Bonsai Styles

With the advent of time bonsai too evolved into different variations with each variation a artistic individuality in itself. Bonsai artists gradually looked into introducing other culturally important elements in their bonsai plantings such as rocks, supplementary and accent plants, and even small buildings and people which itself is known as the art of bon-kei. However all these variations can be categorized into two broad categories. These are the classic and the comic. The classic bonsai plants look like there original big brothers with a brad trunk at the bottom which generally tapers down to the top. The newly developed comic style of bonsai is exactly opposite that is with a tapered base and a much stronger upper portion. Unlike normally the comic style of bonsai is more difficult to master and it requires much experience on the part of the care taker. Other styles sub classes include slanting, cascade and semi cascade.
 

Cascade : Cascade and semi-cascade are modeled after trees that grow over water or on the sides of mountains. Semi-cascades do not lean as far downward as the cascade style. The trunk has a natural taper and gives the impression of the forces of nature pulling against the forces of gravity. Branches appear to be seeking the light. The winding main trunk looks like a stream winding around a mountain as it falls down giving it that cascade experience.

Slanting :here the main trunk is slanted at particular angle giving the impression that has been battered by the wind and rain alike. This style is quite a simple one that can be achieved by many methods. At an early age, the bonsai can be trained to an angle by means of wiring the trunk until it is in position. Alternatively, the tree can be forced to grow in a slanted style by putting the actual pot on a slant, causing the tree to grow abnormally.

If you study very carefully the way trees grow in nature, it is possible to design a realistic bonsai without knowing the names of these styles. You do not need to stick strictly to the precise rules of your chosen style: adapt them to suit a plant's natural habitat. become the creator and design a new style and then name it after yourself.