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.
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.
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