Today's demonstration tree is an orange tree grown from seed, about three years old. It has been training as a formal upright
(chokan) style. Citrus trees used to be fairly unusual for bonsai, but John Naka began growing citrus bonsai in the 1980s.
The first step in creating a bonsai is finding the front. Then the branches are pruned to reveal the form. A formal upright must have
a straight trunk and be planted vertical. Branch placement is of great importance in this most difficult of bonsai styles.
The wayward branches have been wired and the tree is now ready for planting in a bonsai growing pot.
Using the root rake to remove soil from the roots. Photo by Andrea.
Cutting the tap root with a lopper. Photo by Andrea.
Raking out the roots. Photo by Andrea.
Trimming excess roots with a bonsai shear. Photo by Andrea.
A fit check in the pot. The tree will go slightly to my right and slightly to the rear of the pot (away from me). This is a concrete
growing pot. Later (in a few years) it will go into a Japanese ceramic pot. Photo by Andrea.
A mound of potting soil goes under the center of the tree. Photo by Andrea.
The tree is placed on the mound of potting soil and then filled all around. Photo by Andrea.
A surface layer of washed basalt sand will weigh down and hold the light soil during water immersion. Photo by Andrea.
Immersing the bonsai in water for a minute. Photo by Andrea.
Here it is with the front toward me. Photo by Andrea.
The citrus bonsai is finished, for today. No bonsai is ever completely finished. This tree will be pruned and wired several times again
before it is ready to be planted in a Japanese ceramic bonsai pot. Elapsed time from first photo to last is one hour and 23 minutes.
Email Richard dot J dot Wagner at gmail dot com