Page 150 - Ebook cây cảnh Art of Bonsai

150 Creating your own bonsai

Shape the trees and prepare the soil

5 Aim to shape the trees
before they are placed on the Pruning the
apex reduces
rock so they remain stable Four branches from
the height and
once they are in position. also restricts the same point is
strong growth undesirable, even
on shohin trees
6 Thin out crowded areas
where more than three
branches come from one
point. The general rule is
to avoid more than two
branches from one node,
but shohin-sized trees
are the exception.

5 6
7 Apply wire if necessary.
Avoid overworking the
trees before planting: if they
Keep styling to a
need a lot of work, consider minimum to avoid
planting at a later date. stressing the trees
just before planting

8 The styled trees can be
fine-tuned later, but most
of the work should be
done before planting.

Tree is lightly
9 Make up the clay mixture. shaped with
Chop up some sphagnum just two or
moss and mix it with keto three pieces
of wire
soil, imported from Japan.
Keto is a special type of very 7 8
heavy, rich clay peat from
submerged reed beds that
hardens when dry. It is ideal Moisture-retentive
for this job, but similar local moss binds the
substitutes may suffice. clay together
and increases
structural integrity
10 Firm the mixture into
compact balls. Make sure
they do not crumble apart;
if necessary add a little bit
of water to make them more
pliable. Balls of keto and
moss store well, and can be
kept for use at a later date.

9 10