Here is a very detailed document on how to develop ramification in bonsai.

Available to download in a printable format for your convenience.

Albury Wodonga Bonsai Society
Neil Padbury July 2020

Ramification is the finely divided small twigs that can make our bonsai look more like real trees. When we look at an old tree we see the trunk and roots. We see larger branches growing from the trunk. We see smaller branches growing from the large main branches and growing from those smaller branches we see lots of small twigs holding the leaves. This is ramification. Sometimes the terms primary, secondary and tertiary ramification or branching is used to describe this in bonsai and it is this fine tracery of small twigs that can make our small bonsai look like real trees.

Key Points:

• Pruning is used to develop good branch structure and ramification.

• Cut long branches back to where you need the branch to fork out into smaller branches.

• Use grow and prune cycles to develop ramification.

• Healthy trees grow new shoots much better than weaker ones so feed and water well before and during pruning for ramification.

• Remove excess shoots before they cause problems, especially on pines and maples.