Bonsaify | Defining the Three Phases of Bonsai Development

This video is filled with great tips on the specific operations required to develop a tree into a good bonsai through early, middle, and late development. Eric explains what the differences are between these three stages, and why each is important.

LATE DEVELOPMENT
00:00:27 Work on a collected wild trunk with 2 approach grafts added to create the crown. This tree is almost done with development phase; it's reaching maturity as a bonsai. Eric will be using techniques to maintain the branch structure, not to create it.

00:01:14 Eric focuses on a second wiring, with the goal of branch optimization, creating more space, and creating patterns the branches need to have for them to be maintained long-term.

00:02:03 Trim & wire ASMR with explanation.

00:03:27 Silhouette completed.

MIDDLE DEVELOPMENT
00:04:06 Eric works on a field grown Kishu Juniper in middle development that still has a long way to go with overall structure. First he'll clean up bottoms of branches so he can do a structural analysis of the tree and decide what the next steps are.

00:04:56 Eric uses towels to block out parts of the foliage he might cut off.

00:05:30 Why he won't just cut off all those branches and start styling the tree; there are still some structural issues that need to be overcome. This requires use of growing techniques which involve leaving large sacrifice brnaches.

00:06:21 Clean up jin ( bare part of branch) and shari (trunk w/o bark), and also lower section of the trunk.

00:07:05 Discussion of the 2 separate lifelines and how they impacted Eric's work decisions a few years ago, and how they impact the decisions he's making today.

00:08:12 Creating a 2nd shari and what it will do to the growth and development of the trunk.

00:09:55 Results of today's shari work.

EARLY DEVELOPMENT
00:10:35 Creating or modifying a trunk line or trunk line & primary branches.

00:11:18 There is one simple operation in early development to make the difference between a mediocre and a really good tree later.

00:12:08 Wiring plus a critical step: adding movement and twists without cracking the branches or splitting at a major junction.

We've organized the channel with playlists for early & middle development:
EARLY DEVELOPMENT:    • Early Development  
MIDDLE DEVELOPMENT:    • Middle Development  

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