I have a candling calendar question today, June 2. Has anyone in Zone 8b (I live in Dallas TX) started candling their JBP’s yet. This is a question I have pretty much every year around the first of June. Most of the Dallas enthusiasts in Dallas do their candling between June 15-30, sometimes even later. However, for my JBP’s, they always seen to be ready to go by June 1. For example, right now this year’s candles have already begun to harden off. I am afraid that if I wait until the end of the month, summer heat will have a very negative impact on any new growth. The daytime temperatures have been in the 80’s to low 90’s this spring. It was a warmer than normal winter, and so development has been robust in 2025. I have included 3 pics for commentary. I’d be interested in any comments or opinions you might have on this sometimes challenging subject. Pics were taken 4 days ago.
Well I’m not expert but the later in the season the smaller the tree should be. The new candles will have less time to develop. So the average time is probably half way through the month but it is flexible.
Thanks Chris. Since I’ve got several JPB’s all at different stages of candle development, I’ll try candling them over the course of the entire month and see which works best.
Well the timing is really about how large the trees is bigger trees should be done earlier in the month smaller ones later. It’s not about how big the candles are.
I also seem to recall Ryan saying the timing is also about how much growing season is left after decandling which is in line with Chris’ comment.
Here’s a good article from one of the south Florida bonsai clubs, gets pretty specific on handling black pines in that climate. I was looking for an old article from one of the Bonsai today publication but can’t seem to put my hands on it, I’ll keep searching, I saved it somewhere since I am in a similar climate.
I would aim to de-candle as the new needles start hardening off, which sounds like the first weeks of June for your latitude & location. This makes sense because of the spring warmth you mentioned…I don’t think it’s a mistake to try de-candling early June if you’re seeing the needles start to harden off already. But if you de-candle a vigorous tree earlier, that has hardened off, you could expect the second flush to have longer needles/internodes than de-candling an identical tree weeks later.