Forms of Shimpaku Juniper Bonsai
Formal upright (Chokkan): A straight, upright tapered trunk with branches arranged symmetrically balanced and layered regular pattern. The foliage pads should be evenly spaced and arranged in a triangular shape, with the apex of the triangle pointing upwards.
Informal Upright Style (Moyogi): A more natural, slightly curved trunk with branches that create a sense of movement. The overall shape of the tree should still be balanced, but with a more relaxed and organic feel.
Slanting style (Shakan): This style emphasizes movement and dynamism. This gives the impression of a tree buffeted by the wind.
Cascade style (Kengai): The trunk grows downward, often over the edge of the pot and below the bottom of the pot.
Semi-cascade (Han Kengai): Like a Cascade, but the trunk only descends partially below the Pot’s rim.
Literati (Bunjin): This style emphasizes the trunk and its movement, often with sparse foliage and a strong sense of age.
Windswept (Fukinagashi): This style is dynamic and dramatic, an extreme version of Shakan with the branches (with or without foliage) almost parallel to the ground and foliage clumped on the windward side.
Other styling considerations
- Identify the most visually appealing side of the tree to the frontal exposure
- Consider root base, observed taper and the natural movement of the tree
- Trunk and branch movement can be created by wiring and bending the tree and its branches to enhance the overall design of the tree
- Shape the foliage into distinct pads to create visual interest and depth
- Shimpaku juniper bonsai works well with deadwood features
- Jin is a peeled branch, a branch stripped of foliage and bark, sometimes with minimal carving
- Shari is carving of a deadwood area on the trunk
- These features impart character and age to the tree
- Sacrifice branch(es) can be used to encourage growth in a specific area or to create a natural looking bend in the trunk
- Sacrifice branches on the lower parts of the trunk can add thickness to the base of the tree and enhance taper
- Branches can be shaped by wrapping wire around the branches and carefully bending them into the desired shape
- Wrapping the branches with raffia or tape before wiring will help protect the branches, especially when doing aggressive bends
- Check the wired branches regularly to avoid the bark including (growing over) the wires
- A round nosed wire cutter is useful when removing the wire from the branches
- Prune regularly to maintain (or alter) shape, remove damaged or unwanted growth and encourage new growth in the desired areas
