How To Grow Bonsai

Bonsai is an art of growing various species of trees in their dwarf form in shallow pots. The word bonsai originates from two different words viz. ‘Bon’ meaning ‘tray’ and ‘Sai’ meaning ‘planting’. Using cultivation techniques such as pruning, root reduction, potting, defoliation and grafting, bonsai grows up into a beautiful replica of its mature full-size tree. Growing bonsai is the right combination of effort and ingeniousness. The indulgence into growing the miniature forms of big trees does not intend to accentuate the production of food and medicine or create yard-sized or park-sized landscapes. Instead, growing bonsai is more of a hobby and learning experience than an endeavor stroked for a specific purpose. One thing which the activity ensures is the communion with nature. The article provides you with useful tips on how to grow bonsai. Read on and be a part of the group of bonsai raisers and appreciators.

Tips On Growing Bonsai

Your endeavor of growing a bonsai begins with choosing the type of bonsai variety you want to grow, whether it is the indoor bonsai or the outdoor bonsai that you are interested in. The novices should always go in for an interesting character for their first bonsai. Some of the traditional outdoor bonsai plants include elm, jade tree and juniper, while schefflera, weeping fig and Natal plum are famous for inside bonsai varieties.
You can grow your favorite bonsai variety either out of seeds or a small cutting from an old plant. People using seeds to grow bonsai are likely to see a very rewarding result, as the tree would definitely grow into a magnificent piece of art. Growing a bonsai out of a cutting, though would give out the same rewarding result as the seed variant, but is likely to demand more time for the same.
Bonsai needs to be taken care of properly and should be watered sufficiently. However, ‘sufficiently’ definitely is not a license for you to over water your bonsai. Both over-watering and under-watering can cause death of your favorite tree. Therefore, it is very important on your part to be aware of the water requirements of your tree. There are certain species of bonsai that need more water in summer than in winter. On the other hand, there are some species that prefer to remain dry in between different watering sessions. You can check whether or not your bonsai requires water by pushing it down into the soil, right at the bottom of the main trunk. If you find the soil to be spongy, then there is no need of watering them right away, and vice versa. Make sure not to use the garden hose while watering your dwarf, as it can wash out excess soil.
Another useful tip for a novice planter is that bonsai trees love humid climate. For this reason, bonsai should always be kept in a shallow tray with water. This way, water when evaporates from the tray would add up to the humidity level in the air surrounding the tree. You should use flat rock or pebbles in the tray under the pot, in order to provide a firm base for your bonsai, to rest on above the water level. Bonsai trees also need adequate amount of sunlight, unless they have recently undergone pruning or repotting.
Feeding is another crucial element in deciding the growth and nourishment of your favorite bonsai. Some of the partisans believe that bonsai trees gather enough nutrients from the soil when they are being re-potted into fresh soil. However, this is a wrong impression and can serve as one of the easiest ways to put your plant onto the death bed. It is very important to feed a bonsai tree once in 2 weeks for its complete and healthy growth. If you want to see your bonsai grow to its full size, a feed rich in nitrogen is an ideal option.
Bonsai also needs a little bit of shaping and training for it to retain its beauty and appearance. Shaping a bonsai is a continuous process, starting from when it is young and continuing till the tree matures to its full size. You can use a copper wire to keep the branches and trunk under calculated growth routine. The tree should be kept proportional in size including the leaves, needles, flowers as well as the container in which it grows.

How to Cite

Related Articles

See also

More in 'Home & Living'