PENJING STYLING; Podocarpus

	BUILDING; TRAINING BY PRUNING! Basic styling! Start with an idea, concept or a unique feature. This started with interesting roots that looked like legs that had playful animal-like qualities. The design balanced a compact foliage mass connected by a thin, elegant soaring trunk! All training has been by pruning only. Trees that are trained by pruning only have a very comfortable appearance.
	This compact crown was formed by standard "building" techniques: pinch the primary growth tip, select from the branches that develop, pinch the branch tips, and create the details of the branches. Change the main shin-line to create a new crown direction. Keep refining and adding interest!
	This root system trained itself and was just exposed. It was the inspiration for Fuku-Bonsai's "Hawaiian Dragon" styling being offered as Living Lovables.
	"THIN AND TALL." The tall elegant trunk contrasts with very short branches. Another tree trained in the Chinese manner with just pruning. Usually those starting out like the idea of a thick stout trunk. As they gain more experience, they begin to appreciate trees that have more subtle styling. This is a 40" tall bonsai with a 2.5" thick trunk. It would have more traditional proportions if the height were half as tall and branches were longer. Initially every possible branch was retained and the mass of each branch is based upon the thickness of that branch. This branch concept varies from Japanese bonsai where lowest branches tend to be longest and overall shape is a triangle.
	Again the root system created an interesting base from which a tree emerges.
	REDUCTION FOR STOUT TRUNKS! High in the mountains at the top of the tree-line where trees struggle to grow, there is natural die-back during some weather cycles and strong regrowth during favorable weather. This natural sequence produces outstanding bonsai stock and Fuku-Bonsai's Reduction-Building training techniques (also known as "Sumo" styling) duplicates the process.
	This tree has been reduced twice so far and has a proportionally large trunk. Imagine removing at the red-yellow marks to create a stout dramatic trunk!
	REARRANGING FOR CURVES! Gentle pruning can create interesting detailed branches and dramatic pruning can create exciting trunks. But if you like curves, there are any number of ways to make a straight trunk into a curvy trunk. The most common method is wiring. If you start when the tree is easily bent, you can invent your own training methods!
	Training of this tree began at the same time as the tall slender first tree about 1982 when trunks were thin and easily bent. The 36" tall rooted cutting had a trunk just 1/4" thick and was very easily bent with strings and wire. There are multiple compound bends so if you look at the tree from different directions, you'll see other sets of lively bends. Exposing the roots add interest.
	ASSEMBLY FOR INSTANT MASS! Creating a bonsai from a single tree is time consuming. But if you have a two-tree group, it looks heavier from the start. Learn to group trees together. Learn rock plantings and tray landscapes for an instant effect!
	The Chinese love slender taller bonsai while also having the skill to create impressive very stout trees! Like the "Thin & Tall" tree above, creating this type of forest requires the discipline to keep the forest thinned out and to create as much character as possible with each branch.
	The forest features 21 trees of different heights, irregular spacing, and planted at different heights. Even thin trees develop more character as they age. 37" tall.
	EXCITING ROOT DESIGNS! The finest Japanese bonsai begin with an analysis of the root system and this often determines how the tree will be shaped. Roots take on a greater emphasis in tropical bonsai as when ficus trees take on banyan shapes. Chinese penjing leans more heavily to pure art and roots are a dramatic creative component. These are two root designs in progress with extensive wiring of the roots and training checked every few years. The aluminum foil form a temporary "pot" while the roots are developing.
	Creating an interesting root system is often more difficult than training a trunk! Not all trees will allow their root systems to be exposed and once you know which trees will allow it, consider the roots as part of your design concept when training those trees. Develop long roots in extra deep pots or by including heavy temporary support wires until roots are sufficiently thick enough to support the tree.