How to Make A Bonsai Tree

Guest Blogger — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 04:26:15 +0000

Image by OpenEye via Flickr

People are usually fascinated when they see bonsai trees for the first time. Some think that the trees are special dwarf varieties and that is why the trees are so small. But bonsai trees are made from standard varieties of tree.

For those who would like to learn how to make a bonsai tree there are many questions. But take heart, with the right guidance it is possible to acquire all the skills and knowledge necessary to grow beautiful bonsai trees. The techniques needed are similar to those used in general horticulture.

Here are 6 methods to acquire a bonsai tree.

1. Buy a ready-made bonsai. Many stores sell what they describe as ‘bonsai trees’ but you should think twice before buying from a supermarket or garage. These are often not bonsai trees at all.

If you want a good specimen you should go to a specialist nursery. These bonsai trees can be expensive due to transport costs and the length of time taken to grow the tree but it will be well worth the investment.

2. Buy garden centre stock. There is a huge choice of deciduous and coniferous trees available at reasonable prices. There are a few things you should check before buying.

Make sure that the tree is healthy and that it has good potential for a bonsai – examine the surface roots, trunk and branches. For the impatient types it is possible to transform garden stock to the beginnings of a bonsai in a few hours!

3. Grow from cuttings. The advantage to this method is that the tree will look exactly like the parent plant. The right time to take cuttings will depend on the nature of the cutting (softwood, hardwood or root) and you should ensure that you carry out this work in the right season.

4. Grow from seed. This method requires patience – some seeds e.g. hawthorn can take 2 years to germinate! And after germination it will take a long time before the tree is ready to be styled as a bonsai.

5. Collect from the wild. Trees collected from the wild are called yamadori. You will need the permission of the landowner before you take this approach but remember that in some areas it is forbidden to collect trees. Once collected, trees will need to be left for some time before starting as bonsai.

6. Air layering. This is a more advanced technique and requires some skill so may not be ideal for those starting out in bonsai. Air layering is a relatively quick method of growing a bonsai tree as you can use a mature branch as a basis for the new tree.

Some of the bark is cut away and covered in sphagnum moss to encourage the growth of roots. Once these are established the branch is cut away and then forms the trunk of a new bonsai tree.

So these are 6 methods to make a bonsai tree. Decide which one you want to use and then have a go!

Ruth Morgan is the author of Beautiful bonsai Secrets – a step by step guide to growing and developing beautiful bonsai trees. To claim your free preview of Beautiful bonsai Secrets go to www.beautifulbonsaisecrets.com today.
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12 Bonsai Basic Styles

Bonsai Dreams — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 20:48:26 +0000

Image via Wikipedia Zelkova serrata, favored for Broom style.

Bonsai, as a Japanese art form, is more regulated than itís Chinese counterpart, the penjing. bonsai attempts to achieve the ideal tree, while penjing attempts to reproduce nature. This is why perfect styling exists in bonsai if you obey the ërulesí, while penjing leave you free to your creation. As a result these are the basic styles :

Broom (Hokidachi or Hoki-zukuri)

A very harmonious style, this form has branches that develop at a certain height, forming an upside broom. This styling is mainly achieved through a technique called the ìVî cut. The trunk is chopped where you want the branch to start to develop and then a deep V cut is performed on the remaining trunk. This will induce buds to break near the cut. Zelkova serrata are notorious for this styling but maple and other deciduous species can easily be styled that way.

Formal Upright (Chokkan)

A tree styled the ìchokkanî way has a straight trunk tapering graciously from bottom to top. The first and biggest branch is often situated at 1/3 of the desired height of the tree and is on the right or the left. The following branch is situated on the opposite side, while the third is in the back creating the perception depth. As we look at the branch structure from bottom to top, the branches are getting thinner, creating a pyramidal shape.

Informal Upright (Moyogi)

This style is very similar to the previously mentionned style as the same rules of design apply, however, the trunk is not straight but rather forms a sinuous shape while remaining tapered. This style is commonly used with conifers.

Slanting (Shakan)

Once again, this style is the same as the formal upright except that the trunk is leaning on one side. Branches are grown uniformly on the trunk like the formal/informal upright styles but the apex is tilted to the opposite side of the trunk giving a visual balanced effect.

Cascade (Kengai)

This styling requires an inclined trunk that is preferably at a 45 degree angle. The major portion of the foliage is below the pot line and sometimes goes beyond the pot itself. It often represents a tree growing on the side of cliff. A deep pot is used for this style.

Semi-cascade (Han-Kengai)

Similar to the Kengai style, this style also has an inclinated trunk. However, the foliage remains at the height of the pot line. In nature, we can see this style near a waterway, the foliage having grown on the side and leaning towards the water. While the cascade style uses a deeper pot, this style uses a medium depth pot.

Windswept (Fukinagashi)

A ìwindsweptî tree represents a tree that has been growing in a certain shape due to natural elements . Often caused by strong wind, the trunk is always inclinated in a certain direction and all branches have grown on the same side.

Literati (Bunjin)

This styling is often represented in Japanese paintings. It is a tree with a tall and sinuous trunk. The foliage only grows near the summit of the tree. This styling is somewhat an exception to the rigorous rules of bonsai because it does not have specific rules. It represents what the bunjin movement is in Japan: the search for liberty.

Group/Forest (Yose-ue)

This styling often represents a forest or a small cluster of trees. It is supposed to be styled in a way that will clearly represent the growing habits of trees in a group. Many techinques can be used to achieve this styling and many perception techniques are used to create the illusion of a forest, or as Naka would say, ìhaving the quality of the invisible beauty of natureî. To respect the Japanese art form, an odd number of trees is prefered for this styling.

Raft (Ikadabuki)

The same rules of the group planting apply to this style. However, all of the trunks emerge from one common trunk. This technique is often achieved with a branch placed verticaly in the soil. The roots form this branch and the upper part of the vertical branch develop secondary branches that will eventually become the trunks.

Multi-trunk Style (Sokan – Sankan)

This multi-trunk style has different possibilities. The first, which is called ìSokanî, consists of two trunks emerging from the same visible roots (nebari). The styling of the upper part of the tree must respect the same rules as the formal / informal upright styles previously described. Another variance consists of the same but with three trunks emerging from the visible roots. This is called ìSankanî. You can also have more than three trunks but to respect Japanese bonsai, it is prefered to have an odd number of trunks.

Roots Over Rock (Ishitsuki)

This styling has the specific charactreristics of having many visible roots growing over a rock and finding their way to the pot/soil.

Patrick from

http://www.mishobonsai.com

Bonsai, as a Japanese art form, is more regulated than itís Chinese counterpart, the penjing. Bonsai attempts to achieve the ideal tree, while penjing attempts to reproduce nature.

This is why perfect styling exists in bonsai if you obey the rules, while penjing leaves you free to your creation.

As a result these are the basic styles :

Broom (Hokidachi or Hoki-zukuri)

A very harmonious style, this form has branches that develop at a certain height, forming an upside broom. This styling is mainly achieved through a technique called the ìVî cut.

The trunk is chopped where you want the branch to start to develop and then a deep V cut is performed on the remaining trunk. This will induce buds to break near the cut. Zelkova serrata are notorious for this styling but maple and other deciduous species can easily be styled that way.

Formal Upright (Chokkan)

The following branch is situated on the opposite side, while the third is in the back creating the perception depth. As we look at the branch structure from bottom to top, the branches are getting thinner, creating a pyramidal shape.

Informal Upright (Moyogi)

This style is very similar to the previously mentionned style as the same rules of design apply. However, the trunk is not straight but rather forms a sinuous shape while remaining tapered. This style is commonly used with conifers.

Slanting (Shakan)

Cascade (Kengai)

Semicascade (Han-Kengai)

Like the kengai style, this style also has an inclinated trunk. However, the foliage remains at the height of the pot line.

In nature, we can see this style near a waterway, the foliage having grown on the side and leaning towards the water. While the cascade style uses a deeper pot, this style uses a medium depth pot.

Windswept (Fukinagashi)

A windswept tree represents a tree that has been growing in a certain shape due to natural elements. Often caused by strong wind, the trunk is always inclinated in a certain direction and all branches have grown on the same side.

Literati (Bunjin)

This styling is often represented in Japanese paintings. It is a tree with a tall and sinuous trunk. The foliage only grows near the summit of the tree.

This styling is somewhat an exception to the rigorous rules of bonsai because it does not have specific rules. It represents what the bunjin movement is in Japan: the search for liberty.

Group/Forest (Yose-ue)

This styling often represents a forest or a small cluster of trees. It is supposed to be styled in a way that will clearly represent the growing habits of trees in a group.

Many techinques can be used to achieve this styling, and many perception techniques are used to create the illusion of a forest, or as Naka would say, “having the quality of the invisible beauty of nature.”

To respect the Japanese art form, an odd number of trees is prefered for this styling.

Raft (Ikadabuki)

The same rules of the group planting apply to this style. However, all of the trunks emerge from one common trunk. This technique is often achieved with a branch placed verticaly in the soil.

The roots from this branch and the upper part of the vertical branch develop secondary branches that will eventually become the trunks.

Multitrunk Style (Sokan – Sankan)

This multi-trunk style has different possibilities.The first, which is called sokan, consists of two trunks emerging from the same visible roots (nebari). The styling of the upper part of the tree must respect the same rules as the formal/informal upright styles previously described.

Another variance consists of the same but with three trunks emerging from the visible roots. This is called sankan. You can also have more than three trunks, but to respect Japanese bonsai, it is prefered to have an odd number of trunks.

Roots Over Rock (Ishitsuki)

This styling has the specific charactreristics of having many visible roots growing over a rock and finding their way to the pot/soil.

Shohin bonsai – Big Deal About Small Trees (matsubonsai.com)

Bonsai Dreams » Grow from Seed

How to Make A Bonsai Tree

12 Bonsai Basic Styles

Broom (Hokidachi or Hoki-zukuri)

Formal Upright (Chokkan)

Informal Upright (Moyogi)

Slanting (Shakan)

Cascade (Kengai)

Semicascade (Han-Kengai)

Windswept (Fukinagashi)

Literati (Bunjin)

Group/Forest (Yose-ue)

Raft (Ikadabuki)

Multitrunk Style (Sokan – Sankan)

Roots Over Rock (Ishitsuki)

Patrick from http://www.mishobonsai.com

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