Everything in brief

This chapter brings together several important rules you need to know when working on bonsai. No rule or principle written for styling should be treated as a strict law that must be obeyed. These rules should be seen only as advice for those trying to grow a bonsai. As for care: you must pay special attention to looking after the plant. Choosing the right spot, watering, fertilizing, repotting and protecting the tree from pests and diseases must all be done properly. Otherwise, the time and energy spent on styling will be wasted. A plant that is cared for badly, as a rule, falls ill easily and soon loses its beauty.

Care

For bonsai, choose trees that grow in your local climate. Place your bonsai where it will get the right amount of light. A bonsai should not stand directly on the ground all the time. In winter, do not keep your bonsai somewhere warm (except for indoor bonsai) – a bonsai is an ordinary tree and needs the change of seasons. Water your bonsai only when it needs it, not on some strict schedule. In summer, mist both coniferous and deciduous trees regularly. In summer, do not place your bonsai on surfaces that get very hot (stone, concrete, metal). Protect your bonsai from strong wind. Fertilize regularly. Do not mix mineral and organic fertilizers. Repot your bonsai only during dormancy. Do not buy a diseased or weak young plant to make a bonsai. If you notice symptoms of disease or pests, treat the plant without delay. Be sure to protect small bonsai from frost.

Styling

A bonsai’s height should be no more than ten times the trunk’s thickness at the roots. The surface roots should grow from the thickest point at the base of the trunk. The base of the trunk at the roots should be the trunk’s thickest point. The thickness should taper gradually with height. A bend in the trunk should not bulge toward the viewer. In the Chokkan (直幹), Moyogi (模様木) and Bankan (蟠幹) styles, the apex and the base of the trunk should lie on one vertical line. The tree should have only one apex. In the Chokkan (直幹) style, the trunk should divide from the base of the tree, not higher up. Branches should not cross one another. Thick branches should not grow straight toward the viewer; only in the top 1/3 of the total height may branches point toward the viewer. The first branch should grow at 1/3 of the bonsai’s height and should be thicker than all the others. Some part of the canopy must be at the back; this creates an illusion of depth. A bonsai should not look like a two-dimensional, “flat” picture. A branch should grow from the outside of a bend in the trunk. The thickest branch should be no more than 1/3 the thickness of the trunk. Branches should vary in length and thickness. The higher a branch is, the shorter and thinner it should be. There should be open space between the branches. Only one branch should grow at any one level of the trunk. Overall, the canopy should form an asymmetrical triangle. All the leaves should be the same size; any conspicuously large leaves should be cut off. Branches should be shaped as naturally as possible. Avoid pointless bends. To get the effect of an “old” tree, the main branches should slope downward. Near the apex, in the top 1/3, branches may be horizontal or point upward. Secondary branches should alternate right and left; no secondary branch should grow straight up or straight down. The surface roots should spread in all directions across the soil surface; roots should not grow up above the surface. In the Kengai, Han-kengai and Shakan styles, the roots on the side opposite the lean should be “stronger”. If “deadwood” has been created on a tree (jin, shari, sabamiki), branches should not hide that area. In the Yose-ue style, the number of trees should be odd. The trees should not be planted in a single line. After wiring, check the plant often to avoid damaging the branches and trunk. On deciduous trees, the wounds left by cutting thick branches must be covered with cut paste.

Pot

For every style, choose a pot of the right shape and size. It is best to choose a pot in a neutral color; a multicolored or “loud” pot will be too eye-catching. The pot should be made of clay. The pot must have one or more drainage holes. The pot must have feet at least half a centimeter tall.

Tools

Cutting tools must be kept well sharpened. Clean your tools thoroughly after each use. Store your tools in a dry place.