Wednesday, January 14, 2009

How To Grow Bonsai - The 12 Amazing Styles

By Andrew Perry

Bonsai trees are miniaturized versions of the bigger trees. These bonsai trees are shaped into many different styles and forms to please the beholder. These variations enhance the beauty of the trees themselves. The pots in which they are planted in must also be correlated to the style the tree is trained to be. These styles are formal upright, informal upright, cascade, semi cascade, slant and windswept. These are the different types of bonsai trees available for shaping, training or forming.

Upright styles: Formal and Informal

Some people love their trees upright. The trees suitable for this style are Pine, Larch, Juniper and Spruce. This style has tree trunks that are straight upwards and their first lower branches are far wider than the rest. The rest of the branches shape an overall triangular look. Beginners tend to love this style as it is simple. A variation of this style that lends the tree an impression of motion is the informal upright style. The trees suitable are Beech, Japanese maple and Trident Maple trees. They are similar to the formal upright except that the top branch needs to be extended forward instead of upwards.

Slant style Bonsai

Even though most beginners tend towards the upright styles, the slant style that is more applicable to all trees. This is the style wherein the trunk extends to one direction while the lowest branch extends to the other direction. Some people would be comfortable to have this style for their first bonsai styling because it is very easy to shape and train.

Cascade style Bonsai

You can also choose to make these bonsai trees into cascade and the semi cascade styles. These styles have a sloping effect and the trunk is vertical. Aside from that, the truck is also turned to one direction while the branches are trained to slope or cascade lower than the surface of the pot. If you dont want the trunks to turn into one direction, you could opt for the semi-cascade style. The semi cascade is similar to the cascade except the trunk gradually slopes rather than one that turns into one direction.

Windswept style of Bonsai

The windswept style looks like the bonsai tree has been beset by strong winds. It looks a bit unruly and beautifully unkempt. These are most of the common styles that bonsai plants are usually trained to be.

Pruning Bonsai is the key

To prune the tree is the key to getting the style of bonsai tree people want. These styles have been practiced for centuries as an art form. To maintain the tree beautiful and in their most gorgeous styles, all the bonsai lover has to do is to prune and trim it. Another benefit of pruning and trimming is that it could make sure there would be balance in the bonsai tree as unkempt growth is reduced and trimmed off. - 16955

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