Bonsai: What is ramification

Bonsai can be very straightforward. You plant a tree in a pot and let it grow. You occasionally prune the branches and direct growth with wire. This can produce a mediocre tree if done in a blase manner but a bonsai none the less.
If you want one of the really impressive bonsai you need ramification. What you have never heard of ramification before?
Ramification is a catch all term in bonsai for the process of pruning branches in such a way that you get dense foliage, fine branches and a solid silhouette. Ramification does more than just help with the foliage. It promotes flowers and fruit.
In order for this to happen you need ot be mindful of what branches you cut and which you retain. This far harder than the considerations of a mediocre bonsai.
Among the many issues in bonsai when comes to ramification is which branches you cut and where. The truth is that you need ot be aggressive in pruning and so the earlier you begin the better. You try to take a branch back to just 2 smaller branches at a fork. This lets you create a geometric growth in the trees branches every time.
When you cut branches back, closer to each other they become compact but also full of leaves. This gives you the dense foliage that is so sought after.
The second advantage is that this foliage is dense but so too are the branches. This makes it possible to keep the desired shape of a specific style without sacrificing aesthetics.
As you have many branches and branch ends you will naturally get more and more flowers growing on the tree. These are either on the very ends of a branch or on branches that you cut. Ramification also lets you keep these flowers going every year as you are able to prune in a way that always presents fresh opportunities for a floral display rather than having one good year and several bad years.

[@matshagstrom9839]

A very good explanation

[@IgorandFrankenstein]

Glad you think so!

[@warriorinagarden5624]

Thank you!!

[@IgorandFrankenstein]

You're welcome!

[@wadmadhushan4434]

Super 👍👍

[@stepheneurosailor1623]

👍

[@damandarin5415]

"Always two. Never more" - Star Wars Rule of Two reference?

[@IgorandFrankenstein]

Was that pre or post Sith civil war rule?