Hello. I am very new to bonsai. Just a few motley specimens so far.
I have held off asking this question because I thought I should put a lot of reading first instead of asking a thousand questions but I can't find the answer.
I have a nursery bought Cypress / Chamaecyparis Obtusa 'nana gracilis', not yet made into a bonsai. In Colin Lewis's book, 'Bonsai Basics' it says that if you pinch the leaves too far back they will go brown. I seem to remember reading somewhere else that this can actually lead to die-back but I can't remember if this is true.
I have seen these bonsai trees with beautifully managed foliage pads. My question is, how is it possible to shape the leaves radically when the leaves are damaged by pinching back too far?
Thanks in advance for any advice.

I am sorry that is a very basic question. That probably should have gone in the Help me section for beginners. It was my first post.

Ask away. I'm waiting for an answer on your good question also. There are a lot of knowledgeable people on this forum. Welcome by the way.

I too an curios, as I bought a small Hinoki Cypress this spring and some of the foliage went a little brown on the tips while we learned about each other.
I saw a video last week or so where the guy who was working with a Juniper suggested twisting the scales of the Juniper with just your finger tips to avoid subsequent browning when fine pruning for pad shape. I've thought of trying this, but grad school is currently kicking my butt so I haven't had the chance to try it.

how is it possible to shape the leaves radically when the leaves are damaged by pinching back too far?

The answer seems simple:
If leaves are damaged by pinching back too far, don't pinch back too far.
But yeah, it can be a confusing subject:
bonsaibark.com/2012/09/01/pinch-dont-pinch/

:ohmy: enjoy

Sekka Hinoki

crataegus.com/2012/08/26/how-to-pinch-junipers

I read this article recently. Just passing it along for your consideration.

Thank you everyone who replied to my post. I have been very slow at responding because I was unwell yesterday and did not go online at all. I have looked at a lot of the answers. Some really helpful stuff there and i have learned a lot, but I am still a little confused and worried about damaging the tree. The video in Orlando's reply illustrates the problem I have. The man in the video takes a very fluffy uneven tree and when he is finished the 'leaves' are very much more even in length. So he must have removed a lot of material, but where is it OK to cut? and where isn't it OK to cut? Things are implied, but the whole picture is not spelled out.
On my plant I see four things:
1. A brown trunk
2. Branches with light green/beige scales on them: Possibly potential new shoots?
3. Also on these branches: Green structures (leaves) dividing many times
4.Fresh lighter green tips.
Are the light green/beige scales on the branch all potential new shoots?
Can I cut where the green structures divide? Or is this the same as pinching back way too far?
Or, (This is my best guess) if a structure is longer than the others do I cut it off right down to the branch, wait for a brand new structure to grow from one of the buds, then be careful to keep it at the same length as the rest of the growth?
You were all so generous I am still picking through all of your answers. I am sorry if the answer to this is hidden in there somewhere. It's hard to see where and why each cut happens on the videos. I have a neurological condition which makes taking in information difficult so please don't get annoyed if you feel that you have answered this question. That said, I have learned a lot from your replies so far.
Thanks again.

Good and not so easy questions.
Do not take my answers for granted, do more research.
Junipers do loose needles. Typically these are the 3 or 4 year old needles, but this varies per spedcies; read more about the life cycle here:
awaytogarden.com/when-inner-conifer-need...urn-yellow-or-brown/

Hinoki Juniper will not bud back on old wood, so you must make sure you always leave foliage on a branch that you want to keep.

Pinch only the fresh new growth (the foliage tips). Do NOT completely remove all the new growth - it will weaken the tree.
If you need to remove a long shoot, use scissors and cut it off at the base.

And do research. There are many good resources, giving you more and better information, from people that have experience with hinoki cypress.


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