Make Miniature Trees with the Bonsai Look
Edited by Nerissa Avisado, Robbi, Eng, Lynn and 4 others
A bonsai is a miniature shrub or tree that has the appearance of an aged, graceful specimen. Grown in shallow containers, these are carefully and artistically pruned and wired until they acquire sweeping curves that only old trees have. Serious bonsai hobbyists have trees that are 10 years old or even older.
Bonsai is not about owning bonsai plants. It is about the enjoyment of caring for them and most of all creating them. Bonsai is neither grown to produce food nor medicine. It is not about creating a large garden full of bonsai. If this is going to be your first bonsai, make a real one; don't buy one.
Bonsai Facts
Before you create your own bonsai, here are some interesting bonsai facts you should know. It's also helpful to know the different styles and designs available for you to use on your own bonsai before you get started.
- 1This Japanese antiquated art of growing miniature trees using containers is almost 2000 years old.Bonsai cultivation is old.
- 2Believe it or not, it originally dates back to some of the ancient Chinese dynasties (600 AD). Notice early drawings from the mountainous regions of China. It is the Japanese, however, that popularized the current interpretation of the bonsai, as it is known these days.It is Chinese.
- 3Together, these two Chinese characters mean - a tree planted in a shallow pot."Bon" and "Sai." The words mean "tray" and "plant" and pronounced "bone-sigh".
- 4What is the basic difference between a Chinese and a Japanese bonsai? The Japanese bonsai growers' preference leans towards natural-looking types for the purpose of imitating what is seen in the natural environment. The Chinese bonsai growers want their trees growing in a free-form shape, pruning them a bit in the process.Which is which?
- 5They are happier outside the whole year, even in summer. But autumn is the best time to prune them, especially the deciduous bonsai.Bonsai are not houseplants but outdoor plants.
- 6Bonsai are not planted, they are cultivated. Almost any tree or shrub can be transformed into a small tree infused with character.There is no such thing as bonsai seeds.
- 7The leaves and branches are carefully trained to achieve the beautiful shape.Little bonsai do not grow into big bonsai.
Before You Get Started
There are several things you need to know before you get started, including styles of bonsai, and what trees and shrubs work best.
Different Bonsai Styles
Before you start shaping a tree, first decide on the style you want to achieve. Here are the different shapes and styles to choose from:
- 1Chokkan is the basis of bonsai style. This is a single upright trunk tapering toward the top. It's also the most difficult form to achieve.Formal or upright form (Chokkan).
- 2This is a romantic aura of twisting and bending. This is a single upright trunk with well-balanced curves. The top usually bends toward the front. Like old trees dwelling in hills and fields, evoking dignity, grace, and refinement of trunks and branches that have been bent and twisted over many years. This is the most well-known style of bonsai.Informal upright form (Moyohgi).
- 3Overflowing potential growth. This bonsai has a single arching or cascading trunk, either severely slanted or drooping below the container. This form depicts a powerful will to live with its roots shooting into the soil and hanging on to life. This is one of the oldest, popular bonsai forms.Semi or full cascade (Kengai).
- 4These are usually trees of related species to represent a miniature landscape.Group or forest.
- 5A sparse single upright trunk can be straight, slanted, or curved characterized by a tasteful, simple elegance.Freeform.
- 6Sweeping the sky. Stands upright but the branches spread outwards.Broom form (Hokidachi).
- 7Unbalanced image of stability. This bonsai represents a tree growing in harsh environments like strong winds of storm swept seashore.Slanting form (Shakan).
- 8Weaving of life and death. This is a dead tree but still living. Life and death intertwined. It symbolizes the meaning of life and the subtle and profound worldview of the East.Driftwood (Sharimiki).
- 9Tasteful elegance. The trunks are thin from the bottom to top. Its branches are thinned and sparse. It depicts the Japanese intellectuals of late 19th century, of aloofness and constraints of society.Literati form (Bunjingi).
Characteristics Of Plants Suitable For A Good Bonsai
If you are ready to start, but wondering what plants work well to cultivate a bonsai, look for the following characteristics:
- 1Plants with small leaves because they make good branch formations.
- 2Plants with short internodes because they can endure container conditions.
- 3Plants with attractive bark or roots because they can withstand intense pruning.
OTHER CHARACTERISTICS WORTH CONSIDERING
- Attractive bark or roots.
- Woody plants.
- Good trunk that tapers from soil to top.
Suggested Outdoor Plants
A few examples of plants that have these physical attributes are:
- Apple.
- Arbor vitae.
- Azalea
- Boxwood.
- Cedars.
- Cypress.
- Elms.
- Quince.
- Wisteria.
- Maples (especially Japanese Maples)
- Pomegranate.
- Oaks.
- Pyracantha.
- Pines.
- Junipers.
Create Your Own Bonsai
Here are some fairly easy directions to enable you to make your own bonsai.
What You Need
- 1Japanese bonsai soils, which you need to learn to mix, are:Bonsai soil.
- Akadama.
- Kauma.
- Fujisuna.
- Hyuga
- Kiryu.
- Keto.
Selecting Your Tree or Bush
Bonsai are relatively easy to make. Remember that training bonsai is an art. To start you on your path, read the following suggestions.
- 1Pick a desirable plant.
- 2Select a style suitable for the plant.
- 3#Establish the front and back.Carefully examine the plant to determine if it's appropriate for the style chosen.
- 4Apply the rule of three - the triumvirate of heaven, man, and earth.
- 5Start pruning undesirable growth to make you see the plant better for the style you choose.
- 6Observe the trimmed plant from all angles.
Instructions
Bonsai soil is significantly different from regular soil. This soil is granular for the purpose of rapid drainage of water, offers efficient air circulation and adds weight to anchor the tree. A standard mix is made of equal parts of organic clay and gravel components. Sift to filter large soil or pebbles from the mixture.
- 1The ratio is 7:3 (Akadama soil 7, Kanuma 3).Mix the soil.
- 2Secure the net with the wire.Cut the wire and net and place inside the pot.
- 3Place the coarse soil in the pot.
- 4Trim extra twigs and leaves off the plant.
- 5Remove the soil attach to it using the chopstick. Trim the excess roots.Remove the plant from its old pot.
- 6Wire the roots.
- 7Insert the plant into the pot.
- 8Pour the mixed soil evenly into the pot.
- 9Fill the pot with the remaining soil - up to 80 percent of the pot.
- 10Water your new bonsai plant.
- 11The moss keeps the water inside to prevent drying of plants.Insert the green moss tightly over the soil.
- 12Now you have your first bonsai.
Care and Maintenance of your Bonsai
All bonsai need light, air, water, nutrients, and soil.
- 1Sunlight is important for photosynthesis to produce the plant's green color. But consider what plant/tree/bush you've used to find out what conditions are best for it.Light.
- 2Good air circulation is best for the plant's good health. Protect it from strong winds to avoid breakage and desiccation.Air.
- 3Water your plant daily.Water.
- 4Provide with the proper fertilizer while in the growing stage. Organic fertilizer can be fish emulsion and seaweed extract. Inorganic are the chemical fertilizers.Nutrients.
- 5Observe your plant carefully, to keep it free of pests' infestation and diseases. Treat the trees only if necessary. Take it away from other plants, treat it and isolate until the infestation is controlled.Pests and diseases.
- 6Once established and growing, the plant requires frequent pruning and pinching to achieve its style in its simplest form. Trim the foliage area. The root system is reduced also to maintain a shallow pot.Pruning.
- 7This is to achieve the most drastic changes in the plant's direction. Wind copper or aluminum wire spirally around each small branch. Bend to the desired position until the branch sets. Some trees dislike wiring. An alternative to bending and shaping branches is guy wiring. The wire is anchored to the pot or other trunks.Directional training.
- 8This is done to avoid the unhealthy consequences of a root-bound tree. Remove the root mass, prune it, and add fresh soil. Repotting depends on the rate of growth of the kind of plant used, from 1-5 years. The limited area of the pot inhibits the growth. The bonsai's design dictates the shape of the pot. Use a pot that is proportional to the size of the bonsai. The placement inside the pot is crucial to achieve aesthetic balance and harmony.Repotting.
- 9Outdoor bonsai should have a cold dormancy period to maintain good health. Protect from direct sun and drying winds. It leads to moisture loss (desiccation). Keep in protected areas like in a cold window frame, window well, unheated car garage, greenhouse, or even in a mulch bed.Winter care.
- 10Maintain the normal bonsai routine while you are away. Install a plant sitter or automatic watering system.Variation care.
Tips, Tricks and Warnings
- Don't take risks with power tools. Always wear eye goggles or full-face protection. Take precautions against dust. Do not apply too much force when cutting or trimming. This is assuming someone would prune a bonsai with power tools.
- 1Ensure maintenance of power tools and cutters. Store safely after use. Keep away from children. Always be mindful of bystanders if using power tools. Keep any tools that are made from metals that might rust - well oiled.On tools.
Questions and Answers
How long does the bonsai cascade process?
The bonsai cascade process depends on how you start to grow your cascade bonsai.
- If you start from seeds, this will take years to be able to create your cascade bonsai.
- If you use a grown tree which is still small, it won't' take as long to make one. So, if you can find those that have grown already, you just need to shape it the way you want to achieve a perfect shape.
- Cascade bonsai goes through the process of selection of a potential bonsai, the wiring, and pruning and lastly, taking care of it.
It really requires patience when you want to make your own cascade bonsai in order to attain the shape you desire - branches cascading out of the pot.
What is a bonsai driftwood sharimiki?
Sharimiki is the Japanese term for driftwood bonsai wherein there is a large portion on the bonsai that is deadwood, and a part of it is living. These kinds of bonsai can be collected in the wild but can also be done manually by stripping and carving the branches to make it look like there is a dead portion leaving a part which is healthy.
If you have problems with any of the steps in this article, please ask a question for more help, or post in the comments section below.
