A
B
50 - EspritBonsaiInternational #101�^ In
Detail
••• There are some wonderful twisted shapes
beneath the foliage, and one must find a way of
showing them. However, they are too close to each
other.
The upper part of the larger trunk (A) is too
straight and is not coherent with the rest of the
tree and the foliage is too far from the twisted parts.
The upper part of the small trunk (B) is also too
straight, but much finer and more flexible.(^1) The twisted parts are too close to each other. So with the help of tension wires attached
to the pot, we must create a space of about ten centimetres (four inches) between them.
(^2) To construct the nebari and to stabilise
the tree at the base, one must scrape the
substrate to find the large roots.
(^3) For a
harmonious
whole, the trunk
must be strongly
bent with
ratchet straps.
Simple tension
wires suffice to
bring the foliage
under the
twisted part of B.
C Tw o s t r o n g
tension wires will
further separate
the two trunks
and will strongly
change the
direction of the
smaller one. The
movement
towards the left
will be increased.
A The large
roots buried
under 10 cm of
substrate are
uncovered.
B The tree
must be firmly
anchored in the
pot, because if it
moves when
undergoing the
envisaged
bending, the
rootlets could be
badly damaged.
Improving the nebari
We needed to take up about ten centimetres
of earth to find the large roots. This augurs well for
the tree’s future. However, the bark that was under-
ground is too smooth. It will need years of patience
and exposure to the sun to obtain a crackled bark
that is undistinguishable from that of the trunks.
A mix of akadama, gravel and the sifted earth
is put at the bottom of the pot, followed by a light
finishing layer of akadama sprinkled on the surface.
The tree is solidly anchored in the pot with six
large wires, which is essential given the strong ben-
ding procedure envisaged.