How to make Raft style Bonsai with Ficus plant

Sunday Bonsai workshop went on well. Ficus benjamina plant was shaped in to raft style. Raft style is a natural style usually we see it in nature. When huge aged plant growing may fall off to the ground due the effect of cyclone and huge winds. The plant then starts giving life to new branches making them stand tall above the soil, they look like as independent plants. Each branch has to be trained as individual Bonsai. All branches to be wired and to be bring them up separately. Good fast rooting varieties of plants like Ficus, Juniper are best. It takes 5 to 6 years to get a proper raft style to the plant, this style in in japan is called as Ikadabuki style. Regularly we are coming across
all these styles in nature, just we are copying the nature in our Bonsais. Each style has given a name by Bonsai Master John Naka. A Great Proverb by Great Grand master John Naka "The Object of Making Bonsai not to look like a Bonsai, but to make Bonsai look like a tree".
It’s very true.  

        

    

                                                               september 15 , 2024