Page 34 - Tạp chí bonsai cây cảnh BCI 2016Q2

Training Phase (two steps)
After 18 to 24 months of steady growth, our cut-
tings should be ready for the next step: training. As
the stems of the young trees will be flexible enough,
by means of wire, we start to shape our future bonsai.
Depending on the size we want our tree to be, we can
either opt to halt the development of the stock and
use it for shohin bonsai or decide to prepare them for
bigger size bonsai, which will require us to plant the
trees on mounds or growing beds in the ground to
speed up the process.

Use of Bamboo Canes and Nylon Thread
Bamboo canes have been employed as training de-
vices for landscape trees throughout Asia. A durable
material that can withstand the elements of time, bam-
boo offers the best possible medium for ground train-
ing bonsai stock. Nylon thread, on the other hand, is
also tough, flexible and will expand once our junipers
begin to grow out. In sum, juniper stock is planted off
center. Bamboo canes are installed in the ground in
the shape of an isosceles triangle to ensure irregularity
and naturalness. Once the tree and bamboo is secured,
the tree is bent into shape, safeguarding each bend in
the bamboo by means of nylon thread. During this
process, imagination and creativity is everything, so
we must plan ahead of time and visualize how our tree
will look in the future. With proper fertilization and
careful attention, the trees will grow quickly. Further
steps in creating interesting trunk lines and charac-
ter branches are also performed during this growing
phase, using the training methods we explain later in
this article.

Top left to bottom left; Andrew Lo, (Min Hsuan’s son) thinning foliage, applying wire
and creating dramatic bends on a young, 2 to 3 year old juniper cutting that will
become a masterpiece bonsai.
Bottom right; Planting young juniper in the ground and shaping, using bamboo
and nylon thread.

32 | BCI | April/May/June 2016