Common Osmanthus Bonsai Shapes
As one of China's top ten traditional famous flowers, the osmanthus tree holds an important position in the art of bonsai with its rich aroma and elegant shapes. Osmanthus bonsai, through ingenious pruning, can display a natural charm and unique artistic form. This article will elaborate on four major mainstream shaping systems to help you master the core pruning techniques.
I. Straight Stem Branching System
1.1 Classic Mushroom Top Shape
Especially popular in the Jiangnan region, this shape involves retaining the straight trunk and cultivating 3-5 main branches in batches. It requires the "remove the top to promote lateral growth" pruning method every year after the beginning of spring, combined with aluminum wire wrapping to shape, ultimately forming an umbrella-shaped canopy. The characteristic of this shape is the even spacing between branches, presenting a round and full visual effect.
1.2 Asymmetrical Triangle Variation
An innovative evolution based on the classic mushroom top shape, this shape is formed through differentiated pruning to create an asymmetric canopy. The main branches facing southeast are allowed to extend, while those facing northwest are appropriately shortened, ultimately forming a geometric shape full of tension, especially suitable for placement in corners or specific spaces.
II. Natural Random Shape System
2.1 Artificial Wisp Shape
Using metal wire wrapping and positioning pruning, it is possible to shape symbolic forms such as lucky clouds and coiled dragons. The focus is to control the direction of new branches, maintaining the artistic shape's persistence through the "spring pruning to shape, autumn pruning to maintain" care rhythm.
2.2 Natural Clifftop Cypress Shape
Selected from wild collections, this shape retains the natural weathering marks. Care involves using the "control water to promote scarring" technique, limiting water supply to enhance the bark's cracking effect, combined with moss attachment treatment to create a natural wild charm that haswithstood the test of time.
III. Root Art Shaping System
3.1 Interlaced Roots Style
For trees over 20 years old, the roots are pulled up during potting every year, gradually exposing the interlaced roots. Combined with the bamboo stake root separation technique and using palm fibers to fix the main root direction, a stunning visual effect of "draconian exploration of the sea" is ultimately formed.
3.2 Rock Coexistence Style
Using absorbent stones or porous volcanic rocks, the young roots are guided to wrap around the crevices in the stone. Through 5-8 years of directional cultivation, the roots and the rock merge completely, creating a unique artistic conception of "fragrance on stone."
IV. Complex Shape Advanced Techniques
Combining trunk shaping with root art techniques, it is possible to create complex forms such as "one trunk with multiple stems" and "jungle style". The key is to balance the visual weight of each shaping element, usually distributing the focus of attention in a 7:3 ratio. Regularly using gibberellin regulators to control the growth rhythm ensures the integrity of the artistic effect.
By systematically mastering these shaping techniques, not only can the artistic value of osmanthus bonsai be enhanced, but the period of appreciation can also be extended. It is recommended to combine the regional climatic characteristics, with the southern regions focusing on canopy cultivation and the northern regions on root art shaping, allowing each osmanthus tree to display its unique charm.