- Don't decandle.
- Don't pull needles. If you want to reduce needles, you cut them off very short with scissors.
- Needles only last for two years. Old needles will yellow and turn brown in the fall, and they can be knocked off very easily then.
They grow extremely slowly. Know that when you prune, that foliage you remove may take a decade to grow back. - They are reluctant back budders. Therefore treasure every twig that is close to the trunk.
- They prefer to be kept dryer than Japanese Black Pine.
- Expect to wait about 25 to 30 years for the smooth gray bark to get rough.
So, knowing all that, what do we do?
Since Japanese White Pines are single flush pines, the candles that form in the spring are what we get.
To encourage the tree to grow short needles, have shorter internodes, withhold fertilizer in the spring.
Limit watering, too. Don't let it wilt, but do let the soil get dry between waterings.
Spring Candle Treatment
Only allow two new candles to emerge at a growing tip. Often three will emerge. Reduce to two. Usually, remove the strong center candle.
If you get a few candles that are really strong, break them in half so that they are about the same length as all the others. Do this when the needles start showing. Be sure to leave some needles on the half remaining on the tree.
Summer Regime
Once the needles have hardened off in mid summer, fertilize the tree to build strength for next year's buds, and hopefully backbudding.
Wiring
Wire in the fall, preferably. You can wire once this year's needles have hardened off.
When you wire, wire EVERY twig, out to the tip. (The reason fall is preferred is the old foliage falls off, so it's easier to wire).
Wiring exposes the grey wood to the sun. This will aid in backbudding. They will not back bud if other foliage is shading.
Develop patience.
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