Page 174 - Ebook cây cảnh Art of Bonsai

174 Creating your own bonsai

Thin out and clean juniper foliage

Dark green
nongrowing
foliage is often
internal but may
also be a leaf that
flowered the
previous year

Cleaning the foliage is a
very delicate task: your
tree will suffer if you
“pinch off” growing tips
in this rough manner
Active growing tip
5 6 7
Carefully clean the foliage when the Look at each tiny leaf and identify the Remove all inactive growth. This will
structure is set. The light green growing ones without active growing tips. It stimulate fresh new growth with active
tips at the end of the foliage are essential should be easy to tell the difference— tips; if necessary the branch can be
for the health of your tree (see p.117). active tips are a vibrant light green. compacted to create a denser foliage pad.

Wire the cascading branches

Use a suitable
gauge of
copper wire

11 12 13

Wire the tree. In this example the main Always wire branches in pairs so that Apply the wire at a slightly stretched-
trunk has a pleasing shape and does not they can support each other. Remember out pitch: a 55° angle is ideal, as seen
need to be manipulated. Only the main to support the branch with one hand here from below. This allows branches
secondary branches need to be shaped. while wiring with the other (see p.138). to be lowered and separated a little.