Creating age in bonsai

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For most of us, having a bonsai that is older than twenty years is only possible if you buy it older or stay in the hobby long enough to have a tree twenty years old. If one is fortunate they can work on their tree and produce all the images of an older tree. There are things that make a tree look older.

In a trees early years the canopy will be flame shaped and all the branches will seem to move in an upward fashion. This is the growing years of the tree. For the most part it will have been free of disease and pests and will grow strong and large.





As the tree ages, gravity takes hold and heavy branches will now begin to sag. Disease and pests will allow branches to snap from the weight due to weakening. The long branches will begin to droop and sometimes reach the ground.




How might a tree like this look thru the ages of its life?

 

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It might look like this.



How might we add some techniques to make a bonsai look more ancient?

Dan Robinson is a master at the illusion of age. While his tree might be very old in and of itself, the techniques added to the tree make it look even more old. This photo of a Dan Robinson tree gives that impression.
The branches are drooping from the weight of the branches and gravity. The texture of the shari and uro's also help age the trunk to allow the branches to not seem contrived. The numerous jins in the canopy also allow the imagination to run wild with visual speed throughout the tree.

Sometimes even bark can add a dimension of age. It takes many years to get a good craggy bark on a small tree and a tree that shows this can add an age dimension.

 

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Many times a tree may have a canopy that is more juvinile in appearance but the trunk and nebari will give the impression of great age. It takes many years to grow a large nebari and fine unscarred trunks can also convey age.



Eventhough all the branches on these trees are above the horizon the emmense base give the illusion of age.

Drop branches hang down from trees and also add an extra measure of age with their serene shape and subtle imagery. Again these branches are from the tree needing to get every little bit of sunlight possible. In the reach of the branch, weight and gravity take over and soon the branch takes a downward trajectory and begins growing towards the ground. In bonsai this is used to great effect on branches that are especially thin and gracefull. It's not always possible but when it can be done it adds a tremendous amout of drama and age.

Try some of these techniques the next time you are styling your tree and see if they can be applied. The tree will be the beneficiary.

 

[Dav4]

Very nice job, Al, tying together the connection between the way old trees look in the real world and the styling we apply to our trees in pots. Wonderful pictures...

 

[Anthony]

Al,

thanks a million, your photo images of trees in the fields, looks like Sageretia t.
With time and a lot of work you can get the Chinese serissa to do the same, but it comes naturally for the Sageretia t.
Very inspiring!!
Good Day
Anthony

 

[crust]

Nice job Al

 

[Smoke]

Al,

thanks a million, your photo images of trees in the fields, looks like Sageretia t.
With time and a lot of work you can get the Chinese serissa to do the same, but it comes naturally for the Sageretia t.
Very inspiring!!
Good Day
Anthony

A nice kingsville boxwood can sometimes look just like these old oaks.

 

[Dan W.]

Good post Al!
One additional observation: The older trees also display a lot more movement in the branches. So twists, curves and bends really add to the feeling of age as well. (If you already stated this somewhere, my apologies.)

 

[zachkent29]

Well written.

If I may, what tree is the 3rd to last picture in the blue pot?