Page 52 - Tạp chí bonsai cây cảnh BCI 2013Q3

as this is possible without risking the health or life of
our bonsai. If reducing the pot size is not possible, we
accept the larger pot without too much trouble and
consider this a characteristic of our bonsai and not
a defect.
The choice of the pot, from the aesthetic point of view,
will follow the rules suggested by the style in which the
bonsai was shaped, but above all will have to harmo-
nize with the character of the larch giving naturalness
to the whole pot-tree combination. The color of light
or dark leather harmonizes well with the bark of the
larch, but also gray in different shades can be a good
solution. The pot can appear in classic forms or with
innovative and sophisticated forms for that specific
subject. Much will depend on the taste of the artist,
who, having overcome the rules, will be able to find
an appropriate solution in form and color to his or her
beautiful bonsai larch.
As we have seen, the larch is a species with exceptional
features for styling as bonsai and my advice to anyone
in the appropriate environment for the cultivation of
this conifer is, try one. In all likelihood, there will be
great and lasting satisfaction for you as it has been
for me.

The Larches

Eurasian
Northern, short-bracteates
Larix decidua, (syn. L. europaea), European Larch. Mountains of
central Europe.
Larix sukaczewii, Russian Larch. Russia west of Ural Mountains.
Larix sibirica, Siberian Larch. Plains of western Siberia.
Larix gmelinii, (syn. L. dahurica), Dahurian Larch. Plains of
central Siberia.
Larix cajanderi, Plains of eastern Siberia.
Larix decidua bonsai in branching density by pinching the new twigs issued Larix kaempferi, (syn. L. leptolepis) Japanese Larch. Mountains
summer dress from the primary branch at the bud’s opening, when of central Japan.
the branch is still green, keeping 2–3 cm of grown. Larix principis-rupprechtii, Prince Rupprecht’s Larch. Mountains
of northern China (Shanxi, Hebei).
This process will facilitate the production of new buds Southern, long-bracteates
on the branch in parts that were free, essentially a re-
treat of the buds, which will lead to further compac- Larix potaninii, Chinese Larch. Mountains of southwestern
China (Sichuan, northern Yunnan).
tion of branching. These new buds, in turn, generate
new brachyblasts, which will form the secondary Larix himalaica, Langtang Larch. Mountains of central Hima-
layas.
branching. Pinching and pruning operations will be Larix mastersiana, Masters’ Larch. Mountains of western China.
repeated until you get the right and natural balance Larix speciosa, Yunnan Larch. Mountains of southwest China
between crown, trunk and branches. (southwest Yunnan), northeast Burma.
After obtaining the foliage balance necessary for our Larix griffithii, (syn. L. griffithiana), Himalayan Larch. Mountains
larch, we can proceed to move it from cultivation pot of eastern Himalaya
to bonsai pot, taking care to respect its roots and its North American
important mycorrhizae. It is a good rule, in the trans- Larix laricina, Tamarack, Larch or American Larch. Parts of
fer from cultivation pot to bonsai pot, to choose the Alaska and throughout Canada and the northern United States
bonsai pot without following aesthetic rules regarding from the eastern Rocky Mountains to the Atlantic shore.
the size, but to favor, if it is necessary, the preservation Larix lyallii, Subalpine Larch. Mountains of northwest United
of the whole root ball. States and southwest Canada, at very high altitude.
Larix occidentalis, Western Larch. Mountains of northwest
The bonsai pot can be replaced later (after a period of United States and southwest Canada, at lower altitudes.
3–4 years) with a more appropriately sized pot as long

50 | BCI | July/August/September 2013