Detailed Explanation of the Production Methods and Key Points of Tree-Type Miniature Bonsai

How are tree-type miniature bonsai made? Nowadays many people place tree-type miniature bonsai at home to decorate their houses, and tree-type miniature bonsai is the most important component of the miniature bonsai family. Therefore today the editor will briefly talk about the key points of making tree-type miniature bonsai, hoping it can be of some help to everyone.

1. Selection of tree species used for tree-type miniature bonsai

The tree materials used for tree-type miniature bonsai generally select plants with graceful posture, short stature, evergreen foliage, shade tolerance, small leaf shape, long lifespan, tolerance to pruning and wiring, strong vitality, and ease of cultivation and styling; simply put, small yet exquisite varieties. For example, among the pine and cypress types there are Japanese white pine, Osaka pine, black pine, Buddhist pine (Podocarpus macrophyllus), golden larch (Pseudolarix amabilis), lacebark pine (Pinus bungeana), true juniper (Juniperus chinensis), golden cypress, Chinese juniper (Juniperus chinensis), pearl ground juniper, and so on; among the miscellaneous broadleaf foliage types there are Sageretia thea (Chinese sweet plum), red maple, elm, ginkgo, small-leaved holly, tiger thorn (Damnacanthus indicus), Chinese fringe tree (Fraxinus chinensis 'Lanceolata'), small-leaved boxwood, fragrant wood (Pistacia weinmannifolia), and so on; among the flowering and fruiting types there are pomegranate, goji (Lycium chinense), Serissa foetida (June snow), Fujian tea (Carmona retusa), firethorn (Pyracantha fortuneana), small-leaved winter jasmine, Caragana sinica (golden sparrow), and so on; among the vine types there are honeysuckle, Selaginella (clubmoss), Euonymus fortunei (climbing euonymus), Boston ivy, English ivy, and so on. Tree-type miniature bonsai materials can be obtained through grafting, hardwood cuttings, layering, nesting, root division, and seedling cultivation, propagated in sand beds in a greenhouse.

2. The production process of super-miniature tree-type bonsai

(1) Variety selection for tree-type miniature bonsai

Choose plants that are small rather than large, with a height of 5-15 cm and a thickness of about 1-3 cm being best, such as Japanese five-needle pine, Osaka pine, black pine, and so on among the pine and cypress types.

(2) Propagation

Tree miniature bonsai materials are propagated by methods such as grafting, hardwood cuttings, layering, nesting, root division, seedling cultivation, and digging up small wild stumps.

(3) Rough cultivation of the tree stock, determining the form based on shape

Those with straight trunks and branches can be made into the formal upright style or forest style; those with curved trunks and branches can be made into the curved-trunk style; those with long and powerful roots can be made into the rock-clinging style or the exposed-root-and-claw style; those with slanting trunks and branches can be made into the slanting style or the cascade style. The styling of tree miniature bonsai is generally achieved through a combination of techniques such as pruning, wiring, and pinching.

(4) Repotting into a fine pot

After the material has been cultivated into shape in a clay pot, it is then repotted into a fine pot for viewing. For cultivation, a long pot should have a length of 12-25 cm and a depth of 3-5 cm; a round pot should have a diameter of 8-12 cm and a depth of about 6-8 cm, which is most suitable.

The production of tree-type miniature bonsai

The production of tree-type miniature bonsai

1. Characteristics of tree-type miniature bonsai

Tree-type miniature bonsai is the most important component of the miniature bonsai family. It developed on the basis of small bonsai; its production uses small materials and occupies little space, yet the artistic conception it expresses is equally ancient and expansive, no less than the appeal expressed by small and medium-sized bonsai, and its styling is lively and varied. It is highly flexible in placement and can be placed in small spaces such as between windows or on a desk, or grouped together on a curio shelf, see color plate 10.

Tree-type miniature bonsai uses small materials, and its production strives to show the large within the small, mainly expressed in the branches and trunks, so that the originally small tree and tender branches present the appearance of a gnarled, vigorous, and dignified ancient tree, perfectly combining external form with inner temperament. One cannot rely on quantity or complexity to win just because it is small; the composition should be concise and to the point. Though small, it must not lose artistic completeness; the smaller it is, the more generalizing it should be. This requires breaking free from convention, being able to capture form, and achieving a fusion of spirit and form.

Tree-type miniature bonsai is limited by the "miniature and small" nature of its materials and cannot surpass old tree stumps in tree age, clearly showing the flaw of being "elegant yet tender." In production, one must overcome the above weaknesses, adopt various handling methods, and achieve the artistic effect of "defeating the large with the small," fully reflecting the imposing air of a large old tree. Though it is merely a small scene, it should be like an ancient and vigorous large tree covering the sky and earth, only then does it meet the aesthetic requirements pursued by miniature bonsai. If the above is not paid attention to, although one can still bend it into a pose, it will lack strength, leave no aftertaste, and dilute the artistic pursuit of tree-type miniature bonsai to "win with the miniature over the large, seek age through tenderness, and create antiquity through novelty." Therefore, in production one cannot simply bend it and be done; momentum should be valued. So-called when the qi arrives, the strength arrives; only when the strength arrives can the form arrive. When the branches contain an invisible force, the small tree will naturally become ancient and picturesque.

2. The production of tree-type miniature bonsai

(1) Variety selection for tree-type miniature bonsai: choose plants that are small rather than large. Short, stout plants with a height of 5-15 cm and a thickness of about 1-3 cm are best. To seek a vigorous and ancient form, small evergreen leaves, shade tolerance, tolerance to pruning, ease of wiring, strong vitality, and ease of cultivation, such as Japanese five-needle pine, Osaka pine, black pine, Buddhist pine (Podocarpus macrophyllus), golden larch (Pseudolarix amabilis), true juniper, golden cypress, Chinese juniper, pearl ground juniper, and so on among the pine and cypress types; Sageretia thea (Chinese sweet plum), red maple, elm, ginkgo, small-leaved holly, tiger thorn (Damnacanthus indicus), Chinese fringe tree, and so on among the miscellaneous broadleaf foliage types; pomegranate, goji, Serissa foetida (June snow), Fujian tea (Carmona retusa), firethorn, small-leaved winter jasmine, Caragana sinica (golden sparrow), and so on among the flowering and fruiting types; honeysuckle, Selaginella (clubmoss), Euonymus fortunei (climbing euonymus), Boston ivy, English ivy, and so on among the vine types. In the book "The Art of Miniature Potted Plants" by Shen Yinchun, nearly 70 kinds of tree miniature bonsai materials are introduced.

(2) Propagation

Tree miniature bonsai materials are propagated by methods such as grafting, hardwood cuttings, layering, nesting, root division, seedling cultivation, and digging up small wild stumps.

(3) Rough cultivation of the tree stock, determining the form based on shape

Tree miniature bonsai materials generally need to be cultivated in clay pots, with frequent application of thin fertilizer water, and the styling form determined separately according to the material. For example, those with straight trunks and branches can be made into the formal upright style or forest style; those with curved trunks and branches can be made into the curved-trunk style; those with long and powerful roots can be made into the rock-clinging style or the exposed-root-and-claw style; those with slanting trunks and branches can be made into the slanting style or the cascade style; those with existing dead wood on the trunk can be made into the deadwood style, and so on. The styling of tree miniature bonsai is generally achieved through a combination of techniques such as pruning, wiring, and pinching.

(4) Repotting into a fine pot

After the material has been cultivated into shape in a clay pot, it is then repotted into a fine pot for viewing. The pot should be exquisite and rustic; it is best to choose a Yixing purple clay miniature pot from Jiangsu or a fine porcelain pot from Jingdezhen, Jiangxi. A long pot should have a length of 12-25 cm and a depth of 3-5 cm; a round pot should have a diameter of 8-12 cm and a depth of about 6-8 cm, which is most suitable; the pot should be chosen according to the styling of the finished bonsai.

(5) Careful maintenance

Because miniature tree bonsai has the characteristics of a small pot, little soil, and shallow roots, it can easily lose water and cause the plant to die if one is not careful, so the maintenance and management of miniature tree bonsai is a long-term, persistent task.

1) Location selection: miniature tree bonsai is best placed facing southeast, but there must be shading facilities; reed curtains or bamboo blinds are best as shading materials, opened in the morning and evening so the plant can receive dew nourishment. Generally starting in April, one should pay attention to shading and sun protection; in summer, if it is easily exposed to the slanting sun, a hanging curtain must also be hung for shade. In addition, the placement area should also be frequently sprayed with water to increase humidity and lower temperature.

When winter comes, it must be moved indoors to protect against the cold.

2) Fertilizer and water management: one must not only grasp the growth habits of various plants, but also adjust the frequency of watering and fertilizing according to seasonal changes. Normally it can be half-buried in a sand bed; or the water-sitting method can be used, that is, using a shallow tray filled with water, placing the bonsai in the water and soaking for several minutes, with thorough soaking as the standard. Fertilizing miniature tree bonsai generally should not be too concentrated; fully decomposed organic fertilizer is preferable, such as rapeseed cake, soybean cake, and so on, applied in combination with daily watering (if conditions permit, a water tank can be set up holding about 2 cubic m of water, adding 0.5 kg of decomposed stock solution, and this liquid used for daily watering). For flowering and fruiting tree varieties, the supplementary application before and after flowering can be slightly more concentrated.

3) Repotting and replanting: under the specific conditions of a small pot and little soil, miniature tree bonsai can grow in a tiny pot for several years or even decades and remain full of vitality, old but not declining, largely depending on regular repotting. After years of growth, the plant's fibrous roots become dense; aging and dead root systems occupy the originally very small space, affecting the extension of new roots, and the soil is also prone to compaction, affecting the plant's nutrition. Especially for miniature tree bonsai, if not repotted on time, it will slowly decline and die, so repotting and replanting must be carried out on time. Repotting is best done once every 1-2 years, generally in early spring or late autumn. When repotting, overly long roots should be cut off, and newly repotted plants need about a month of careful maintenance before they can grow normally. When repotting, one can also adjust the angle and orientation of the tree, or reselect another pot, to achieve the best effect.

Miniature tree bonsai is a "living work of art," and "cultivation skill" is very important. In daily maintenance, one must also continuously carry out shaping and pruning, wiring, bud pinching, leaf plucking, and timely pest and disease control, gradually shaping and fixing the form. After years of cultivation, one will form gnarled trunks, gnarled branches, coiled and twisting roots, or branches full of flowers and fruit, showing the large within the small and making a thought-provoking fine piece in a pot.

How are landscape-type miniature bonsai made? Production methods for landscape-type miniature bonsai

  Landscape-type miniature bonsai is a type of miniature bonsai, mostly using rectangular or oval shallow pots processed from white marble, white marble, and so on. When making landscape-type miniature bonsai, one must first determine the styling, and then determine the form of the miniature bonsai's main trunk from the characteristics and posture of the selected plants. The specifics will be explained below by the editor.

  1. Requirements for the pot

  Landscape-type miniature bonsai requires the pot's outer shape to be lively and varied, and during production it must be exquisite and meticulous; if conditions permit, fine and smooth materials such as white marble can be used.

  2. Requirements for rocks and stones

  Although the stone materials for making miniature bonsai are relatively easy to find because of their small size, finding good stone materials is not so easy. Because in addition to winning by exquisiteness, what is more important is the cleverness of cutting. Simply put, if only one small part of a large stone is worth using, sawing it off and moving it into the pot can make a scene. Of course, the material is not necessarily limited to shape; one can also absorb the strengths of other stone types in terms of texture and color, which can also enrich and broaden the source of materials. For example, those that are easy to split and shape, those that are fine and smooth, and those that are small and exquisite are ideal materials.

  3. Production requirements

  Making miniature bonsai must be exquisite and expressive, requiring the layout to be few but refined and just right. Because the pot is small there is no room for triviality, so it must be generalizing and concise, incisive and refined; the smaller it is, the more generalizing it must be, and the more it must attend to every aspect. At the same time, considering the lively and vivid group layout of the curio shelf, during production one should pay even more attention to various changes in stone color, stone quality, styling, and starting technique.

  4. Ornaments

  Because landscape-type miniature bonsai is relatively small, the ornaments in miniature bonsai must be even smaller, more exquisite, and combine form and spirit, requiring bright yet rustic colors, and the ornaments should blend into the overall delicate miniature bonsai.

  5. Curio shelf

  Miniature bonsai is more splendid only when displayed as a group in a curio shelf. A curio shelf has multiple compartments inside, and for the curio shelf one can design according to the size of each compartment, varying pot styles and styling, and consider overall coordination, so that the bonsai in each compartment has both individuality and commonality with the overall curio shelf. It should be noted that when placing miniature landscape bonsai, one should pay attention to configuring suitable bonsai above each compartment, which can add spatial variation to the curio shelf.