The Art of Bonsai

Tag: branch

  • Slave branches

    Slave branches are used to thicken a bonsai trunk or even branch. By allowing wild and untrimmed growth of these branches the trunk or branch can be thickened. Once the thickening is done the slave branch can be removed or trimmed back.   The branch thus thickened, as in this case, now has a proper…

  • How to thicken a branch

    On this bonsai Ficus natalensis the lowest branch on the right side is not thick enough. Most often the lowest branch should be the thickest on the tree. In order to achieve proper thickness the branch is allowed to grow longer than the style dictates. Note the leaves are also larger than the rest of…