The form of a bonsai tree is determined by its trunk

Many thanks for visiting bonsai care. This article was written by John. I hope you find it informative and helpful.

Every good bonsai tree should receive an distinctive form

The form of a bonsai tree is determined by its trunk and the arrangement of its branches. In the free nature you can see real unique tree individuals already by their typical form. Every good bonsai tree should likewise show a unique individual and receive an distinctive form.

Nevertheless, there are some signs which have in common all bonsai trees. Once we begin first of all with the trunk. Its course of the root neck up to peak fixes the basic form of the bonsai tree. With it the arrangement of the branches is also determined. In a sinuous trunk the branches must be arranged quite differently than with a straight trunk. With a trunk with bends the branches are preferentially on the outside of the bends. The branches can bring the leaves for the photosynthesis optimally in the light. A tree with a straight trunk lets its branches sprout everywhere. Merely lying on top of each other branches should not shade themselves mutually. The branches whose foliage gets no light will die. It would be a pure waste for the tree to let grow the leaves in the shade. Leaves in the shade can carry out no photosynthesis.

The trunk shows, actually, the most important sign of a tree. A viewer should be able to see the course of the trunk from the front of the bonsai. This applies especially to the lower area of the trunk. The thickest and longest branches arise there and point to the sides or to the back. The branches which point to the back give optical depth to the tree and let him seem more powerful.

In the middle of the course of the trunk single branches can also grow easily to the front. However, they may never point directly at the viewer. Only in the upper third of the tree, branches may also point directly forwards. Seen all together, the thickness and length of the branches must decrease from below upwards there.