Bonsai🌱 Understand at a glance: the difference between "native vs grafted"🌱
「Native vs grafted」
Whether it is grown from seeds or grafted by craftsmen,
Every bonsai is worth your time to understand and accompany.
Here are the differences between native vs grafted👇
🌱 Native bonsai
✅ Features
• Sprouting from seeds, growing naturally (not artificially grafted)
• The roots, trunk and branches all grow naturally as one
• Unique shape, more natural changes
🌟 advantage
• Root system develops naturally and the root plate is highly plastic
• The tree shape has a strong "personality" and is easier to make into a high-end bonsai
• No joint marks, the overall look is more harmonious and natural
• Rare, high value after maturity (collection grade)
⚠️ shortcoming
• Slow growth, requires years of cultivation
• The shape is not easy to predict and requires long-term observation and pruning
⸻
✂️ Grafted bonsai
✅ Features
• Made from two different individuals: rootstock (lower part) + scion (upper part)
• Scion(Upper part) Usually a branch of a good tree species, grafted onto a strong root stock(lower part)
• Commonly found in bonsai species such as azalea, cypress, and pine
🌟 advantage
• Fast growth, easy to cultivate beautiful tree shape and flowering characteristics
• Can propagate specific varieties in large quantities (e.g. variegated leaves, double flowers)
• The scion (upper part) is stable and can retain the excellent traits of the mother plant
⚠️ shortcoming
• The joints will leave marks (especially near the stem)
• The root system may not be in harmony with the tree shape (e.g. insufficient root expansion)
• If the grafting technique is not good, it may affect the lifespan or growth
• The collection value is generally lower than the original
Every bonsai tree has its own way of growing.
And you just need to choose a tree that is willing to walk with you for a while 🌱
And you just need to choose a tree that is willing to walk with you for a while 🌱