Page 51 - Tạp chí bonsai cây cảnh BCI 2013Q3

Larch can live up to 800 years or more, as in the case of
the age-old larches in South Tyrol in St. Gertrude, Ul-
timo, Italy. In this place, there are three gigantic larch
specimens, one of which has a trunk circumference of
more than 8m and a height of over 34m, a true millen-
nial giant, a heritage to humanity.
The larch as bonsai
All these features combine to make the larch particu-
larly suitable shaping bonsai. Its great aesthetic value,
as an ornamental plant in gardens or in Alpine foresta-
tion, makes the larch, from the point of view of bonsai,
a unique tree because it combines two characters: the
great beauty of deciduous trees that changes with the
seasons and the vintage look of a primeval conifer.
The choice of the starting material to be styled as bon-
sai falls predominantly to older specimens. Both cul-
tivars and those collected in the wild have bark more
suitable to express the nature of the tree in its adult
stage, the point at which the larch makes the most
of its great aesthetic potential. Adult plants result in
interesting and believable larch bonsai.
As I have said many times in my articles, the observa-
tion of nature is essential to perceive every little detail
to be improved in the process of shaping a bonsai tree.
Due to larch having characteristics of conifers and
deciduous trees, its shaping, must include techniques
adapted to the shaping of conifers and those suitable
to shaping deciduous trees, applying them correctly at
the right time and in respect to the tree’s spirit.
The first styling of the starting material involves
the study of the tree and recognizing its strengths.
Also, assess accurately the future development in ac-
cordance with the nature and characteristics of the
species. This first step can take a very long time, it is
important not to make fatal errors (especially for wild
plants). If you do not have a clear idea, I suggest you
wait and not rush and assess the tree at different times,
or even wait for the natural evolution that sometimes
offers unpredictable solutions. Often we observe trees Even when considering that this species is highly tol- Larix decidua bonsai in autumn
in the wrong context: Haste caused by our need to erant to bonsai techniques, it will be necessary to ob- dress
market, show or exhibit the tree. serve a period of rest for the larch after the first styling.
A design can be of help: A simple sketch, as the great I recommend at least two years, during which time we
master John Yoshio Naka used to do, or with the aid of must provide care with appropriate fertilization and
modern techniques, using design software dedicated refrain from any other type of intervention to help it
to prepare a photomontage of the plant in its various recover from the trauma of the first shaping.
stages of development—less attractive and intuitive Having outlined the structure of our larch, we can
than the drawings of the great John, but effective. proceed to refining, keeping with bonsai techniques
Choosing the optimal solution for the tree and picking suitable for deciduous trees, mainly with pinching
the best time to do the work (you can experiencing and pruning of the secondary branches which must
good results during the quiet time of autumn and win- be compact and close to the trunk primary branches.
ter), you can style it according to how established it is, The goal is to obtain a secondary branching, short,
using techniques for conifers: wire, bending of trunks, dense and rich in brachyblasts.
controlled breaks and creating deadwood depending To compact the primary branching, it is generally
on the type of work that will be necessary, taking care pruned at the second to third internode to reduce
to protect the precious bark at the points of highest the overall length of the branch. Successively, in the
stress by wrapping with raffia before wiring. next growing season, we are going to increase the

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