RAFT STYLE BONSAI

Raft Style imitates those trees that have fallen down but continue to grow with the branches on one side growing like individual trees.

There are three types of Raft Style Bonsai

Straight  Raft Style Bonsai

In the straight type raft bonsai, as the name suggests the tree’s trunk which would be generally straight is laid on its side in to the soil. The branches are trained to grow upright from that trunk. Each branch is then grown as if it were an individual tree.

Sinuous Raft Style Bonsai

Sinuous means curved or curving in and out. In this type of raft bonsai, the original trunk would be curved or twisted. It is then laid on its side into the soil. However the branches would be grown upright to resemble individual trees. 

Clump Raft Style Bonsai

In the above two types normally only one trunk would be laid horizontally and the branches grown from the trunk. But in the clump style, three or more trunks would be growing from  a single root system. Hence,  once it is placed horizontally into the soil, branches grow upright, appearing to be individual trees.

Natural Raft Formation

 Since bonsai styles are inspired and adopted from nature, raft style occurs in nature under the following circumstances:

A healthy tree would have been felled due to a natural calamity such as flood, landslide, wind, earthquake, etc.  and the trunk would be flat on the earth and either due to the weight of the trunk or due to some other reason, a portion of the trunk or the entire trunk could be covered with soil.

The trunk from such a tree if not broken from the roots and the trunk and  branches continue to receive sustenance from all or a  part of the original root-system.  Thereby  branches on the upper portion of the horizontal trunk  continue to grow and eventually developing  as trunks, while roots form along the portions of the original  trunk which was covered with soil. The original root system will usually atrophy and decay. As the several new trees develop the original trunk assumes the characteristics of surface or exposed roots.

If several sprouts grow from same root system developing into several trees grafting together due to their proximity and closeness, it leads to the formation of the clump style raft.  

In the raft style bonsai, the roots are developed from the trunk that is in contact with the soil. Depending upon the type, the original root ball may be either reduced or removed after ensuring that the trunks or branches have generated enough roots to survive on their own.

CREATING A STRAIGHT RAFT STYLE BONSAI

An ideal stock should be chosen ; one with a straight trunk with many branches on any one side of the trunk.  Except the branches that would be trained i.e. those branches growing towards the opposite side to the one that is supposed to be on the top and other unwanted branches should be removed and the tree should be potted horizontal to the initial position in a pot that is long enough to hold the tree.

The remaining branches should be wired. The bark and cambium underneath the horizontal trunk should removed. Except the upright branches everything else should be covered with potting soil.  The horizontal trunk should be totally covered. The visible branches should then be trained to be growing as separate trees.  As roots start forming under the horizontal trunk the size of the original rood ball  should be reduced.

CREATING A SINUOUS RAFT STYLE BONSAI

A curved trunk  or one that could be curved, with many branches on at least one side of the trunk should be chosen. Except the branches that would be trained i.e. those branches growing towards the opposite side to the one that is supposed to be on the top and other unwanted branches should be removed and the tree should be potted horizontal to the initial position in a pot that is long enough to hold the tree.

The bark and cambium underneath should be removed before potting the trunk.

Depending upon where the new trees are to be growing, branches may be styled to grow  directly out of trunk or initially they would be grown horizontally and then upright.

The desired design could be acquired by wiring the trunk appropriately.

Except the upright branches everything else should be covered by soil. As roots start forming under the horizontal trunk,  the size of the original rood ball  should be reduced.

CRATING A CLUMP RAFT STYLE BONSAI

This style bonsai has several trunks growing from a single root system. The styling rules followed for a two-tree or twin trunk style can be used. Selection of plant is based  on flexibility and thickness i.e.  relatively thin and flexible. In a true clump many trunks would be projecting from the same root system. The various branches are wired and bent horizontal. bent towards the front or back of the composition. The rules are the same as that of a forest type bonsai. Since the branches are supposed to grow as individual trees, they are bent upright at the point from there are to develop as individual trees.

The root ball is cut from the front to the back and flattened to reduce the depth of soil and the root ball is secured into the tray. The horizontal portion of the wired and bent branches and the root ball are covered with potting soil.. Pruning is carried out as and when necessary.

Once the upright, new trees have grown as desired, the wires can be removed. If there are sufficient roots  on the horizontal branches, then a shallow bonsai container could be used. Prune and wire the new trees to develop the desired styling