In this section, the styles of bonsai.
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Formal Upright
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The formal upright style of bonsai represents a tree growing alone in a park or a field where there is no competition with other trees in the conquest of light. Its trunk grew up right and its branches extend in all its splendor.
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In the formal upright style the trunk must rise from a good root structure. The branches are arranged alternately at right and left, not forgetting the backward branches to provide perspective and depth to the bonsai. The branches disposition is the biggest challenge in shaping this style of bonsai.
The lowest branches should be the thickest and should be more widely spaced. This distance and thickness must decrease relative to the height of bonsai. Do not forget the general conic shape.
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It is very important that fresh air and light reach even the lower branches, so it is essential to dispose them properly.
This bonsai style can be applied to deciduous or evergreen species.
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Informal Upright
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The informal upright style of bonsai represents a tree which, although not completely isolated, is growing in an environment relatively propitious to normal development.
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The trunk of the bonsai displays curves being most typical of an "S". The trunk of the bonsai must rise in order to have alternating turns right and left.
The angles of the lower curves should be larger and decrease as one moves up the trunk of the bonsai. A good rule to keep the balance of bonsai is to align its top with the center of the trunk near the ground.
The branches should be arranged on the outside of each curve of the trunk and never on the inside. The lowest branches should be the thickest and, in general, the bonsai should have a conical shape.
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This bonsai style can be applied deciduous or evergreen species.
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Broom
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The broom style of bonsai is the one that best represents a deciduous tree. As the name indicates, this style is shaped like an inverted broom.
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Its trunk is upright, branching out at some point. The more branched is, the better the look. The best species for this style of bonsai is the Zelkova and Chinese Elm. These bonsai are appreciated in the winter, their thin branches lend a delicate aspect to bonsai when they lose their leaves.
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This bonsai style is applied to deciduous species. |
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Slanting
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The slanting bonsai style represents a tree that due to the elements of nature grew in a certain direction. The snow or the quest for light for example had lead the tree to develop that way.
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In this style of bonsai branches should be kept horizontally or tilted slightly downward. The visible root system (nebari) should give the impression that despite the bonsai is inclined, it is firmly fixed in the ground and will not fall.
In the end, this style of bonsai is a mixture between the formal and informal upright styles. |
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Can be applied to deciduous species, although more frequent in conifers.
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Windswept
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The bonsai in the windswept style represents a tree struggling to survive in a very windy place. Normally, trees are shaped this way in the areas along the coast or in mountain clifs.
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The inclination of the trunk in this style is more pronounced than in the slanting style. The bonsai falls in the opposite direction of the wind, so almost there is no branches on the most exposed side. The branches of the bonsai are horizontal, flattened and elongated, as if blown. There are areas of dead wood, the result of damage caused by wind.
In my opinion, this style is perhaps the most difficult to successfully achieve.
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It is usually applied in conifers. |
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Literati
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The literati bonsai style came from the view of some Chinese scholars who used to retreat in the mountains. They painted pictures of trees with trunks twisted due to conditions prevailing in the high mountains.
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The main attraction of the literati bonsai is undoubtedly his trunk. Must be slim and have many twists and turns. The foliage should be minimal, and the pot as simple as possible for the viewer's attention get focused on the beauty of the trunk.
It is natural that the beginers did not enjoy this style of bonsai, its "fragile" trunk, the simple branches and foliage... It is strange at first, then over time you will surrender to this so peculiar form.
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It is usually applied in conifers.
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Cascade
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The cascade style of bonsai represents a tree growing in a rocky mountain cliff.
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This style is difficult to achieve since the trees tend to grow up. The base of the trunk should be thick and extend down as close as possible to its base. The arrangement of branches is very important to get a good design.
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Can be applied to deciduous species, although it is more common in coniferous species.
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Exposed root
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The exposed root style represents a tree that grows in a place where the soil has been eroded or in a swampy place where constant fluctuations in water level allow to see the twisted roots of the tree.
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The main attraction are the roots of the bonsai. To create a bonsai in this style, it must be left to grow in a porous soil. You should prune the most superficial roots every repotting, thus promoting a deeper root growth. The crown of the tree should be organized, but not too lush! Don´t divert the focus of interest, the roots.
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This style can be applied to deciduous or evergreen bonsai species.
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Root over rock
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The root over rock bonsai style represents a tree growing in a rocky mountain. Since long time ago, the appreciation of rocks is part of Eastern culture, and its gardens are inevitably linked to bonsai.
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This style can take years to achieve. The bonsai should cling firmly to the rock. Therefore, it is necessary to tie it very early and bury it in porous soil to promotes root growth in depth. The roots should be carefully inspected at each repotting so that the wire don't strangle them. When the bonsai is connected to the rock is the time to raise it and show all his charm.
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The best species for this style are those with the most vigorous growth, for example: Trident maple, Ligustrum or Zelkova.
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Forest
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The forest style is composed of several trees planted in groups that represent a forest.
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For this style are often used trees that don't have the potential to function as isolated bonsai. This style should be composed of an odd number of the same species of trees with trunks of different thickness and different height. To create perspective and depth, the most thicker and higher tree stays ahead. The more backward the tree is in the pot, more thinner and lower it has to be. Shall be elected a main tree (the one with the trunk thicker and taller) who heads the group. The following trees are alternately disposed left and right and becoming more indented. The behind trees have lower branches than the front ones.
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A good test to see if the trees are well disposed is to look the front and sides of bonsai and see that there are no hiding trunks.
This style can be applied to deciduous or perennials species.
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