Bonsai Gardening Techniques, Ideas, and Tips
Today, let us learn Bonsai Gardening Techniques and Tips. A bonsai tree is a Potted plant. This is a Japanese wort. The traditional art of growing bonsai trees is introduced in Asia and is being practiced for centuries. Bonsai gardening is an art of horticulture which will involve the growth and training of small trees into tiny ones which are termed as Bonsai trees. When it comes to Bonsai trees, only gardening does not matter. It is more than that. It is a therapeutic value as it is a very good activity for the purpose of relaxation. When you are growing a bonsai or training it, it means that you are also training your mind which makes you a calm person. Chinese believe that the people who take care of Bonsai will get eternity granted. They also have a belief that there is a connection between the human body and the holy spirit, just like heaven and earth.
Though Bonsai gardening is the one belonging to Japan, it basically started in China where the trees got associated with Zen Buddhism. In the initial days, only the Top ranked people in Chinese society learned this art form. After that, Bonsai has become a well-known hobby in Japan. In recent days, Bonsai is popular in the west and is mainly used for the purpose of decoration and recreation.
Bonsai is a mystery and involves a lot of curiosity when you look at it for the first time. Some people believe that the Bonsais are dwarf plants from their genetics. The actual truth is that the gardeners will use a few techniques of growing for this growth to happen and maintains the Bonsais small. If proper methods of growing are followed, the Bonsai will live for a long time just like the original species. For the creation of healthy Bonsai, you will need a lot of time and patience. So make sure you are considering this before you start growing Bonsai on your own.
Taking care of a bonsai will give an opportunity to take a prolonged thought regarding the growth of natural beauty. Basically, any type of tree can be grown as a bonsai. But, in order to grow a real bonsai, you are required to dig deeper and also need to know more about the techniques of gardening this beautiful plant. It is not that tough to follow these techniques once you grasp them. In this article, we will help you in learning how to make a bonsai tree and how to take care of a bonsai tree so that it grows in a healthy way so that it lives for years. As a successful gardener, one must be knowing the Bonsai Gardening Techniques.
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Selecting the right species of Bonsai:
When you are about to select the species, it is very essential to consider the climate of your locality and the environment at your home. For instance, few trees will die in freezing conditions while few others are required to freeze to get into a dormant state and to start preparing for the spring. So, be ensured that you are selecting Bonsai tree types which will fit well in the climate you want to put them. A safe thing is to select the species of an indigenous tree or you can also consult the local garden supply staff for any sort of recommendation of what to grow.
The types of bonsai trees which are considered to grow are shrubs, plants which flower, climbers which are popular among Gardenia, Wisteria, Azaleas.
If you are a gardener who has no or less experience, juniper is the best way to go as it is easy for growing and also responds very well for pruning and other techniques of training. Anyways, it is very slow when it comes to growing. If you want other options, then you can go for Japanese black pine or the Chinese elm.
Growing Bonsai indoor or outdoors:
Most of the gardeners will have a misconception about Bonsai trees that they have to be grown in indoor environments. Most of the species of Bonsai, involving all the plants native to the climates which are temperate have to be placed in the outdoors so that they can get sufficient light and experience the changes which occur seasonally in terms of temperature and light just like other trees are. If you are planning to put the trees in the indoor environment, you have to select the tropical and subtropical plants which can thrive in indoor environments where the temperatures will be high and also stable. Even when growing indoors, there is a chance that these trees will suffer insufficient light. If you have enough space to keep the tree in an outdoor environment, there are bonsai plants which are suitable for any type of environment.
If you want to grow your bonsai trees in the outdoor environment, the species which are deciduous like Chinese or Japanese elms, magnolias are very good ones to select.
If you want to grow your Bonsai tree in the indoor environment, you will need to take into consideration the Bonsai trees like Crassula, the Carmona, etc. These are the best indoor Bonsai.
Tree Size role in Bonsai Gardening Techniques:
Bonsai size is very much important as if everything goes in the right way, this Bonsai lives for many years. If you are growing a Bonsai tree which is large, it will need much amount of care from you for the sake of pruning, a large amount of water, abundant sunlight. So you will need to take the size of the Bonsai into consideration before selecting your tree.
There is a guide choose bonsai size, but most of the trees which are grown fully will be small as 5 to 6 inches and tall at 3 feet based on the species. If you have chosen to grow a Bonsai tree from a cutting from another tree, you can start them off even in a smaller way.
Growing Bonsai from seed:
Growing Bonsai from seed is also an essential thing which has to be thought of about when you have a plan to grow. You have to start it from seeds by purchasing them from a store or collecting them from the nearby trees which you would like your Bonsai to be in the near future. The seed from which you attain Bonsai is a seed which has come naturally, creation of Bonsai happens from that, after that, the process of germination takes place by making use of several types of growing techniques.
To grow a Bonsai tree from a seed is a very slow process which requires hard work. It will take several years and there is a chance for you to fail at first but if you keep trying, you will be thrilled by the results you see.
If you are a beginner or if you do not have enough time to grow Bonsai from seed, you can buy a pre-bonsai. You can find Bonsai trees for sale or you can also find one in a forest which is located near to your home. If you have chosen to find the Bonsai in the forest, always keep in mind to ask the owner of the land for the sake of permission and also be very careful that you are not causing any damage to the roots while digging. Also, remember that you will have to select a tree which has small leaves as it would be easier for modelling.
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Bonsai Gardening:
Bonsai are grown indoor:
Ensure that you are keeping your Bonsai in a spot which is bright. If the intensity of light is low, then the growth of the bonsai will also decrease which will weaken your tree. If you are keeping the tree in a window which is south facing one, there are chances that there is less light intensity. Your bonsai tree gets benefited from the lighting which is artificial or from the lighting which is emitted from a light-emitting diode for at least ten hours a day.
Bonsai are grown outdoor:
Most of the Bonsai trees which are grown outdoor will require sunlight for at least six hours a day. Most of the conifers should be kept in full sun for their growth to happen. At the time of summer, you will need to bring your tree to indoors at nights when the temperatures go below 40 degrees.
Watering Bonsai plant:
Watering is the most essential part of Bonsai tree care. This should be done once in a span of three days at the time of winter or you can apply a small amount of water on a daily basis at the time of summer. The frequency of watering Bonsai plants will be based on the factors like species, season, climate, soil and size of the tree. So it is very difficult to conclude the amount of water you need or how many times you need to water a Bonsai. Anyways, you will need to understand the guidelines of watering Bonsai plants which are listed below to know about the watering:
- Please make sure that you are not watering them too much on a daily basis.
- Keep monitoring your Bonsai plant and make sure that you are watering it when you see the soil becoming dry or dusty.
- The mixture of soil you use should be the right one.
Fertilizing your Bonsai tree:
The fertilization of the bonsai tree should be done by making use of a specialized fertilizer which is meant to keep the Bonsai trees healthy. Other normal trees keep extending their root system in search of nutrients. Anyways, the plantation of Bonsai will be done in pots and hence it has to be fertilized in order to restore the nutritional content of the soil.
Feeding the Bonsai as part of Bonsai Gardening Techniques regularly in the season of growing, from spring to middle of fall is very important for your Bonsai for survival. The trees which are grown in the indoor environment can be fertilized all across the year.
- In the Early summer: You will need to make use of a fertilizer which is rich in the content of nitrogen.
- In summer, you will need to use a fertilizer which is a balanced one.
- In winter, you will need to use fertilizer to harden the tree for the winter which is about to come.
Training a Bonsai:
Bonsai trees are just the normal plants which are grown in a sophisticated environment. The training of Bonsai will be completely dependent on the style which you want your tree to be. The Bonsai styling will consist of basic methods like wiring and pruning and other techniques which are all advanced ones.
For the people who are just beginning the bonsai gardening, your bonsai should be dependent on the shape of the actual tree and afterward, you can start your experiments on it. Balance, inspiration, and beauty are the essential factors for a Bonsai garden which is elegant.
Select the style of training Bonsai:
For training Bonsai, there are many styles which are followed traditionally.
Formal Upright Bonsai: There are the bonsais which have the trunk upright and straight and the branches which stretch in an even manner around it. These bonsai will have the roots which are strong.
Informal Upright Bonsai: These type of Bonsai trees will have a slant which is natural, than the ones which are growing upwards. The trunk of these bonsai is also thicker in the soil.
Slanting Bonsai: These Bonsai are the ones which are almost like a formal upright bonsai tree but these have a small lean.
Broom Bonsai: The trunk will be straight and will not finish at the tree’s top but somewhere at the middle. All the branches of the tree which have the same size will form a crown which is in the shape of a ball.
Pruning of Bonsai:
Pruning is a basic method for shaping the style of bonsai and correct all the defects. It is very essential that you are not changing the actual shape of the tree too much. Pruning Bonsai must be done constantly and you should also have spots for it for the creation of a beautiful bonsai which has many numbers of leaves and are also strong.
Pruning can be done by trimming with clippers or pinching them out of the buds which are growing newly. Make sure you are not using scissors.
The species of the bonsai tree are different. Few can be pruned for the complete year but most of them are better to be pruned in the early winter or summer. You should also give them time for a few weeks for recovery for the sake of their health.
Wiring of Bonsai:
This is one more technique which is important for shaping the Bonsai trees The tree can be bent and shaped by wrapping the branches with aluminium which is anodized. Anyways, you will have to do it in a careful manner else you will find a messy bonsai growing. Wiring can be done for the entire year but ensure that you are removing the wire before it cuts into the bark and branches which are growing in a thick way. Rewiring can be done in order to shape but make sure you are not allowing the wires to cut through the bark.
That’s all folks about Bonsai Gardening Techniques.
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