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Miami Tropical Bonsai
The finest line of elegant bonsai trees from around the world that have been carefully selected and styled by professional bonsai artists. We offer a wide variety of finished and pre-bonsai trees and provide you with the proper plant care information and supplies to get you started enjoying the wonderful art of bonsai.
If there is anything that you may be interested in that you do not see listed in our web site, please feel free to contact us and we will do what we need to supply your operation.
If there is anything that you may be interested in that you do not see listed in our web site, please feel free to contact us and we will do what we need to supply your operation.
Bonsai Styles
In the Japanese bonsai tradition, each bonsai must conform to a clearly defined style. There are more than 100 recognized styles in bonsai, but most experts consider five basic styles to be essential - formal upright, informal upright, slanting, cascade, and semi-cascade.
After selecting a plant, examine it carefully and consider which design seems most appropriate. Don't try to force a plant into a design that does not meet its natural shape. And remember, enjoy yourself. You don't have to follow any Japanese bonsai traditions if you don't want to.
The following is only a guide to help you become familiar with various bonsai styles and their Japanese names.
Formal Upright (Chokkan)
A bonsai tree trained in the formal upright style mimics the growth of a tree under perfect natural conditions. It should be balanced, but not perfectly symmetrical. The trunk should have an obvious taper, with the widest point at the bottom. Formal upright style is considered the easiest for the novice bonsai grower.
The best species for training in the formal upright style are larches, junipers, pines, and spruces because of their naturally tapered shape. Plants in the formal upright style look best in oval or rectangular containers. Do not center the plant when placing it in the container.
Informal Upright (Moyogi)
Less strict than the formal upright, this form is the most commonly seen in nature. The trunk can twist, turn, and change direction as it would in nature based on the environment. They can grow away from the wind or upwards towards the sunlight.
Most species of sturdy plants are suitable for training in this style, but the most popular are maples.
Slanting (Shakan)
The trunk slants in one direction, and the roots often are larger on the opposite side to provide balance. Think of a tree that is reaching to one side for sunlight. Some bonsai trees that have been trained to slant look as if they will fall over because of the angle at which they lean.
Most species are suitable for this style, but the most popular are conifers.
Cascade (Kengai)
This design mimics the growth of a tree on the side of a mountain. In this style, the tree's growing tip extends below the base of its container. The natural tendency for trees is to grow upwards so it can be very difficult to encourage vigor in a bonsai that is forced to grow downwards. Cascades style is not recommended for beginners.
Many species of plants will adapt to cascade training, as long as they are not strongly upright naturally. Juniper is a favorite for training in the cascade styles.
Semi-Cascade (Hankengai)
Similar to the cascade style, semi-cascade refers to a tree whose lowest point of the trunk must be below the rim of the pot, but not its base.
Many species of plants will adapt to cascade training, as long as they are not strongly upright naturally. Junipers, and flowering plants such as wisteria and jasmine as favorites for semi-cascade.
Windswept (Fukinagashi)
This style simulates the effect of sustained exposure to strong winds. In this design, each of the branches appears to be "swept" to one side, as if being blown by a strong wind or having large portions of foliage and branches stripped by envirnomental conditions. These trees are modelled on trees usually found in coastal areas, where strong envirnomental forces have shaped and sculpted them for years.
Literati Style (Bunjin)
This style is the most unconventional of them all. Bunjin often have long thin trunks which curve back around toward the front at the top, displaying the tree's foliage in a cascading form. It is not uncommon to see Japanese Red Pines shaped in this style. This style technically "breaks the rules" in a number of ways, but also imitate trees in nature that have been forced to contort themselves to survive. Often the result of adverse conditions, bunjin show us how nature itself "breaks the rules" in order to survive, not infequently with astounding grace and beauty.
After selecting a plant, examine it carefully and consider which design seems most appropriate. Don't try to force a plant into a design that does not meet its natural shape. And remember, enjoy yourself. You don't have to follow any Japanese bonsai traditions if you don't want to.
The following is only a guide to help you become familiar with various bonsai styles and their Japanese names.
Formal Upright (Chokkan)
A bonsai tree trained in the formal upright style mimics the growth of a tree under perfect natural conditions. It should be balanced, but not perfectly symmetrical. The trunk should have an obvious taper, with the widest point at the bottom. Formal upright style is considered the easiest for the novice bonsai grower.
The best species for training in the formal upright style are larches, junipers, pines, and spruces because of their naturally tapered shape. Plants in the formal upright style look best in oval or rectangular containers. Do not center the plant when placing it in the container.
Informal Upright (Moyogi)
Less strict than the formal upright, this form is the most commonly seen in nature. The trunk can twist, turn, and change direction as it would in nature based on the environment. They can grow away from the wind or upwards towards the sunlight.
Most species of sturdy plants are suitable for training in this style, but the most popular are maples.
Slanting (Shakan)
The trunk slants in one direction, and the roots often are larger on the opposite side to provide balance. Think of a tree that is reaching to one side for sunlight. Some bonsai trees that have been trained to slant look as if they will fall over because of the angle at which they lean.
Most species are suitable for this style, but the most popular are conifers.
Cascade (Kengai)
This design mimics the growth of a tree on the side of a mountain. In this style, the tree's growing tip extends below the base of its container. The natural tendency for trees is to grow upwards so it can be very difficult to encourage vigor in a bonsai that is forced to grow downwards. Cascades style is not recommended for beginners.
Many species of plants will adapt to cascade training, as long as they are not strongly upright naturally. Juniper is a favorite for training in the cascade styles.
Semi-Cascade (Hankengai)
Similar to the cascade style, semi-cascade refers to a tree whose lowest point of the trunk must be below the rim of the pot, but not its base.
Many species of plants will adapt to cascade training, as long as they are not strongly upright naturally. Junipers, and flowering plants such as wisteria and jasmine as favorites for semi-cascade.
Windswept (Fukinagashi)
This style simulates the effect of sustained exposure to strong winds. In this design, each of the branches appears to be "swept" to one side, as if being blown by a strong wind or having large portions of foliage and branches stripped by envirnomental conditions. These trees are modelled on trees usually found in coastal areas, where strong envirnomental forces have shaped and sculpted them for years.
Literati Style (Bunjin)
This style is the most unconventional of them all. Bunjin often have long thin trunks which curve back around toward the front at the top, displaying the tree's foliage in a cascading form. It is not uncommon to see Japanese Red Pines shaped in this style. This style technically "breaks the rules" in a number of ways, but also imitate trees in nature that have been forced to contort themselves to survive. Often the result of adverse conditions, bunjin show us how nature itself "breaks the rules" in order to survive, not infequently with astounding grace and beauty.
