Bonsai for Beginners
To produce a realistic illusion of a mature tree, look for plants with the following characteristics:
· Small leaves or needles.
· Short inter-nodes, or distances between leaves.
· Attractive bark or roots.
· Branching characteristics for good twig forms.
All parts of the ideal bonsai — trunk, branches, twigs, leaves, flowers, fruits, buds, roots — should be in perfect scale with the size of the tree. Plants used for bonsai should have small leaves, or leaves that become small under bonsai culture. Plants with overly large leaves will look out of proportion if chosen for bonsai. Sycamores and avocados develop leaves that are too large. Certain species of both maple and oak trees usually respond well to bonsai culture and develop leaves that are in proportion.
Plants with small leaves and needles are spruce, pine, zelkova, pomegranate, and certain oaks and maples. Plants chosen for bonsai should have attractive bark, and the trunk must give the illusion of maturity. The trunk must remain in proportion to the entire tree. The trunk should taper gradually toward the top of the tree. Sometimes one or two of the main branches must be shortened to emphasize the vertical line of the trunk and give the trunk a balanced appearance.
To give the appearance of age, the upper one-third of the root structure of a mature bonsai is often exposed. This is especially effective if the roots have good form. Twisted and tangled roots should be straightened before potting or re-potting a tree to achieve an aged appearance.
Plants have a “best profile” just as people do. Decide on the front of the tree at the very beginning, because planting and shaping are done with the front of the tree in mind. However, you may change your ideas about the plants ultimate shape as you clip and prune. The front of the bonsai should offer a good view of the main trunk, which must be clearly visible from the base to the first branch. The branches should look balanced and appear to be floating in space. A bonsai should not have unsightly gaps. Flaws can be spotted by looking down on a bonsai. Upper branches should not overshadow lower branches. Before deciding on the shape of your bonsai, study the tree carefully, and take into account the natural form of the species. You can look at how mature trees of the same kind grow in their natural setting to achieve and impression of age and reality. Decide on the final shape and size of your bonsai before starting. Make a rough sketch of what you wish to create and use it as a guide.
Please go to Essential Bonsai to view beautiful bonsai and where to buy these trees and accessories.
View more articles from INFO LADY
This article is provided by Amazines.com – The ULTIMATE Article Database