Bonsai Styles - Learn These Essential Tips

Bonsai Styles - Learn These Essential Tips

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Many different varieties of trees can be used for bonsai styles. Some excellent varieties are discussed here.

Miniature Forest
A miniature forest of Yeddo spruce (Picea jezoensis) may be created from one tree. The trunk of a young, well-branched tree is laid horizontally under the soil of the container. The bases of the branches are covered and their upper parts projected above the soil. In the course of years, roots come out from many parts of the buried trunk, and each branch becomes just like an independent trunk.

Japanese Zelkova
Japanese zelkova is a great variety to train as a bonsai. The roots will spread on the surface, the same as in giant old trees; also the branches will grow obliquely upward, as they do in old trees in nature. It is good taste to train the bonsai tree to be a model of the natural tree.

Pinching. As this tree grows well, and dense growth of twigs is much appreciated, repeated pinching of the young growth should not be neglected. If all the leaves are cut off in June, new growth soon appears and becomes dense

Soil. For other bonsai good drainage is essential; but if the soil for Japanese zelkova is too sandy, the branches are likely to die.

Fertilizers that are too strong encourage the growth of too vigorous shoots. Japanese zelkova is naturally a strong grower and so should have only very dilute liquid fertilizer.

Repotting should be done every other year, regardless of the bonsai styles. The tree is taken out of the shallow container; some of the soil is removed from the sides and bottom of the old soil clump, and the roots that are thus exposed are cut off. The tree is then repotted in the container, with new soil to replace what was removed.

The gray-barked elm {Zel-Icova serrata), a native of Japan, makes a shapely dwarfed tree. Exposed roots will suggest that soil erosion has occurred, thus helping to convey the impression of old age.

Japanese-creeper
Boston-ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspi-data) is native to Japan and China. Our autumn tints are due to this ivy in many places, particularly on rocky cliffs, where it spreads thickly and clings firmly by tendrils with adhesive tips. It stands dust and soot well and so will make a good bonsai in the city. Although a climber in nature, it can easily be kept shrubby as wisteria can.

Trident Maple
Maples are much appreciated for their young green foliage, for their autumn color, and in the winter for their well formed delicate branches, branch lets, and trunk.

The trident maple (Acer buergerianum, or A. triftdum) was introduced into Japan from China centuries ago. It is the one most frequently seen as bonsai. Tremendous numbers are grown because it responds well to trimming, has a tendency to form roots on the surface of the soil, produces dense growth with vigorous small neat leaves which are pleasing when young and in autumn colors, and has other virtues. As it grows very vigorously, shooting up quickly here and there, pinching must not be neglected, and continually repeated pinching is necessary, leaving two leaves on each shoot.

On the maple and on some other trees, it is a common and well-worthwhile practice to cut off all the leaves in mid-summer, when young shoots are beginning to harden. If all the leaves are cut off, the tree soon produces new ones, which will show brighter autumn colors than the old ones would.

Trident maple responds well to culture as bonsai and displays good autumn colors.

Repotting. It is important to repot a maple each spring, taking off the old soil carefully and cutting off most of the roots produced in the last year. Thus it will grow nicely, yet remain dwarf, in the same container for years. With the less vigorous maples, the roots are cut less.

Enjoy your bonsai styles!

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