Selecting bonsai

Press, 26 July 1989, Page 12

Selecting bonsai

By

BERNARD RUMSEY

To establish a bonsai collection, the grower has three sources for obtaining suitable trees. They can be grown from seed, collected from the wild, or purchased from nursery stock. Of these three sources, each one has its own merits. Bonsai trained from seed permits the grower total control over the tree’s training, and with patience very fine bonsai can be produced. Collecting trees from the wild can give the grower virtually “instant” bonsai, but this practice is not for the inexperienced enthusiast. By far the most common and easiest source for both the novice and experienced grower is buying from nursery stock. When choosing suitable plants for bonsai the grower must not only be aware of the five main styles Chokkan, (Formal Upright) Tachiki, (SemiFormal Upright) Shakan, (Slanting) Han-Kengai, (Semi Cascade) Kengai, (Cascade), but also the elements that comprise the making of a notable bonsai. A strong tapering trunk-line and an exposed root system are but two soughtafter features. Chokkan (Formal Upright) style bonsai, with a splayed trunk at the tree’s base, suggest strength and power. As a general guide line the shorter the tapered trunk the better. The lower branches should be strong and healthy. If possible they should be no higher than one third of the intended height of the finished bonsai. Choose a plant with plenty of branches, as this gives the grower more scope in shaping the tree. Leaf size Leaf size in bonsai is important because trees with small leaves look proportionately better than those with large leaves. There are leaf reducing techniques, but for the novice more satisfying results can be obtained in less . time by using smaller leaved tree species. It is better to choose trees that are relatively slow growing such as, rhododendron, totara, zelkova serrata, kowhai, maples, pines, and cedar.

The reason for this is that fast growing species of trees tend to produce long spindly growth. In bonsai this can be difficult to satisfactorily control.

An entire stem with its branches and leaves is called a shoot system. The

point on a stem from which a leaf develops is called a node, and the section of a stem between nodes is called an internode. The angle between a leaf and a stem is called a leaf axil. Lateral buds are usually found within this axil. A bud may be thought of as compact undeveloped branch. So, by using species with short internodes, the bonsai grower is able to train his or her tree so that over the years a very light branch structure will be developed within the bonsai’s crown. Forward movement In order to ascertain potential bonsai from nursery stock, the grower must be able to recognise the future bonsai’s front. There is one guiding rule that bonsai enthusiasts use to overcome this difficulty. The tree, when styled correctly, will be coming forward as if to greet the viewer. This forward movement of the bonsai is one of the golden rules of the art. Heavy pruning of both the trunk and the main branches may have to be employed to create this effect. When selecting bonsai material from nursery stock, carefully examine the plant so that the front can be found.

It is this single factor that can be so confusing for the novice. Every tree is different, each plant presents its own unique set of options. To sum up, choose a plant with a strong trunk-line, numerous branches with healthy foliage, and if possible, a small-leaved, slow-growing species.