AusBonsai

As per title, can someone explain the main steps that are the same/different to growing a sumo shohin, as opposed to a more standard bonsai style. How exactly does one guarantee the such aggressive taper in such short heights only only 20-25cm?

I'd imagine there is a significant deal of ground growing, and low sacrifice branches, but how does this culminate into a tree with sharp taper, as opposed to just a thick tree trunk? For example, many of the sumo shohins you search on the internet look almost like equilateral triangles (see the attached image), with no real obvious signs of significant trunk cuts, and what looks like steady even taper the whole way up.

What are the nuances that separate growing a sumo shohin, from any other bonsai style?

The attached images are of an Acer Palmatum, Acer Buergerianum, and Ficus that are similar to what I am primarily aiming to achieve.

There is almost always a trunk chop.

With time a new leader is developed, sometimes in a position to disguise the cut or help it 'cover over'.

Daluke wrote:There is almost always a trunk chop.

With time a new leader is developed, sometimes in a position to disguise the cut or help it 'cover over'.

Almost always Multiple trunk chops.


Take a tree of choice, plant out and retain any low branches, let he apex grow freely.
Trunk chop low and then train up a new leader, keeping all lower branches as sacrifices and remove them when they get too large otherwise large scars result.

Rinse and repeat yearly or so until he desired trunk is developed.

The other way is to just chop low a large tree, but that does not get the required taper. You can carve taper in the stump. but that is a different look entirely.

Ps the lower 2 look like they have had several larger trunk chops rather than lots of smaller ones.

Ken