Deadwood On Deciduous Bonsai
There are patterns and a reason for the deadwood to be there.
Deadwood on deciduous bonsai. Harry harrington discussed the design principles for deciduous bonsai as well as deadwood at the bonsai empire stand during the trophy 2020 event. Deadwood on bonsai in the form of jinor shari adds an effective feature to a design and in the case of many old pine and juniper a very realistic one as well. This article will not discuss the merits of deadwood or the methods by which we create it. I get it.
Creating deadwood on bonsai in the form of jin or shari can enhance the tree s character significantly. Indeed it often forms the backbone of a great design. When creating deadwood you have to remember that trees in nature don t just have random deadwood. Jins are created in nature when wind lightning or other adversity kills the leader or a branch further down the tree.
Jin shari and uro. Jins on trees in nature are normally created. But i think there s a place for deadwood on certain deciduous trees and frankly if it doesn t belong you can usually sense it immediately upon viewing the tree. You can see why i got it it s got killer bark and deadwood.
This is a free 25 minute video on carving bonsai deadwood that i filmed in july 2019 for the series developing deciduous bonsai by bonsai empire. It s not as easy with conifers which is one reason why jin are used on them easier to just jin a branch on a pine than regrow it. Dead and rotting wood can seriously affect the appearance of a bonsai. Jin 神 is a bonsai deadwood technique used on branches or the top of the trunk the leader.
Deadwood on bonsai adds interest and curiosity to your tree. So on a bonsai as an artist you have to stay with a pattern create that story of why. Once deadwood on a tree is exposed to the elements it naturally starts to decay. Now deadwood on deciduous trees is uncommon and some of you may reject the whole idea.
For more details on carving deadwood for bonsai. As mentioned replacing apex and canopy branching is pretty easy with most deciduous species. Deadwood is fine on deciduous species but it will look contrived on this particular tree. Deadwood also commonly referred to a drift wood is an integral part of the artistic and structural design of many bonsai trees.
In nature deadwood is created when a tree is hit by lightning exposed to sustained periods of drought or when branches snap due to ice stress wind or weight of snow. A jin is meant to show age or show that the tree has had a struggle to survive.