Creating a bonsai is a step by step process that goes roughly like this:
- Select, buy or collect a piece of raw material
- Prune away unneeded branches and excess trunk to create a single trunk line (for formal, informal, slanting, and cascade styles), wire and position branches; or, select and wire shoots and a leader of the purchased or collected specimen to create a branch structure and apex-in-training
- Pot the tree into a bonsai container if it isn’t already in one
- Continue development steps such as creating a tapering transition in the apex if needed, cutting back, shaping and ramifying branches, and working in the root zone to create a pleasing nebari
- Make changes if and as needed to improve your bonsai
I collected this Parsley hawthorn, Crataegus marshallii, in January of 2016 and potted it directly into this Chuck Iker round. Because the tree has little taper, I planned to make a literati-style bonsai out of it. It responded by producing several buds along the trunk, certainly enough for the plan. I did some wiring on it, fed and watered it, but left it alone otherwise.
Here’s the tree today. You can see that my new leader emerged a couple of inches below the chop point. No real problem, you always have to work on the chop point anyway. Other than this, my other few branches are waiting to open up for spring.
As the months went on last year, I decided that I wasn’t happy with the pot. To be sure, literati bonsai are usually placed in relatively small pots. But this one just stopped seeming right to me.
The obvious first order of business was to eliminate the chop stub, and carve down what was left so that it tapered smoothly into the new leader. This looks much better. Now for a replacement pot.
I think this new Chuck Iker round better suits the tree. What do you think?
This year’s development work on this bonsai will be aimed at building the branch structure and building the apex. I plan to continue with the idea that this Parsley hawthorn will be a literati bonsai when all is said and done. And I think it’ll be a nice one.
Zach, can you describe how you do the “chop stub re-cut”? How close to the new leader do you make it? Is it just a flat cut or do you naturalize it? What do you use to seal it? Also when you bury the nebari/roots of newly collected trees (to protect them) does that encourage small root hairs to develop on them? At what point do you re-expose them?
Luke, the chop stub re-cut was made by initially sawing the stub straight across at the point where the new leader emerged from the trunk. This had to be done carefully, so as not to damage the leader. Then I simply used my knob cutters to angle the cut down and away from the leader, followed by a carving knife to smooth everything out. I don’t typically seal these cuts, since the tree has re-established sap flow and there’s no ongoing danger of drying out at this point. Not to mention the fact that hawthorn wood is pretty tough. Now, in a few years I will need to use wood sealer to stabilize the cut area, but this will come after it gets carved out to make it look more natural. Regarding burying roots on newly collected trees, this is done to ensure the cut ends of the roots stay moist since the soil dries out more quickly at its surface. New small roots emerge from the cut ends, usually one to three, which of course grow larger as they grow longer. This process is the same as when a new leader on the trunk grows from the chop area. The buried roots are typically exposed when the tree goes into its first bonsai pot. At that point there’s no further danger of drying out.
Yes Zach, like the new pot. The increased depth suits the tree better (imho). There’s something about a slightly deeper pot that visually anchors the literati style tree. Everyone’s aesthetic sense is different (thank goodness!)
Thanks, Michael.
really like the tree. I think that a small tilt to the right and then let the tree grow straight.
there is a natural curve already started. It is going to be an awesome looking tree in a few years. Keep us updated.
Thank you, Robert. I will be posting updates.