The Bonsai Life Cycle

FredL

Ok, all you "big thinkers" out on this forum, let me run an idea past you taken from my previous life as a Computer System Developer. (And, it is true, I'm teasing you all, but the truth is, I feel a spirit of good will here that is not that common in this world as it is.)

I want to hypothesize that there is a "Bonsai Life Cycle" and certain things must take place in each phase of the life cycle or faults in trees that are almost impossible to remedy later are created. Certain techniques or good pratices are required that are unique to each phase.

Phase 1. Seed collection, germination and production of a healthy viable seedling. If we fail in this phase, we end up with a dead seedling, a fault that is pretty much uncorrectable later.

Phase 2. Growbed Phase. During this phase, a good, flat and dense root system must be formed and the basis of a good nebari and lower trunk established. If this is not done, faults result which are very difficult to correct later.

Phase 3. Growbox Phase. At this time, the nebari and lower trunk are completed. A basic design for the primary limbs is accomplished

Phase 4. Final design and move to a Bonsai Pot. At this time, root pruning is done and, top pruning is done, initial wiring is done and the tree is installed in a bonsai pot.

Phase 5. Branch refinement. Secondary, tertiary etc. ramification is accomplished as well as completion of jin, shari, etc.

Phase 6. Maintenance of the mature tree.

Now, in the actual life history of a tree we own, one or more phases may be left to nature or others. Since the reults of others or chance can be pretty far removed from what is desirable in the Bonsai world, alot of emphasis is placed on selection of good material.

I think that when trees are reviewed for what can be done with them, it might help in a lot of cases to relate their defects back to the stage at which those defects are caused and recognize that correcting them requires taking the tree back to that phase of development. I s'pose this can be pretty discouraging for somebody that thinks (s)he has a mature, completed bonsai, but that is the truth of it, isn't it?

I'm not real attatched to the detail of what happens in each phase in my current state of bonsai ignorance, but I'm wondering if any of you out there feel that the notion of a life cycle with distinct phases and operations appropriate to those phases might be helpful?

Kind of of like another set of rules?

Best regards, Fred

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salix

I think a system like this could be useful to a limited extent, but I also think you would have some trouble formulating exactly what the phases in the cycle (it's not really a cycle, but that's OK) are, and what order they go in. I think it could be argued that phases 4 and 5 should be switched around, at least for some trees, and that some phases begin before others really end.

The downfall of any system is that it is, at its heart, an arbitrary and approximate way of thinking about things. Food for thought, anyway...

bnsaijim

Salix,

At first I didn't think your use of the word arbitrary was right. Then I pondered it. I agree, Salix.

You would think a system, granted the above is highly simplified, would tend to codify according to generally accepted practice, and therefore remove the individualistic nature...

BUT given the nature of some folks who think throwing a seed into a bonsai pot is not only bonsai but also art once it sprouts...

Pronouncing that one must do bonsai in accordance with a specific life cycle is totalitarianism and akin to mandating that you have to use proper soil and water them to have decent bonsai.

We'll have none of this nonsense.

(Semijokingly) Sincerely,

Jim
TX

salix

The steps are arbitrary in that the borders in between the phases fall on ill-defined times. The only way for someone to see what stage a tree is in is to see where and how it is planted. When you move from phase 1 to phase 2 is arbitrary. The times for moving between the phases are determined by the ARBITRARY judgement of the grower. Is it ready to move into a pot, or do I leave it in a grow box for another year? That's what makes it arbitrary.

BTW, any system of measurement is arbitrary. We have to just pick a unit and go on the assumption that it will have meaning in the future. The best systems of measurement aim to match units with some set of natural borders in whatever is measured, but if you look at anything closely enough, it is arbitrary.

All that doesn't mean that we shouldn't use arbitrary systems of measurement, but rather that we should realize that these systems are mere approximations of reality, and should be learned with the aim of transcending, rather than canonizing, their rules.

FredL

Well, this seems to be an idea that has really bombed! As I mull it over, I'm really not sure how much merit it really has.

Well, maybe it's one of those ideas with a grain of truth in it, but that needs lots of refinement to be of real value.

It is nice to be able to express an idea like this, have people take a look at and respond in a pretty respectful, actually rather encouraging way. I think this sort of atmosphere encourages people to share what they are thinking and leads to good ideas which people are reluctant to express if they think they're going to be ridiculed or responded to in harsh, mean spirited ways.

Thanks all, Fred

bnsaijim

Fred,

I don't think it's a bad idea but given some of the threads on this forum of late, it will certainly not result in mathematically precise algorythms...Even strictly following "rules"- move to the next step when the trunk diamter to 1st branch height ratio is 1:2 would not work- differences in material response, ultimate style, etc. THEN we add in personal factors...

Perhaps develop details for your projects for some of the material you plan to use it for and then present it in a more specific context- then you might get more useful feedback.

Jim
TX

Earl

"Well, this seems to be an idea that has really bombed!"

I think it bombed because it wasn't tied into the signifcance of bonsai as art (as so well worked to death on the Art thread) and all the esoteric values intinsic in true art. Being they could be construed as rules we have to decide if they are really part of art or just techniques. Once we get 100% agreement on these issues then we can decide if they will be helpful.

Anybody for another thread on wether they are truly arful rules or cycles

(Just kidding, of course. I wasn't even going to add this disclaimer but figured somebody would take me seriously!)

Earl