China Trade Bonsai Society of Southeastern Connecticut

Meetings: 1^st Wednesday of each month 6-8pm at the Connecticut College Arboretum
New London Hall, New London, CT.
Visitors Welcome!

Todd Hansen – Discovering the Tree Within The Tree by R.E. Sant

Todd may be a fairly recent member to join our club, but he isn’t new to the art of bonsai or raising trees.  He worked the family business of raising Christmas trees (Hansen Family Tree Farm) from 1981 to 2002 when he decided to sell his share of the farm and pursue his interest in bonsai. 

Todd acquired his first bonsai in 1999, and by 2000, had successfully killed it.  But his didn’t dissuade him; in fact, he says he’s “hooked”.  He continues to build his knowledge and skill by reading most anything he can get his hands on, studying tree’s designed by masters, and critiquing them.  He is the President of the Bonsai Society of Greater Hartford (http://www.greaterhartfordbonsai.com/), and most recently, the runner up in the 2004 Joshua Roth New Talent Contest held at BCI 2004 convention in St. Louis.  His contest entry can be seen at http://www.absbonsai.org/cmenu/NTC/ntc5/ntc5a.html.

Todd addressed the China Trade Bonsai Society on July 7, 2004, speaking on what he calls “Discovering the Tree Within the Tree”.  Todd opened his lecture using the familiar logo from New England Bonsai Gardens as an example of the desired characteristics to search for in a tree.

In short, the desired characteristics are:  

1. Nebari (Roots) – Should be interesting.  Spreads outward from trunk.  Even on all sides.  Give the illusion of strength, age and balance.
2. Trunk – Natural and tapered.  Can be either straight or show movement, but taper is the most important characteristic.
3. Bark – Should show character and age.  Some trees like the Japanese Black Pine develop corky bark at earlier ages.  Jins and sharis on trunk and branches also add to the aged look.
4. Branches – Again emphasizing taper.  Taper from the bottom to the top so that the bottom branches are thickest.  Taper all the way around, from the base of the branch to its tips.
5. Foliage – Build pads vs. leaves, and again tapering bottom to top, building the triangle.  Pads should be in areas that will see sunlight.  Work to build branch ramification through selective pruning and pinching.  Remove basal growth (leaves at the base of the branch) to help convey age.
6. Simplicity – Simplicity helps convey the illusion of age.

Todd brought with him several trees that he’s recently acquired to aid in the demonstration.  The first was a ficus nerifolia, or willow-leaf ficus.  It was small, spindly and had two-trunks.  A couple of snips and the potential bonsai could be seen.  

The next tree was a small ficus retusa.  In its pre-bonsai state it is upright, good foliage, and a few aerial roots.   Todd recommended styling it as a semi-cascade.   To the left is the before image, to the right are both the front and back after images in its new pot.

Following the transplanting and styling, Todd defoliated the ficus to help it recover from the potting and pruning since growing new leaves grows new roots!  This will also help it back-bud and build ramification.  July is a good time of year for the repotting and defoliating of tropical trees.