Page 145 - Ebook cây cảnh Art of Bonsai

Creating a forest 145

Preparing to plant

1 Prepare the trees. Take
Fix plastic mesh
each one out of its pot,
over the drainage
carefully remove the soil, holes (see p.130)
and prune off any strong
roots (see p.135). Stand the
bare roots in water until all
the trees are ready (see p.141).
Once everything has been
prepared, lay the trees out in
order of height and thickness.

2 Plan the basic structure.
The main trees will be tied
down to a framework of
chopsticks, so this is also 1 2
an opportunity to figure out
where they will be placed.
Use a plastic The central
training pot so frame will be
3 Create the framework. you can drill more held in place
Lay out the chopsticks so drainage holes if with wires
you need them through four
that they intersect above
drainage holes
the drainage holes.
4 Position the frame. Make
sure that you can fix it firmly
in place by threading wires
through the drainage hole
mesh. The central frame will
secure the main trees and
hold everything in place.
3 4

5 Secure the framework,
wiring the ends together at
intersections, and fixing it
to the base of the pot using
holes drilled for anchor wires.
The frame should not move,
but it must be possible for
wire to pass underneath
the chopsticks.

6 Spread a thin layer of soil
across the whole pot. Use an
appropriate soil mix for the
chosen species (here, larch).
5 6