How to make an aquatic and dry landscape bonsai
This article brings you knowledge about the creation of bonsai, focusing on how to make an aquatic and dry landscape bonsai. Let's introduce it next.
An aquatic and dry landscape bonsai is a product of the combination of tree bonsai and landscape bonsai. It is a unique form of Chinese bonsai. Aquatic and dry landscape bonsai have a wide range of subjects, rich content, and a strong natural atmosphere, making them deeply loved by people. The creation of aquatic and dry landscape bonsai is relatively complex, requiring the creator to master the basic techniques of both tree and landscape bonsai to be proficient.
Materials selection for aquatic and dry landscape bonsai includes pots, plants, rocks, and accessories. The pots used for aquatic and dry landscape bonsai mostly adopt shallow stone pots (i.e., landscape bonsai pots), with shapes mainly including rectangular, oval, kidney-shaped, round, and irregular, depending on the shaping needs. The pots for aquatic and dry landscape bonsai are very shallow and generally do not require drainage holes. If deeper pots are used, holes need to be opened in the dry land area where trees are planted to facilitate drainage. The color of the pot should be grayish-white, sometimes also using dark colors.
The plants used in aquatic and dry landscape bonsai are mainly trees, but herbs and mosses can also be used. Trees should have dense branches and leaves, suitable for pruning and shaping; the tree shape should be natural, not too strange; and they should be adaptable. Many tree species can be used, such as five-needle pine, podocarpus macrophyllus, money pine, spruce, metasequoia, juniper, zelkova, Prunus triloba, catalpa, zelkova, boxwood, Tamarix, maples, Ligustrum sinense, bamboo, June snow, crape myrtle, pomegranate, opuntia, pyracantha, and nandina.
The rock materials for aquatic and dry landscape bonsai are preferably hard, with commonly used stone types including Xuan stone, Yingde stone, turtle-shell stone, stone bamboo shoots, and ax-cut stone. The shape of the rocks should not be too strange, with few angles, and the surface should not be damaged. The characteristics of the stones in the same bonsai, such as color, texture, and material, should be uniform. Commonly used accessories in aquatic and dry landscape bonsai include figures, animals, buildings, and boats. The materials are divided into pottery, stone, metal, etc., with pottery being the best and the color simple and elegant. Accessories can also be made according to need.
Processing trees and rocks Tree materials can be cultivated from a young age or collected from the wild, but they all need to go through a certain period of processing and cultivation before they can be used. The processing methods mainly involve pruning, with winding as a supplement. Pines and cypresses are more often wound, while natural forms like opuntia and bamboo do not require winding and can be trimmed appropriately. The planting area for aquatic and dry landscape bonsai is small and irregular, so the roots need to be processed before planting. Trees are usually uprooted from the original pot, some of the old soil is removed, and long roots, especially the thick roots that grow downwards, are trimmed. The amount of soil and root trimming depends on the shape of the dry land area in the pot. Before the layout is determined, it is better to remove less soil and trim fewer roots to ensure survival after planting.
The processing of stone materials mainly involves cutting and carving. Stone cutting usually uses a stone cutting machine, while for soft stones, a steel saw can be used for manual cutting. The main stones are processed first, followed by the other accompanying stones. The base of the cut stones should be flat for good adhesion to the pot surface. Before cutting, the stones must be carefully observed to ensure accurate selection. Carving is done to coordinate and unify the stone patterns, enhancing the overall effect. To remove unsightly angles or solve surface damage issues, water sandpaper can be used for water polishing, or chemical treatments like hydrochloric acid can be applied. Stones usually require several processing steps to meet requirements. The processing should aim to be natural and not show artificial traces.
Layout of aquatic and dry landscape bonsai After the trees and rocks have been processed, the layout can be done. Layout is very important and is the key to the success or failure of creating an aquatic and dry landscape bonsai, and must be done with care and attention to detail. The layout requires multiple trials and adjustments, often requiring further processing or replacement of some materials. Efforts should be made to place each tree and rock in the best position. The layout includes trees, slope rocks and dry land stones, terrain, water surface, and accessories, with each part interconnected to form a unified and varied whole.
Aquatic and dry landscape bonsai usually feature trees as the main subject, often planted in clusters. Attention should be paid to the relationships between primary and secondary, dense and sparse, high and low, near and far, competition and yielding, exposure and concealment, and movement and stillness, while also considering the relationship between trees and rocks, as well as the position of rocks and the water surface, with the proportion of dry land to water surface being appropriate. The layout of rocks should follow the principle of perspective, with the shape and wrinkles of the rocks roughly the same but slightly varied, and the assembled rocks should have a sense of unity, with large and small surfaces used in combination. The placement of stones in aquatic and dry landscape bonsai greatly affects the overall shape, providing contrast and highlighting for trees, and also plays an important role in the treatment of terrain, as well as compensating for the defects in tree roots. The placement of stones should also pay attention to changes in height and density, as well as their relationship with other objects. Accessories are mostly placed on rocks and should be positioned appropriately, with coordinated colors and proper proportions.
After repeated adjustments and modifications, the layout can be determined, and the positions of the main objects are marked in the pot with a pencil, especially noting that the waterline must be accurately drawn on the pot. Stones can be numbered to avoid confusion during the gluing process. The specific operation involves first gluing the slope rocks in the pot, then planting trees, arranging stones, creating terrain, and finally fixing accessories and planting moss.
Before gluing the rocks, the pot surface must be cleaned. Cement mixed with 107 glue can be used, with color added to match the rock color. The gluing must be tight, ensuring that the rocks are well bonded to both the pot surface and each other, without leakage or excess cement showing. An oil painting brush can be used to wipe off any cement on the outside of the rocks. Leaks can be harmful to plant growth. After the cement has dried, trees can be planted. First, a thin layer of soil is placed in the dry land area, then the old soil is removed from the roots and they are trimmed appropriately, with the trees planted in suitable positions according to the layout requirements, using bamboo sticks to press the soil and roots together without pressing the soil too tightly.
After planting, the stones are placed in their designated positions. The lower part of the stones should be buried in the soil to "take root." Generally, while placing stones, soil is piled on the dry land to create terrain, and a layer of fine soil is scattered on the surface to prepare for moss. After placing the stones, accessories can be fixed on the flat surface of the stones with cement or glue.
Planting moss can beautify the pot surface, unite trees and rocks, prevent soil and water loss, and should be taken seriously. After planting moss, consider the overall effect and trim the trees finely for the best result. Finally, wash the rocks, tree trunks, and pot clean, and the creation of an aquatic and dry landscape bonsai is complete. After careful maintenance for a period of time, the trees and rocks will look more coordinated and natural, and the viewing effect will also be better.
The above is a specific introduction to how to make an aquatic and dry landscape bonsai, hoping to bring some flower knowledge to flower enthusiasts.