Demonstrating that the key to developing healthy and interesting shohin (small) bonsai is consistent trimming and wiring, Eric revisits trees he worked on earlier this year (and one from last spring).
00:00:42 The shoots on two Chinese Elm are trimmed back to 1-2 leaves. Eric explains that repeated cutback is necessary to keep the branches in a small composition from getting too coarse or large.
00:02:04 Why Eric is not going to defoliate the elms in San Francisco at this time of year.
00:03:01 Examination of a 3rd elm on which Eric had left a branch to run. Watch as he cuts off 90% of the tree to create more distributed growth and to build more character.
00:04:14 A Washington Hawthorne trim back of new shoots to force creation of new branching.
00:04:59 Eric revisits the design of Junipers in their 3rd growing season. This includes rewiring the trunk and wiring branches. Also some shari (deadwood) work to add character and potentially create some twists.
00:07:11 Eric explains work on one of the Junipers, where he attempts to create a new bend, and then add twists and layers.
00:08:52 Another Juniper gets new wire added to create movement.
00:10:22 Make sure there aren’t any straight sections.
00:11:02 Last tree is a Dwarf Jade for which the trunk size is set, and Eric wants to ensure its a shohin tree no taller than 8″. This requires him to cut it down by about 50%!
Which of your young trees are you focused on developing right now? Let us know in the comments below. Thank you for watching; please like and share this video. We’d love to have you subscribe to the channel!
