Deadwood On Deciduous Bonsai

A jin is a bare stripped part of branch and a shari is a barkless part of trunk.
Deadwood on deciduous bonsai. Deadwood is fine on deciduous species but it will look contrived on this particular tree. Deadwood on bonsai adds interest and curiosity to your tree. Jins are created in nature when wind lightning or other adversity kills the leader or a branch further down the tree. I get it.
As mentioned replacing apex and canopy branching is pretty easy with most deciduous species. There are patterns and a reason for the deadwood to be there. This is a free 25 minute video on carving bonsai deadwood that i filmed in july 2019 for the series developing deciduous bonsai by bonsai empire. Jins on trees in nature are normally created.
Indeed it often forms the backbone of a great design. For more information please visit. Now deadwood on deciduous trees is uncommon and some of you may reject the whole idea. So on a bonsai as an artist you have to stay with a pattern create that story of why.
Harry harrington discussed the design principles for deciduous bonsai as well as deadwood at the bonsai empire stand during the trophy 2020 event. You can see why i got it it s got killer bark and deadwood. For more details on carving deadwood for bonsai. Once deadwood on a tree is exposed to the elements it naturally starts to decay.
Deadwood also commonly referred to a drift wood is an integral part of the artistic and structural design of many bonsai trees. Hardwoods can take a number of years to fully breakdown whereas softer woods particularly those found on tropical species can disintegrate within a year. Jin 神 is a bonsai deadwood technique used on branches or the top of the trunk the leader. This article will not discuss the merits of deadwood or the methods by which we create it.
When creating deadwood you have to remember that trees in nature don t just have random deadwood. Deadwood on bonsai in the form of jinor shari adds an effective feature to a design and in the case of many old pine and juniper a very realistic one as well. Creating deadwood on bonsai in the form of jin or shari can enhance the tree s character significantly. Jin shari and uro.
In nature deadwood is created when a tree is hit by lightning exposed to sustained periods of drought or when branches snap due to ice stress wind or weight of snow. It s not as easy with conifers which is one reason why jin are used on them easier to just jin a branch on a pine than regrow it.