Podocarpus bonsai styling illustrated guide, teaching you to prune a beautiful tree shape

  Generally speaking, any tree shape can be styled; in fact, there are no restrictions on trunk diameter or thickness, or on how the branches divide, but how beautifully it is shaped depends 70% on the skill of the horticultural stylist and 30% on later maintenance. If either part is missing, it is very difficult to produce an exquisitely styled, superior Podocarpus bonsai.

  The methods commonly used in Podocarpus bonsai include pruning, wiring, pressing, binding and hanging. Pruning and shaping are relatively simple, while shaping methods such as wiring, pressing, binding and hanging are more difficult, requiring a high level of artistic imagination and handling skill from the stylist, as well as attention to the condition of the tree's trunk and branches. During the styling process, artistic work must be carried out according to the natural beauty of the seedling itself; that is, it must be suited to the tree, adding beauty to beauty, so that the styling is strong and powerful with clear layers.

  1. Trunk styling: To achieve the effect of a curved trunk, posts can be used to cultivate a slanting trunk or curved trunk. Tools such as metal wire and threaded rods, along with measures such as scoring and twisting, can be used to shape the trunk, bending and tilting it. The height of a styled Podocarpus is generally controlled at 1.5 m to 3.5 m, and the styling principle is "style according to the tree."

  2. Branch styling: Select a Podocarpus whose trunk has a slight curve, cut off weak small branches, whorled branches and branches on the lower 1/3 of the trunk, and proceed branch by branch from bottom to top. Keep the thick, strong side branch on the upper 1/3 of the trunk as the first main branch. Generally, one branch is kept per layer, and the first branch on the trunk is longer.

  Specific styling operation steps/methods:

  1. Select a Zhenluo that has been cultivated for many years;

  2. Cut off the excess branches;

  3. Bend downward and tie to create the shape;

  4. Coiling and tying for styling involves knowledge;

  5. Cut off the excess aluminum wire ends;

  6. Use a carving knife to carefully refine its smoothness;

  7. The Podocarpus work is complete.

  It can thus be seen that the purpose of Podocarpus artistic styling is to "style according to the tree" and "apply techniques according to the material," using superb artistic expression techniques to uncover the highest artistic realm from an ordinary tree shape and maximize its ornamental value.