National Bonsai and Penjing Museum

Penjing U.S. National Bonsai and Penjing Museum
 Penjing Tree (also called shumu penjing in Chinese) are considered the same as bonsai, with emphasis on the layout of the baggage. Usual style as the straight stem, stem side and forest regulations. Because of this similarity, only one category Penjing Trees will be discussed here. It's an interesting part of the tradition Penjing Tree is a stylish Literati (mu wenren called in Chinese), and was originally created by the scholars of China as a method of self expression. Poets usually have long, thin, tapered trunk and rarely branched. This is in contrast to other tree Penjing who generally have more "dense" quality. Poets generally displays four principles that reflect the feelings and aspirations of educated scholars who began the tradition.• The first is Gugao (indifference), which is evident in the long trunk lines from writers and is considered to symbolize the spirit of elitist lonely bachelor. These rods are usually extraordinary thin for the height of trees.• The second is the principle Jianjie (lack of), and this is basically a lesson in "less is more" and the idea is to create a statement with the smallest number of branches. In this way some artists Penjing equate this principle with calligraphy, because of lack of trees reduces to the line, but the lines still have a deep significance despite the lack of depth and variety.• The third principle is Ya (elegant) in which the scholars tried to create a sense of elegance and tranquility in their tree.• The fourth principle is Pingdan (simplicity), where the quality of plain, smooth, and hard sometimes taken in order to create a simpler kind of beauty. Basically, the scholars tried to contrast their "no frills" natural beauty with art objects and ornaments decorated the higher they see as low as they are considered impediments to seek true understanding.• It is also important to remember that Literati is not supposed to be funny or disability, but only have to show a tree that has been struggling to overcome obstacles in its lifetime.• Other properties which some believe have influenced the creation of this form is a painful longing for the past, the perception is wrong, intense loneliness, and the bitter taste of rejection combined with an already elitist attitude of the community of Chinese scholars.Stone is the main medium Penjing scene trying to invoke a sense of great panoramas within the confines of limited water tray.

Bonsai Mini Size

Bonsai Mini Size
Bonsai tree is one big Minatur. But there is also a miniature bonsai, or often called Mame. Surprisingly enough, especially among the laity, but the small form, it is very sweet and funny to be.

In competition, the difference in the size class of plants in different rankings of large and small. There are four categories that will take the extra large, with a height of 101-150 cm, 61-100 cm tall, medium 1-60cm, small 0-15 cm and 16-30 cm classes Mame.

Viewed from a hobby, almost all classes many students are interested in, because every bonsai grower has a different character, so the fun and creativity certainly does not produce the same. The same thing with the size of the finished result will be displayed.
Beginner bonsai hobby, it's usually not quick to enjoy the beauty of bonsai. Simple alternative, the production of miniature bonsai is Mame. Time is relatively faster, which can be seen between 1-2 years. Tiny Bonsai is much more interesting when combined in an artistic pot.
To create a bonsai Mame four basic factors that must be considered, namely the desired environment, the selection of styles, choose the road, and institutions. seen from the shape, Mame Bonsai unique. For small size, but it shows the character of bonsai. One is age, size and direction of movement of the trunk and branches. Almost all types of plants can be cultivated Sun Mame bonsai class.

Bonsai - Air Layering

What is Air Layering?

Introduction by Brent Walston
Air layering is the process of removing a large branch or section of the trunk of a tree to create another tree. Before the branch is removed it is girdled, protected with peat moss or other media and the girdled section is allowed to root. After rooting the branch is removed from the tree. This is a very common practice in bonsai to obtain another tree from an unwanted branch or to save a thick trunk section that was going to be removed anyway.
Transport of Food, Water, and Nutrients
Under the bark of trees (dicotyledonous ones) there is a layer of cells called the phloem. This tissue transports carbohydrates and other photosynthates (including auxin) down from the leaves to the lower parts of the plant. Beneath the phloem layer is another layer called the xylem that transports water and mineral nutrients from the roots and soil up to the leafy parts of the tree. Beneath the xylem is another xylem layer called the secondary xylem. These xylem layers are thicker and deeper into the wood of the tree than the phloem layer. Lying on top of these layers just under the bark is a layer of actively dividing cells called the cambium.
The Air Layering Process
In the process of airlayering, the bark, the cambium, and the phloem layer are removed by cutting away about a 1 inch wide ring of these tissues from around the circumference of the shoot. The xylem however is left intact. This is known as girdling. Generally, synthetic auxins (in a vehicle of talc powder or by liquid) are applied to the site where the tissues have been removed. (Although applying auxin is the general practice today it is not necessary for many trees). Wet sphagnum moss (or another moisture retentive soil) is then bunched around and over this girdled site and covered with plastic and sealed.
What Happens at the Air Layer Site
The removal of the bark, cambium, and phloem, but not the xylem, prevents carbohydrates and photosynthates from flowing down the trunk past the girdling site but still allows water and mineral nutrients to flow upward to the leaves. This keeps the leafy portions of the shoot from drying out and maintains them with an adequate supply of nutrients. The removal of the actively growing cambium layer prevents the regeneration of phloem and healing over of the wound. Because of this the carbohydrates and photosynthates flowing down the trunk collect at the girdling site. The presence of these excesses of carbohydrates and photosynthates (esp. auxin) at the girdling site, plus the presence of the water in the sphagnum moss, causes dormant adventitious buds in the area to grow into roots. When there are enough roots to sustain the shoot independently the shoot is cut off of the tree and then planted or potted.

 

The Difference Between Air Layers and Cuttings
The propagation of plants by cuttings occurs by the same principles and has very similar circumstances. The difference is that the shoot is removed from plant at the start and water and nutrients flow up the shoot from the cut site by capillary action instead. This kind of propagation can only be done with small and thin shoots since the flow of water is insufficient for larger branches. Airlayering solves this problem and allows the creation of new plants from very large parts of trees.