Interesting Pictures of Chinese Elm Bonsai Trees

by Jack Schwartz on January 12, 2010

Chinese Elm is universally known as being a a good tree for beginners, so here are some interesting pictures I found on an internet forum. Chinese Elm are very good to use in Chinese bonsai works too – check out that twiggy branching!

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Chinese Elm

Chinese Elm

Link taken from :http://www.pantown.com/board.php?id=2804&area=4&name=board9&topic=191&action=view

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Tips for Creating a Chinese Bonsai Look

by Jack Schwartz on January 10, 2010

Chinese Bonsai should mirror the natural form of trees as they seen in the wild, and should give the impression that the bonsai structure could have been formed by natural factors.

There are three main design considerations when it comes to Chinese Bonsai, or indeed, Bonsai in general, but please bear in mind that Penjing (the Chinese form of bonsai) has far less hard and fast rules compared to the Japanese form. It can be a little bit tricky if you are used to growing vegetables or other common garden activities. Nevertheless, here are some basic rules of thumb which can help if you are a beginner:
  • The trunk , which should be thick at the bottom, should slowly get thinner as it rises giving the trunk a beautiful tapered shape.
  • The roots, which are often left exposed above the soil in order to give the bonsai tree a wise and mature appearance. By using a shallow container the roots can be forced to grow horizontally away from the trunk, producing natural lines that rise and fall above the surface of the soil, adding an elagance to the scene, as well as providing the tree with added stability.
  • The branches, which should be evenly spaced from each other should mirror and compliment the trunk, in that they should also taper towards the tips but they should also have a light and fragile look about them. It is a good idea to have the lowest branch begin about a third of the way up the Bonsai, this should ideally be the strongest looking and most dominant branch.
By getting these three design considerations right, the landscape and the aesthetic of the piece should harmonize with each other. Try to find the best viewing angle of your landscape, which is normally viewing the tree from the front  where the tree is at its widest. Once you know which is the best side of your bonsai, you can begin to work on adding materials and figurines to compliment it. Try to find a container which matches the image and mood the bonsai projects, and also it is often a good idea to get a container which is only about as deep as the width of the base of the tree for the best look.
These guidelines are not set in stone, but if you are a beginner they can be helpful if you are unsure about what to aim for!

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