The trees grown by Tsugiki (grafting), Sashiki (cutting), and Toriki (layering) inherits the nature of mother trees. Especially Toriki can also have the good shape because it uses a part of mother tree. Fujiyoshi Kandaka, the third generation of Kandaka Shojuen bonsai garden in Takamatsu’s Kinashi town, showed us the masterly technique.

Roots Come Out In 3 Months

Kandaka chooses a 30 years old Kuromatsu which is grown by Misho and 60 centimeters in height. The upper part of trunk is thicker than the bottom. The reason why he chooses is the bad balance. First, mark the cutting point. Next, put a notch about 1centimeter with a saw and bark the trunk with a sickle. And also remove all the epidermis. Then put the rooting promotor on the upper part. After that, wrap it with the mixture of pear moss and soils and hold it with the wire. Finally, put there a pot as container to put soils.

After about 3 months, the new roots come out. In next spring, it can be cut from the mother tree. Watering is very important during this period.

Just after Toriki, the tree’s Nebari is poor and does not match the taste of branch and needle. But it will be a good one like Yamadori after several years.

Thick In Short Time

Yamadori trees have decreased sharply and now Toriki is a way to cultivate good trees. Sometimes many trees develop from a mother tree. A very tall tree can be divided in two to cut. A poor bonsai will be also reborn by adaptation to cut off a part of it. In addition, the Toriki tree has the same nature of mother tree so it can develop the new other trees having good needles and barks as a mother tree.

The suitable period of Toriki is from May to June. Doing it during this period, the tree’s trunk will be thick in a short time. In addition, the point of Toriki will become inconspicuous.

Kandaka says, “It is difficult to decide where to cut. I feel happy when the tree grows like my image. The pine having rough bark like from Awaji is suitable for Toriki.”

(By Shigeo Hano)