Juniper bonsai are renowned for their intricate deadwood features, with a “live vein” being the part of the tree still alive. How does deadwood form in nature? I imagine age, stress, root damage, etc all contribute. Is it possible for a bonsai to developer new deadwood?
How does Deadwood form?
- Thread starter Awpearce
- Start date
Daniel son STL
Shohin
Branches break in nature. Too much shade can kill a branch, animals, trees just get old and limbs die off.
In bonsai you just grow out a branch in the spot you want and then kill it. Cut the secondary branches off or leave them and just strip the bark/cambium layer. Now it’s dead. Brush with lime sulfur to make it pop white.
In bonsai you just grow out a branch in the spot you want and then kill it. Cut the secondary branches off or leave them and just strip the bark/cambium layer. Now it’s dead. Brush with lime sulfur to make it pop white.
Brian Van Fleet
Pretty Fly for a Bonsai Guy
Deadwood doesn’t form, it remains.
Dav4
Drop Branch Murphy
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Deadwood is what happens when branches and trunks made of dense sap filled wood die and are then “weathered” by the elements… sun, wind, cold all go to dry, carve and preserve what remains…
When I acquired this tree over 15 years ago, it had 3 life lines and a lot of deadwood. Now it has only two life lines… but more deadwood
.
When I acquired this tree over 15 years ago, it had 3 life lines and a lot of deadwood. Now it has only two life lines… but more deadwood
.Did you purposefully kill off the third life line, or did it just die?Deadwood is what happens when branches and trunks made of dense sap filled wood die and are then “weathered” by the elements… sun, wind, cold all go to dry, carve and preserve what remains…
When I acquired this tree over 15 years ago, it had 3 life lines and a lot of deadwood. Now it has only two life lines… but more deadwood
View attachment 430523
Dav4
Drop Branch Murphy
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The lifeline was supported solely by a grafted branch that succumbed to a spider mite infestation… Bye-bye lifeline.
Shibui
Imperial Masterpiece
We can form new dead wood by stripping bark. Only the outer layers of a tree are alive so stripping bark off kills that section.
Entire branches can be stripped or just one side of a branch or trunk.
Where live bark remains stays alive provided it has connection to roots below and foliage above.
Knowing how the tree's circulation system works will help design and implement new dead wood features.
Entire branches can be stripped or just one side of a branch or trunk.
Where live bark remains stays alive provided it has connection to roots below and foliage above.
Knowing how the tree's circulation system works will help design and implement new dead wood features.
sorce
Nonsense Rascal
I think it pays to know how a tree grows and actually forms deadwood as a part of the yearly process.
I appreciate these answers but it could be a wee confusing.
You gotta understand what is actually happening in order to best know how to use it artistically.
These differences should be defined and remain.... F.E.R.T.!
Formed. Only Nature
Exposed. You or Nature.
Rotted. You or Nature.
Treated. Only You.
Sorce
I appreciate these answers but it could be a wee confusing.
You gotta understand what is actually happening in order to best know how to use it artistically.
These differences should be defined and remain.... F.E.R.T.!
Formed. Only Nature
Exposed. You or Nature.
Rotted. You or Nature.
Treated. Only You.
Sorce
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