Bonsai Branch Placement
As has been described during the process of thinning out the foliage i had also created a large number of secondary and tertiary branches that each carried a small pad of foliage at its tip.
Bonsai branch placement. No eye poking branches pointed directly at viewer. When bonsai artist speak to movement in their design it really begins with the trunkline. The second and subsequent branches must be placed at one third the remaining distance to the top of the tree. Enter the diameter of your bonsai s trunk at the base to calculate the recommended height that the tree should be.
The recommended placement of the branches on the left right back etc is indicative of proper composition and helps to create good physical volume. I suggest using the japanese kokufu ten exhibition photo albums for reference. This understanding of aesthetic design comes with practice and with viewing bonsai of high artistic value. The trunkline is the most dominant and informative component of the tree educating all aspects of branch placement and overall direction.
Most bonsai have a triangular shape three primary branches a viewing front and several of the elements discussed previously such as good root displacement trunk taper and the like. No crossing branches or branches that cross the trunk. The first branch should be placed at approximately one third the height of the tree. Branches go on the outside of the curves no belly branches.
Branch placement is in fact very difficult because balance both of the overall bonsai and of the individual pads themselves must be achieved. What follows is a formula for creating a classically designed bonsai. There are about 12 classical bonsai styles types into which plant material can be shaped. Determining the height of the first branch enter the height of your bonsai tree to determine the ideal height from the base that the first branch should be located.
Lower branch should always be bigger than the ones above. But in many styles one sided branches offer an interesting and different impact see picture below.