New to Bonsi and a question?????

Dan_Davis · Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 2:17 pm Post subject: New to Bonsi and a question?????

Hello folks from Florida, Clearwater/Dunedin area... I've been reading about bonsi and see a term used "jin" when talking about trunks. Any responses will be appreciated.

Carol · Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 3:15 pm Post subject: New to Bonsi and a question?????

Hello, Dan - Welcome to Bonsai Help. You'll find any amount of information here, and a very friendly group of people, from those just starting out through to those with decades of experience. All will be happy to answer your questions.

In this instance, a jin is a branch which has been treated to give the effect of having been damaged in some way and has died. It entails removing the bark from a branch and treating it with lime sulphur or similar. This gives a white finish, which will mellow in time to a cream or greyish appearance, and is meant to mimic something like a lightning strike or similar.

In terms of a trunk, bark is removed and the same treatment applied - this is called a shari. Again, it mimics some trauma, e.g. a branch which has broken off and torn the bark from the trunk in its fall. It's done on selected areas of the trunk, depending on the desired effect - the remainder of the bark is left in situ.

You will see any number of examples of both of these on trees in nature - after a storm, wind, or perhaps it just happens. Some trees here in Australia (and no doubt in your area also) are notorious for just dropping one or two branches when the mood takes them, e.g. some species of eucalypts, poincianas, etc. No one with any sense parks their cars under these trees!! Rolling Eyes

I hope this answers your question.

Cheers
Carol

keithmart

Hi and welcome

Have a look at this link, it describes Jin and Shari quite well

http://www.bonsaiprimer.com/jinshari/jinshari.html

Dan_Davis

Hey folks thanks alot.... I tried bonsi a few years ago but didn't do very well with what I purchased then. But I was told that what I purchased was probably dead when I bought it. Being a juniper it stayed green when the roots were dead so I'm trying again. I bought an African Strangler fig with some air roots on it and it looks great. Living here in Florida I'm going on a excursion out in the cypress stands to look for a young tree this weekend. And Keith thanks for the Primer link as well

yamadorinige

If you get a bald cypress, it will need to be kept outside where mother nature intended it to be.