Bonsai is an artistic practice focused on cultivating miniature trees that evoke the characteristics of mature specimens found in nature. This illusion of age and scale is achieved through continuous refinement and careful horticultural techniques. Ramification is a foundational concept in this art, representing the process of developing a dense, intricate network of fine branches and twigs. This refinement transforms a simple potted sapling into a compelling, aged miniature.
Understanding the Concept of Ramification
Ramification is the progressive division of a tree’s structure from a single trunk into smaller and smaller growths. It refers to the creation of a highly detailed system of primary, secondary, and tertiary branches that culminates in a mass of fine twigs. A highly ramified tree might feature over a dozen levels of branching moving outward from the main trunk.
A key structural characteristic of good ramification is taper. Taper is the gradual reduction in thickness, starting from the substantial trunk, moving to the main branches, and finally thinning out to the tips of the twigs. This process requires sustained effort over many years, as branches must be allowed to thicken before being cut back to encourage new division. Ramification is a continuous cycle of growth, pruning, and refinement that increases the density and complexity of the canopy.
The Aesthetic Importance of Dense Branching
The primary function of ramification is to create the illusion of maturity and scale within a small container. A mature tree develops a complex branch structure over decades to maximize leaf coverage. By replicating this density, the bonsai appears to have survived for a similar length of time.
Dense, fine branching forms the characteristic foliage pads that define the silhouette of a refined bonsai design. These pads, which resemble clouds or layered platforms, are essential for balancing the composition and giving the tree visual weight. A lack of ramification results in long, bare, or “leggy” branches, creating a sparse, juvenile appearance. The intricate tracery of twigs visible when leaves drop in autumn further enhances the perceived age and artistic value.
Ramification also plays a direct role in leaf size reduction, which is necessary to maintain the miniature scale. By forcing the tree to divide its energy among an increasing number of growth tips, the resulting leaves or needles are often smaller. This proportionate foliage helps ensure the entire composition maintains a convincing sense of scale.
Practical Techniques for Developing Ramification
Achieving dense ramification involves overriding the tree’s natural growth inclination, which is controlled by apical dominance. Trees concentrate energy and growth-suppressing hormones (auxins) at the terminal buds to prioritize upward and outward growth, ensuring competition for sunlight.
The fundamental technique for breaking this dominance is structural pruning, often called the “clip and grow” method. Pruning the tip of a branch temporarily removes the source of auxins, causing the tree to redistribute energy to latent or lateral buds. This action forces one growing tip to divide into two or more new shoots, beginning ramification. A typical cycle involves letting a new shoot extend to thicken, then cutting it back to just two buds to ensure repeated division.
Defoliation is an advanced technique used primarily on healthy, vigorous deciduous species to accelerate ramification. This involves the partial or total removal of all leaves during the peak growing season, typically midsummer. Removing the foliage forces the tree to produce a second flush of smaller leaves and activates numerous dormant buds along the branches. This process rapidly increases branch density in a single season, but it must be performed only on well-established trees, as it is stressful.
The correct placement of branches is also necessary for successful ramification. Wiring is used to position primary and secondary branches so they do not shade one another, allowing light to penetrate the inner canopy. Light sustains the growth of interior buds; without it, inner branches weaken and die back. Maintenance pruning, such as pinching the soft tips of new shoots, is used to maintain the shape and continuously stimulate fine division into a dense, compact canopy.