How to shape a ginkgo bonsai? Detailed explanation of the technical key points

  The ginkgo tree is a precious ornamental tree species, not only widely used in landscaping, but also quite beautiful when made into a bonsai. Pruning is the main technique for shaping a ginkgo bonsai. According to different appreciation requirements, methods such as thinning, heading back, and renewal pruning should be used to cut away excess lateral branches, parallel branches, crossing branches, overly dense branches, water sprouts and diseased or dead branches, highlighting the trunk and filling out the ornamental branches, so that it has a higher artistic style. But pruning should follow nature and not be imitated mechanically.

  Processing:

  The prototype is the foundation of making a bonsai. The method of processing the prototype is to use various methods during the growing season of the ginkgo stump to wire and bend the branches and trunk, making them either curved or straight, either slanting or upright, either drooping or raised, and to set their extending directions on schedule. When wiring the pads, if the branch is too long and you want to bend it into a spiral shape, then from the beginning you need to use the palm-fiber wrapping method, carrying the palm fiber onto the branch. After wiring the pad, one palm-fiber wrap follows another, without cutting the palm fiber, which is called continuous palm fiber. But you should not stick rigidly to one palm-fiber method; instead, you should adapt to the stump and flexibly use various palm-fiber methods such as yang palm fiber, pie palm fiber, bottom palm fiber, ban palm fiber, hand palm fiber, diao palm fiber, xia palm fiber, and feng palm fiber. Because ginkgo leaves are relatively large, you need to be very careful when wiring and bending, and must never get close to the stump head. Otherwise, it will affect the beauty of the stump head and reduce its artistic value.

  Shaping:

  According to different appreciation requirements for the ginkgo bonsai, first draw out the shaping design pattern, create the momentum according to the stump, and follow the pattern to seek the form, bending and tying the branches and trunk, and adjusting the curves and straightness. Fruit-viewing bonsai mainly appreciate the seeds; before maturity the seeds resemble olives, and after maturity they are like kumquats, initially with green leaves, and the colors are pleasing to the eye. When shaping, pay attention to cultivating fruiting branches, supplemented by artificial pollination, so the seeds are large and beautiful. Foliage-viewing bonsai place more emphasis on leaf shape and leaf color, stressing both excellent color and form and a unique tree shape. Stump bonsai strive for a majestic posture of ruggedness and cragginess, and can use the root stumps of old trees, etc., to develop a proud, aloof quality with a thick trunk, curved branches, and exposed roots.