Page 38 - Tạp chí bonsai cây cảnh BCI 2016Q2

Top left, middle left and bottom;
Creation of root-exposed
juniper follows the same
erosion principles that happen
in nature.
Top right; Group Effort:
students and Andrew Lo
ground training junipers.
Middle right; Juniper, after
removal from training and
being planted on the ground
to train in the root-exposed
style.

Creation of Root-Exposed Juniper
The mountains of Taroko National Park Reserve,
in Nantou County, are home to the natural Juniperus
squamata that have served as inspiration to Taiwan-
ese bonsai masters for decades. Displaying a rugged
character and poetical twists, these magnificent speci-
mens have an inherent natural beauty that has infinite
shapes. Not only do they offer incredible bends and
turns, but also their will to survive is accompanied by
roots that, having been subject to snow, erosion, land-
slides and events of exposure, still manage to sustain
these old trees firmly to the ground. As we believe
that roots are an important element of age in bonsai
creation, the creation of root exposed juniper material
is a wonderful way to honor our mountain teachers.
Creation of root-exposed juniper follows the same
erosion principles that happen in nature. By carefully
removing the juniper material from its training pot,
we raise the soil line to expose the root ball. To en-
sure survival, we can plant the tree in a larger train-
ing pot or in the ground. Once the roots touch new
substrate, the tree will naturally issue roots into the
soil bed. Regular watering and progressive exposure
to the elements will gradually erode the soil and re-
veal the twisting roots, thus adding a new feature in
our design.

36 | BCI | April/May/June 2016