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| A Brief Guide to Growing and Caring for Bonsai Trees |
Bonsai trees can be a beautiful and compact addition to any garden or arboretum, or as a decorative house-plant with a bit of a twist. The origin of the word bonsai is often misunderstood, with the phrase being used as a catch-all for a wide range of miniature trees and flowers. In fact, the cultural origin of bonsai trees is slightly more complicated, and certainly more interesting, than people may at first realize.
The origin of the term “bonsai”
Bonsai
is a Japanese phrase, meaning “tray-planting”. Japanese bonsai is itself a
re-interpretation of the Chinese “penjing” (or penzai) art form, which followed
similar principles. It was in the Chinese empire where these artistically designed
trees were thought to have originated, since the Chinese used special techniques to grow
their penzai trees in shallow containers. From
the 6th century onwards, Japanese students and diplomats visited the
Chinese mainland and brought back many Chinese art forms, ideas and religious
souvenirs. Slowly, over subsequent
centuries, the concept of tray planting began to be incorporated into Japanese
culture. Bonsai is the Japanese translation of the Chinese “penzai” art form.
The bonsai art form was fused with Zen Buddhism, and Buddhist monks passed on
bonsai cutting and planting to Japanese political leaders. The
growth and maintenance of bonsai trees became more mainstream over subsequent
centuries. By the eighteenth century, bonsai show cases and fairs were being
held in Kyoto, then Japan’s capital city. In the aftermath of the Great
Earthquake of 1923, Omiya Bonsai Village became a home for a multitude of
bonsai nurseries in the suburb of Omiya just outside of Tokyo. By the 1930s, a
bonsai exhibition had begun to be held annually at the Metropolitan Museum of
Art.
Bonsai growth and cultivation:
A
Bonsai tree is grown from source material, a plant which the grower may wish to
cultivate into Bonsai form. The source material for a Bonsai plant is usually
already partially grown; cultivating a Bonsai tree from seeds will take much
longer (as much as three years). The more favoured cultivation techniques
include:
Cutting – part of a growing plant is
cut off and placed in a growing medium, usually a shallow tray (hence the
phrase bonsai). The thicker the branch cutting, the more likely it is to grow
into a richer bonsai tree. Spring and summer are the best times to cultivate
your plant cutting.
Layering – a branch of the tree/plant
is encouraged to take root whilst it is still attached to the main body of the
plant. After this rooting, the branch is then allowed to grow independently.
Popular styles of Bonsai tree:
Ficus bonsai:The
ficus tree belongs to the mulberry family and is the most popular Bonsai
species for beginners and growers who are new to the art form. There are
hundreds of Ficus species, but the most popular is the Ficus retusa, which is
often shaped in an S-shaped trunk. The
ficus Bonsai is an indoor plant and cannot cope very well with cold
temperatures. If kept outside, it needs to be in temperatures above 15 degrees
Celsius. They also need a lot of light in order to grow. They should be watered
regularly and re-potted every spring in basic soil.
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| Juniper |
Juniper bonsai: The
juniper tree exists in the cypress family of trees, and there are between 50
and 70 varieties. Juniper bonsai are coniferous (evergreen) which are popular
for Bonsai purposes. Unlike ficus Bonsai, junipers are well suited to growing
outside. They will also change colour during the winter months as part of a
defense against frost and the more extreme temperatures. It’s
important that you don’t water juniper bonsai too much, as their roots don’t
thrive in excessively wet soil.
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| Japanese Maple |
Japanese Maple Bonsai: The
green Japanese maple bonsai is well-known for the orange, yellow and red autumn
colours. It is best grown in sunny, airy conditions, and should be placed in
light shade. It can withstand cold temperatures, but should not be left in
hard, frosty conditions. Japanese maple Bonsai need to be watered daily.
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| Chinese Elm |
Chinese Elm Bonsai: The
Chinese elm is native to south east Asia. Whilst the Chinese elm is also a
mighty tree in its own right, its small leaves also make it a good choice for
Bonsai potting. The
Chinese Elm bonsai grows well both in sunlight and moderate shade. Chinese elm
can endure being raised and grown in cold temperatures, but this may depend on
which part of the world it was originally grown in. Chinese Elm need to be watered generously.
What soil do Bonsai trees need?
If
you are unfamiliar with caring for a bonsai, one of the first and most important
factors you will need to consider is the type of soil in which to place it.
Bonsai will not flower and prosper if they are not placed in the right
soil, as soil is vital for supplying your trees with the right nutrients,
aeration and water retention. Bonsai trees placed in “traditional” soil
are unlikely to last long; hence, it is important to understand how to create the
right soil conditions for your tree. After all, Bonsai trees are
arguably a piece of art, and their unique structure depends on them being
well-watered and well-maintained. There
are a number of factors, which we have already touched on above, which are
essential for your Bonsai tree to thrive.
Water retention: Water
retention is essential for Bonsai soil, as the soil structure needs to be able
to hold moisture in between watering.
Aeration: The
particles of Bonsai soil need to allow for oxygen to pass through the soil, ensuring that sufficient oxygen is transported to the roots of the Bonsai tree.
Drainage: It
may seem confusing, but it’s also important to remember that drainage is also
important in choosing and preparing the right Bonsai soil. Excess water must be
able to drain away from the Bonsai’s roots. This means that heavily compacted
soil isn’t usually suitable for your Bonsai tree.
The composition of Bonsai soil: There’s
no single way to arrange your Bonsai soil to create the conditions outlined
above, but there are certain soil components which can increase your Bonsai
tree’s growth and health. A Bonsai soil with the optimum conditions to allow
for water retention, aeration and drainage will usually contain a mixture of
organic and inorganic soil components.
Organic components:
The
organic components of good bonsai soil include any of the following.
Conifer bark–Conifer bark is a good
soil conditioner, which allows for both good drainage and the retention of
water.
Peat moss–this helps to retain
water, and bonds the different components of your Bonsai soil together. It
should be used sparingly, as it can prevent sufficient drainage if not used
correctly.
Potting soil–this adds bulk to the
Bonsai soil, and helps to retain water. This component should also be used in
small quantities, as too much could prevent drainage.
Inorganic components- Inorganic
soil components do not break down and are more likely to provide aeration and
necessary drainage for your Bonsai tree. This means that inorganic components
are great for helping your Bonsai’s root growth.
Akadama Clay–Akadama is hard-baked
Japanese clay which is specifically produced for the purpose of growing Bonsai
trees. It’s worth noting that Akadama clay will break down, but only after two
years or so. This works out nicely, as Akadama clay can be quite expensive!
Lava rock–this can help with water
retention, and further re-enforces the soil structure for your bonsai tree, as
roots can’t grow into it.
Pumice–a soft volcanic product which can
absorb water and nutrients, once again helping water retention.
Fine gravel–Gravel can help with
drainage and aeration for your Bonsai. It’s best placed at the bottom of
the plant pot.
It’s
worth noting that different soil mixtures will be needed for different types of
bonsai. There are different soil compositions for deciduous and coniferous
Bonsai trees (for example deciduous Bonsai trees will require a higher ratio of
akadama clay). Since Bonsai trees are a whole family of trees, there’s no
uniform soil composition for every size and shape. In the end, Bonsai trees
depend most of all on their owners using the most care and craftsmanship in
tending to them.
Thanks to Kaizen Bonsai for providing this valuable reference. After more than 20 years in the bonsai business, they continue to educate the public on the care and maintenance of these beautiful trees. For more on bonsai, be sure to visit their informative website at Kaizen Bonsai.
~As Always...Happy Gardening!~
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