Air Root Grafting for Banyan Style Bonsai
A small tip for life: introducing the green plant and flower introduction of air root grafting for banyan style bonsai, with specific details as follows:
Banyan style bonsai, with its style characterized by intertwining roots and thick, lush foliage. The natural ecological features of the banyan's head roots and trunk, in addition to坑棱 (坑棱) and nodules, include many hanging air roots, which is the unique feature of the "banyan style" bonsai.
The shaping of the bonsai tree style, as long as the species of trees has the feasibility to shape a certain style, it can be selected. For example, a Ulmus seedling can be chosen to be cultivated and shaped into the style of a banyan. The坑棱 and nodules of the Ulmus seedling are easy to obtain, but air roots are difficult to grow naturally. To enhance the artistic appeal of the work and increase its appreciation value, the author has used shaping techniques for "grafting air roots" in artistic creation, with the following operational procedures:
(1) Select a small Ulmus suitable for air root grafting, which should have been planted in a pot for 1-2 years; prepare the necessary grafting tools and materials.
(2) First, remove the soil from the top of the seedling to clear it, then cut the small tree to be grafted into the required length for the "air roots," with the cut according to the angle of the grafting site on the seedling, either diagonal U or straight. Use a knife to remove the bark about 1 centimeter below the cut, leaving the xylem. This ensures that the xylem of the grafting site on the seedling can fit tightly and not shift. The seedling should also be cut according to the length, shortness, angle, and straightness of the grafting site on the small tree, with a semi-circular notch made for the grafting site. This operation must be careful and meticulous, with both grafting sites being aligned and fitted together to ensure the cambium layers match.
(3) After both grafting cuts are properly made, the吊扎 (hanging tie) method can be used to tightly secure the grafting site, avoiding movement and detachment that could affect healing. After binding and securing, arrange the grafted "air roots," add soil and water, then seal the grafting site with plastic film to keep the wound dry and prevent bacterial infection.
(4) Since the healing period for grafted "air roots" is long, it is necessary to check the status of the grafting site regularly. If the binding is not firm, it should be reinforced promptly (while trying to maintain the original state and not move the "air roots"). If new buds grow from the "air roots," some can be left as transitions to enhance healing ability. Once healing is successful, these branches can be cut off.
(5) Grafting "air roots" should be done early, preferably during the period of shaping long branches, as during this time the seedling has strong growth and healing abilities, with enough time to make the grafting marks disappear, resulting in a more perfect artistic effect.
The grafting of Ulmus "air roots" is different from the usual head root grafting. Head root grafting is a type of approach grafting, where the upper part of the stem of the small tree used for grafting can retain a certain proportion of branches, which can maintain normal growth after the approach grafting and improve the healing ability of the grafting site. Once healing is complete, the branches above the grafting site can be cut off. Additionally, the seasonal requirements for head root grafting are relatively not strict. However, the grafting of "air roots" is an insertion graft, where only the root part of the small tree is used, and it is not possible to leave the branches above the grafting site. Therefore, the technical requirements for grafting "air roots" are higher, such as the accuracy of selecting the grafting site, the difficulty of binding securely, the requirement for tight and matching alignment of both grafting sites, and also mastering the right season. It is best to do this around the time of "Minor Cold." During this period, the dormancy of Ulmus is about to end, and new buds have not yet germinated, resulting in minimal nutrient loss after grafting, which is beneficial for the survival of "air roots." This period is also the best season for transplanting Ulmus.
The above introduction to air root grafting for banyan style bonsai is provided for everyone to learn and understand!