Cascade styles are among the hardest to achieve. Generally, Junipers are the most commonly shaped trees; their hardiness and malleable nature makes them perfect for creating bonsai trees cascade style! ...
Cascade Style
The growing tip of a cascade bonsai reaches below the base of a container. The trunk has a natural taper and gives the impression of the forces of nature pulling against the forces of gravity. Branches appear to be seeking the light.
Cascade Style (KENGAI)
Semi-cascade (HAN-KENGAI) is very close to an extremely slanted trunk style. The apex is placed at tip of tree. Medium depth pot can be used for this style.
A formal cascade.
Cascade Style (Kengai)
The Cascade style is easily recognized as the trunk dips below the bottom of the pot. This style represents a tree that is growing on a cliff top and has that cascade over and below the precipice of the cliff top.
- Cascade Style
- Semi- Cascade Style
The two basic styles of bonsai are the classic (koten) and the informal or `comic` (bunjin).
The cascade style of bonsai is among the more beautiful and desired, but also more difficult to achieve.
The trunk grows down below the level of the container, often twisting as it does so.
Kengai (Cascade) ...
The cascade style of bonsai represents a natural tree growing down the face of an embankment. A cascaded planting usually looks best in a deep round or hexagonal container.
In the cascade style the trunk starts by growing upward from the soil, then turns downward abruptly, and reaches a point below the bottom edge of the container.
The semi-cascade style occurs in nature when trees grow on cliffs or overhang water. The angle of the trunk in this bonsai is not specific, as long as the effect is strongly horizontal, even if the tree grows well below the level of the pot rim.
This semi-cascade style bonsai was purchased as a starter plant in 2004 from the Wariapendi native nursery (near Yerrinbool). The tree was potted into a bonsai container in 2006. The tree has flowered each year.
The cascade style because of its inherent movement and instability requires significant roots to stabilize the trunk (figure 7). In creating a cascade tree one often sees trees that have been tipped over.
Most woody little herbs will be an informal upright style, although creeping thyme makes a wonderful cascade style bonsai. Young plants often have many branches very close together.
Another variation of the Kengai Bonsai style is the Han-Kengai or semi-cascade style. This particular variety is often categorised separately. However, both styles are very popular.
The semi-cascade style, just like the cascade style, is found in nature on cliffs and on the banks of rivers and lakes. The trunk grows upright for a small distance and then bends downward.
Becoming a bit bolder, I tried the cascade style in a cream octagon pot in March 2004 after doing a heavy wiring job on the left side branch and taking, what was for me, the radical step of removing a loopy under branch on the right.
The Cascade Style is easily recognized as the trunk dips below the bottom of the pot.
Sections of telegraph poles are a good alternative pedestal upright, highly suitable for displaying cascade style bonsai. This five-tier pagoda is the perfect backdrop and looks wonderful at night when the candles inside are lit.
Most styles are suitable for juniper bonsai. You will often see cascade styles which mimic the natural habitat of the tree, clinging to the mountainside. Sharis reflect the large sections of deadwood often observed in nature.
This is a Chinese Elm, and I am intended to grow this tree into the semi-cascade style. In fact, to be more specific, I want to cultivate this Chinese Elm into a "--捞月" (literally means scooping the moon from the ocean).
Both this style and the cascade style depict trees clinging to a cliff face, where they are beaten by snow, wind and rockfalls.
K: Kabaduchi - Japanese term for clump style bonsai
kengai - Japanese term for cascade style. See also han-kengai
L: Lava
layering - a method of propagating a tree by ring-girdling the trunk and inducing roots to grow from the wound.
Styles Chapter 3 - Discriptions and photographs of the Cascade and Semi-Cascade styles. These styles tend to be more difficult to achieve though are among the more beautiful and desired of the five basic styles.
I have taken a collected larch with a prostrate habit from a quarry in Wales. They lend themselves to create a semi or full cascade style.
The illustration below shows a tree (broom style)in three different pots, the pot on the right is wrong, it's only suited to a cascade style tree. The one in the middle is better, a more appropriate width, length but a bit to deep.
Cascade style bonsai trains the tree to grow down over the side of the pot, mimicking trees that grow over water or the side of a mountain. Semi-cascade does not grow down so far or only has a branch or two growing lower than the lip of its pot.
The "Slanting" bonsai style. Shakkan style can be considered the intermediate stadium between the informal upright and cascade styles as the tree still grows up, but tends to slant over. One of the basic styles.
Shari ...
atlantica 'Aurea'Golden Blue Atlas Cedar are the two most common species used for the popular cedar cascade style. Both of the cultivars have very short needles, and will form superior foliage pads when trained properly.
Shakkan style can be considered the intermediate stadium between the informal upright and cascade styles as the tree still grows up, but tends to bend down. (See also section Bonsai styles in Encyclopedia).
Cascade and semi-cascade are modeled after trees that grow over water or on the sides of mountains. Semi-cascades do not lean as far downward as the cascade style.
The Kengai (Cascade) bonsai is a beautiful bonsai style and needs special techniques in its creation. I hope the following instructions will provide you with the information you need to complete a bonsai in the cascade style.
Material ...
bonsai are modeled after trees which grow over water or on the sides of mountains. The apex, or tip of the tree in the Semi-cascade-style, or Han Kengai, bonsai extend just at or beneath the lip of the bonsai pot; the apex of a (full) cascade style ...
The apex, or tip of the tree in the Semi-cascade-style, or Han Kengai, bonsai extend just at or beneath the lip of the bonsai pot; the apex of a (full) cascade style falls below the base of the pot.
Once you have worked out the position of where the tree should sit in the pot, (usually off-centre except for cascade and semi-cascade styles), put the mesh over the drainage holes and add a layer of soil for the tree to rest on.
 See also: Cascade, Style, Bonsai, Plant, Trunk
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