A Cascading Bunjin Pine in Three Simple Steps

These illustrations by Kyosuke Gun show three stages in the development of simple shohin cascading bunjin style pine. Though we don’t know for sure, we might assume that these illustrations are of an actual tree, as many, if not most of Mr. Gun’s illustrations are based upon actual bonsai. The illustration originally appeared in Bonsai Today issue 39. Small adjustments with big results One of the purposes in this post is to show how a couple simple changes can turn an untrained stock plant in to presentable bonsai.

Energy Balancing #7: More Defoliation Tips

Defoliating to move energy down These illustrations show a few very simple points. In both methods we are trying to strengthen the the two weak secondary branches (the first two branches). These need help as energy tends to flow past them towards the tips of the primary branch. This movement of energy towards the outer tips of branches is natural and occurs in virtually all plants.

Energy Balancing #6: Defoliation Tips

Cut… Use sharp scissors to defoliate. Cut in the center of the petiole (leaf stem). If you cut too close to the base of the leaf stem, you may damage the buds that form there. …don’t pull Don’t use you fingers to pinch or pull leaves off. This is a recipe for damage (the unreadable text with the illustration above says: Don’t pull, it could damage the buds).