Bonsai 101 - Bonsai Tool 10-Piece Set

Bonsai 101

While most people associate bonsai with Japan, it probably originated in China. The word "bonsai" is a combination of the Chinese word for pot, "bon," and "sai," which means to plant. During the 8th century A.D., Chinese culture greatly influenced Japan, and this is probably when the Japanese adopted the art. Bonsai are meant to evoke natural beauty on a small scale, and to mimic the characteristics of a mature tree in miniature.

Growing a Bonsai Tree - How to Get Started

Bonsai is a blend of horticulture and art. It can be enjoyed by anyone, whether as a hobby or more time-consuming lifestyle. Before you begin, you will need some equipment. Here are some basics to get started.

1. Bonsai pots of various sizes and styles

2. Flexible mesh screen

3. Copper wire

4. Pruning shears

5. Pruning scissors (for trimming small branches, leaves and shoots)

6. Soil mix of two parts potting soil and one part pea-sized gravel

7. Chopsticks or unsharpened pencil

Now you will need to obtain your bonsai tree, or the raw material to make one. Here are some ideas.

1. Buy a ready-made bonsai from a local nursery or the internet and maintain its design.

2. Collect a small tree from the wild. This is the traditional Japanese method of obtaining bonsai, but it can be tricky in our modern times. Make sure you are authorized by the property's owners. Look for a tree that has an interesting shape and can be easily collected. Trees growing on rocks, with their shallow root systems and twisted shapes, are ideal.

3. Garden center stock makes excellent beginner's specimens. Juniper, cotoneaster, azalea, Japanese holly, and boxwood make good choices.

4. Landscaping cast-offs are another way to obtain bonsai material that is often already mature. When property owners tear out old shrubs such as azalea, boxwood, juniper, and forsythia, try to rescue one to make into a bonsai tree.

Cut to Shape

Once you have obtained your bonsai stock, it's time to trim it to shape. Do not put it in the bonsai pot just yet; turn it and study its shape, looking for the tree-like qualities. Trim away branches from the base to form a bare trunk, and aim for a dense, finely branching crown. Use wire coiled around the trunk or branches to make the shape look like a tree that has grown for decades in the wind or hanging from a rock.

Pot It Up

Once you have the shape you want, gently wiggle the plant free from the pot and shake off as much dirt as you can from the root ball. Using your pruning shears, trim back the roots by about two-thirds. The root system should now be shallow enough to fit into your bonsai pot.

Prepare the pot by covering the pot's holes with small squares cut from the wire mesh. Pour a small amount of potting mix on the bottom of the pot, set your newly-trimmed bonsai on top, then fill in with potting mix. Use the chopstick or pencil to work the soil down among the roots. Water thoroughly.

Maintaining Your Bonsai

Your bonsai is always a work in progress. Keep it trimmed to maintain and refine its shape. Every other year, in the very early spring, remove your bonsai from its pot and re-trim the roots. Remember, bonsai are not houseplants. Keep your bonsai outside.

Bonsai Tool 10-Piece Set

I just love looking at Bonsai trees. They are beautiful, delicate and yet so strong looking. Bonsai is a Japanese art form where trees or even shrubs are put in shallow containers and trained and pruned to look like normal size trees. It takes a lot of patience, love, information and certain tools to help you grow a Bonsai tree.

This very popular Bonsai Tool 10-Piece Set is a great tool set. I like the fact that it is designed for beginners but also for people with more advanced knowledge. The tools have been hand inspected and are made of high quality carbon steel. They are very sturdy and if you keep them lightly oiled, they should last for years to come. Just to name a few of the tools: cutting scissors of various sizes, trimming scissors, wire cutter, rake with spatula and leaf cutter.

Overall, the toolkit comes at a very reasonable price and it should make taking care of your precious Bonsai trees a lot easier.

Beeswax Candles And What You Should Know About Them

Throughout history beeswax has been used for many purposes . The most popular probably has been in candle making so it can be considered one of the most notable uses of beeswax. Beeswax candles have been around for centuries, and they are still frequently used. Here are some facts about beeswax candles that you might not be aware of.

1. History of Beeswax Candles

Beeswax was not the first material used to make candles. That distinction goes to boiled animal fat, also known as tallow, which was used to make candles prior to the Middle Ages. These candles served their purpose, but they had some definite drawbacks. They gave off lots of smoke, their flame was inconsistent, and their odor was unpleasant.

In the Middle Ages, candle makers started experimenting with beeswax. They were pleased to find that beeswax candles created very little smoke, and their scent was light and pleasing. However, beeswax was hard to come by at the time due to the fact that there were no beekeepers in those days. So beeswax candles were used primarily by nobility.

The Catholic Church later began to use beeswax candles. It was eventually written into canon law that the candles burned in any cathedral must contain at least 60 percent beeswax. This law is still in effect today. Fortunately, beeswax is much easier to obtain now.

2. Benefits of Beeswax Candles

The benefits of beeswax candles over those made of tallow are pretty obvious. But even today, with all of the improvements that have been made in the candle making process and new materials being used, beeswax still has numerous advantages. These include:

• The smoke produced by beeswax candles is not harmful to the environment or our health. This cannot be said for most candles, which are made of paraffin.
• Burning beeswax candles can actually be beneficial for allergy sufferers. It can help alleviate asthma and sensitivities to cigarette smoke, carbon dioxide and other pollutants. This is because they emit negative ions when burned, which help to clean the air.
• The scent of beeswax candles has a natural calming effect. Those who suffer from insomnia often sleep better when they burn beeswax candles before going to bed at night.
• Beeswax candles are more expensive than paraffin candles, but they also last much longer. A beeswax candle will burn about five times as long as a paraffin candle of the same size, so it is much more cost-effective.

Beeswax candles have been in existence for centuries, and they are still favorites of many candle lovers. They might be a little bit pricier than most candles, but considering the many benefits they offer, their numerous fans agree that they're worth every penny paid.

Of, course not everyone is interested in candle making, so, maybe you want to look in a different direction for your artistic inclinations. To start you on another craft you may want to have a look at

Beginner Quilt Instructions. Quilting is completely different from candle making. You may prefer working on something that will become a family heirloom and for that quilting is just the thing.