by Midge Goeth

Our topic for discussion this month is the Tachiki (moyogi) style or Informal Upright. This is the most common of all bonsai styles.

The trunk of an informal upright curves or bends, changing direction but still maintaining a vertical silhouette, with the tip directly above the base of the tree. The curves in the trunk should go to the left or right, not towards or away from the viewer. The tree should create the image that stress such as wind, competition for light or lack of space has forced an old tree to mold itself into a position necessary for its health and survival.

No branches should grow from the inside of curves. The lowest branch should grow from the outside of a curve about one third the way up the tree. The tree is planted in one of the outer thirds of a rectangular or oval pot and this branch extends across the remaining two thirds of the pot. The next branch up from there should extend to the back, followed by one to the other side. This pattern is repeated, with each successive layer becoming shorter and slightly closer together. Branches should have a graceful downward curve as well, as this contributes to the appearance of age. There is more flexibility in informal upright bonsai because of their overall appearance.

While many varieties of plant material such as pines, junipers, and deciduous trees are suitable for training as a Tachiki, you may want to consider this style for a blooming tree. How about a crab apple, almond, pyracantha or rhododendron for a colorful showing at one of the springtime meetings!!

P.S. A little bit about rhododendron: The Ericaceous family. Native to Asia and also found in North American, Europe, Java, the Malay islands, Australia, New Guinea and the Philippines. Some are also known by the name azalea. Greenhouse species used to be called azaleas while the name rhododendron was applied to hardy species, but there is no scientific distinction between them, and dwarf rhododendrons are called azaleas.