Updated 5/01/02

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Cascade Style

This style is both harder to draw and to explain than the Formal and Informal uprights.
I tend to describe it as either a single, falling branch or as a tree is a strong wind.
The main look of the cascade is to have the trunk reaching (horizontally) over the edge of the pot with the branches spreading outward.
As instinct tells a tree to reach for the sun, wiring is very important in the style. I tend to manipulate the tree to a desired drop and then let it grow horizontal and even head a little upward again- I simply like the fluid look of the motion.
If you have read about the other styles so far and heard me stress over the need for a natural look, you may be a bit confused to see the cascade style and I agree. It is not, in my opinion, strongly based around a whole, natural tree. It must be, in my opinion, based around a scene or part of the tree and for that reason, you have a lot of freedom with this style.

The real trick to creating a cascade tree is to, from a young age, train a bend in the trunk. This can be tricky because you don't want to put too much pressure and thus break it. A young, green trunk is fairly flexible and so can be bended carefully- so get it young. My only cascade is a tree I got which was already bent because of it's position with other seedlings- it choose to bend and find its own sun light in front of the other trees instead of fighting for a position growing upwards.
Once the trunk is permanently in position, (ie. a month or two at max.) remove the wire that was used to train it that position and begin to shape the rest of the trunk to "fall". As I am working with a conifer with small branches and leaves growing alone the trunk, I've choose to use string tied to the stool it sits on to "pull" the trunk into position- not advisable, however, I feel that this tree would have gain too many scars and damage with wire. 
For there, training of the branches is the nest thing to do. The most popular is to train the branches outward of the trunk, horizontally and at leaves to get a slight step appearance. Again, it is mostly up to the individual taste of the person and the nature of the tree.

Good tree's for the Cascade style:

*Conifers
*Some pines
*Cypress
*Weeping willow

-More mountainous type trees respond well and look great!