RAMIFICATION OF BONSAI
How to develop twig structure
One of the most important lessons in developing Bonsai is the one involving branch and twig structure.
The health of the tree depends on your ability to create more and more twigs which of course hold the leaves that allow the tree to breathe.
The physiological advantages of more twigs and branches mean that more and more fine root development takes place and the tree has a solid base to stand on. Roots also help define twigs.
The artistic value of a tree with plenty of fine twigs, buds, branches and roots advertises your ability as a Bonsai grower or in slightly less grand terms, as a grower of miniature trees.
Beginners or less experienced growers are concerned in the first year with either accumulation of material or accumulation of knowledge. The former gets themselves into a situation where they have too many trees and subsequently few if any of these trees gets individual attention. The natural progression of this hobbyist is then to spend loadsamoney on imported stock which at least looks something like a Bonsai because they have hundreds of other things in pots, so called 'Potensai', which will never become Bonsai because they do not have time to look after and turn all that 'stuff', into Bonsai. This becomes a vicious circle or perhaps that's a Viscous mess.
The latter enthusiast tries to maintain a small selection of trees of around 10 to 15 that allows them to try out different techniques read in books written by experienced Bonsai growers.
On a philosophical level the appearance of a finely twigged deciduous Bonsai or a dense pine gives you a feeling of peace. Bonsai arose from the art of meditation and as we all soon come to realise when attending our Bonsai; time quickly passes when your working on these little trees.
These notes are to enable you to start the process of Ramification and if anyone wishes to go further into this then please write to me care of this magazine and I will endeavour to assist you.
What I would like to discuss over the next couple of pages are two species of tree popular with growers, Pine and Maple. I will put my head in my readers mouths and suggest that if you like the content of this article then please write in to the Editor and I will progress the notes to include Juniper, Elm / Zelkova, Beech and Larch. If you don't like the article then I must recommend an excellent book called 'How to stuff a Chicken'.