down other wise they dont get buds to push. ---
**Author:** ![csal9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@csal9](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/u/csal9)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2024, 2:13pm UTC](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/t/colorado-spruce-backbudding/11724/3 "2024-05-16T14:13:48Z")
Thanks for the advice, this grow box is pretty much exact size as yours! ---
**Author:** ![Bonsai\_bob](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.bonsaimirai.com/bonsai_bob/32/35621_2.png) [@Bonsai\_bob](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/u/Bonsai_bob)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2024, 12:04am UTC](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/t/colorado-spruce-backbudding/11724/4 "2024-05-22T00:04:24Z")
I pinch to improve ramification and hope for more backbuds. The bear supplies organic fertilizer. 😀 ![101_5469](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/uploads/bonsaimirai/original/3X/f/e/fe7fff7a2159ebdbe7fa27fbd65ce0c9b56999b0.jpeg) You need to let buds develop and drop their caramel colored sheath before pinching. Many years of development to build good roots. My experience is the roots grow slowly. ---
**Author:** ![Bonsai\_bob](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.bonsaimirai.com/bonsai_bob/32/35621_2.png) [@Bonsai\_bob](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/u/Bonsai_bob)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2024, 5:56pm UTC](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/t/colorado-spruce-backbudding/11724/5 "2024-06-03T17:56:55Z")
so the elongating species post flush stream explains the technique to increase backbudding. First 5 minutes is informative. [| Bonsai Mirai Live](https://live.bonsaimirai.com/library/video/elongating-species-post-flush...so) I was wrong to recommend pinching… need to let it grow and harden off before pruning to push energy back into buds. 🤓 ---
**Author:** ![Bonsai\_bob](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.bonsaimirai.com/bonsai_bob/32/35621_2.png) [@Bonsai\_bob](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/u/Bonsai_bob)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2024, 6:50pm UTC](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/t/colorado-spruce-backbudding/11724/6 "2024-06-06T18:50:19Z")
Pinching is only for refinement after you have established pads and apex.