A Beginner’s Guide To Amazing Bonsai Trees
In Japanese, the name Bonsai translates to tray gardening, which is the growing and training of trees to create them in miniature form. Bonsai are typically grown from seeds, cuttings, young trees or even naturally small varieties of trees and placed in a container. The process of growing a bonsai is both detailed and beautiful but it is not for the person who wants instant results. Bonsai take years to develop and part of the enjoyment is the journey to creating a quality bonsai. Bonsai are classified into several different categories. Miniatures are less than 6 inches, small are 6 to 12 inches, medium are between 13 and 24 inches, and large which are over 24 inches in height.
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Bonsai are also grown in different shapes or forms. The formal upright bonsai are the classic bonsai form where the trunk is perfectly straight and perpendicular to the tray, tapering off the further away from the soil ending in a point at the pinnacle. The informal upright bonsai has a curved trunk. Like the formal upright bonsai the style features the pinnacle directly above the center of the root system regardless of how twisted the trunk is. The slant style bonsai has a trunk that leans ending in a pinnacle that is either left or right of the trunk base. The cascade style bonsai lean from just above the soil line over the edge of the tray or pot, and the branches and greenery lay out and dangle.
A derivation of the cascade style bonsai is the semi-cascade, which displays the apex of the bonsai plant reaching down to somewhere near the center of the bonsai’s pot or tray, below the soil line. When it comes to growing bonsai, the most important thing is to learn the basic steps of care first. For instance, you will need to learn the specific amount and frequency of watering, fertilizing, and pruning for each individual species since they can and do differ. Bonsai also must be repotted, generally within one to three years.
One of the great things about bonsai is that most species are suitable for turning into a bonsai. The shaping and dwarfing of trees is accomplished through training methods and maintained through diligent pruning, trimming and care. Typically, aluminum or copper wiring is used to wrap around the trunk and branches, which keeps the tree in the desired shape until it eventually stays there on its own.
A complete set of bonsai tools is not necessary for the beginner. Starting with a concave pruner and a bud scissor is usually enough for most bonsai growers. The concave pruners primary function is to remove branches in a manner that promotes rapid and smooth healing of the wound. Its name comes from the shape of the cut and wound left on the woody trunk or branch. Bud scissors are the best tools for trimming leaves, buds and small branches. The short blades and finger holes give excellent control, enabling the user to reach into interior parts of the bonsai for trimming with precision You can purchase other tools as the need develops and you know that bonsai is no longer a passing interest.
Watering your bonsai is crucial to plant success. Simply watering on a daily basis without first observing the condition of the bonsai soil is often carried out by beginners. Bonsai can indeed require water on a daily or even twice daily basis, particularly in hot weather or early spring. However, watering to a routine commonly leads to permanently wet compost at other times. If the compost does not lose some of its moisture content between waterings, it means it is permanently wet, leading to problems associated with overwatering. The correct time to water is when the top centimeter of the compost has started to dry out. With regular observation of your trees on a daily basis, you should be able to apply water when it is actually required. Allowing the compost to dry a little between waterings will ensure that they are not overwatered.
In conclusion the art of Bonsai is to mimic nature as closely as possible. Creating a miniature replica of something that naturally occurs in nature is both ascetically pleasing as well as rewarding.
Tags: bonsai care tree, Growing Bonsai Trees, japanese bonsai trees
