We’ll do this by selecting material with good characteristics for bonsai and by establishing attractive surface roots. The goal of the first phase of development is to make sure we’re investing in the right material. Chapter 1: Preparing trees for development The approach is also simple in that it allows us to focus on one development goal at a time. The main benefit of this approach is that it lets us develop high quality trees in as little time as possible. This brings us to a contemporary approach in which we tailor our efforts in each phase of development to enhance trees’ beauty and minimize flaws as they arise. In some cases, decades may pass before a tree takes on the form of a mature bonsai, and it’s nearly impossible to develop large trunks when trees grow slowly in small containers. The problem with this approach is the time it takes to make compelling bonsai. This approach requires no special development techniques and it has the added benefit that the trees look good as they develop. Young trees are planted in small containers and treated like mature bonsai. This results in trees that vary in quality from grower to grower and from tree to tree within a grower’s collection.Ī third approach has been common among hobbyists since the beginning. When these growers aim for high production numbers, there isn’t always time to prepare young trees for rapid growth, to shape the trunks while they are in the ground, or to address structural concerns when they arise. These growers focus on rapid trunk development by growing trees in the ground and leaving branch development to the hobbyists. This process yields trees that have consistent quality but lack the character we look for in pre-bonsai.Ī second approach is followed by many growers who produce trees for the bonsai community. Sometimes these trees are shaped by wire or pruning to distinguish them from common nursery plants, but they are generally left to grow freely in the pot. Most of North America’s bonsai stock comes from the retail nursery industry. To save you from making the same mistakes, I’ve outlined some best practices that can serve as a guide for what to do along the way.Ĭommon approaches to developing bonsai stockĬhapter 1: Preparing trees for developmentġ.2 Establishing attractive surface rootsĢ.1 Establish an attractive shape for the trunkĢ.2 Creating attractive taper in the trunkĢ.3 Rapidly increase trunk size with sacrifice branchesģ.2 Species-specific techniques for reducing vigor I’ve been growing bonsai from seed for over 25 years and have learned more ways not to grow beautiful bonsai than I care to admit. Some care along the way, it turns out, is required to ensure young trees take the shape we have in mind for them. If you’ve tried this approach, you might have found that things don’t always go smoothly. It would be nice if we could create beautiful bonsai by starting trees from seed or cutting and simply waiting for them to mature.
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