The Art of Growing a Bonsai Tree
For anyone who wants to know about growing a bonsia or who already has one,everything you need to know about growing one is here in this easy to follow guide, from different trees to choose from, to growing, to care and pruning you will find it here without having to buy some costly book to tell you the same things I am revealing for free about the bonsai.
USDA photo by Peggy Greb on Wikimedia Commons.
Bonsai’ is a Japanese word meaning ‘trees growing in shallow containers’.By the eighth century A.D. the Chinese and Indians were reputed for growing miniature trees in containers,however;by the 10 century A.D the Japanese took up the idea, developing it and turning it into a living art form.
Bonsai are kept small by keeping them pruned and growing them in a container which constricts their root growth and are rarely exceed 2 feet in height. Those grown outdoors sometimes do and those that are grouped together are usually less than 2 feet. One of the traditions of bonsai that are grouped together is that an uneven number of trees are usually grown. This is because the Japanese uneven numbers as a representation of longevity. A group of four trees is never grown because the word four in Japanese is similar to the word death.
Trees to choose
Image via Wikipedia
As a general rule of thumb the best trees to choose for a bonsai are those that are small and slow growers because unlike fast growing trees that can reach up to 100 feet in 50 years slow growers will only reach 20 feet. Evergreens are popular and vary little from season to season but you can also grow flowering and fruit trees although you must remember for fruit trees make it small fruits like a crab apple rather then eating apple. The tree you decide to grow should have small leaves or needles which do not take away from the perfect look of the miniature tree. The leaves on a bonsai will be naturally small however if you choose a tree with already natural small leaves you will have a head start in the process.
There are many trees that are not normally regarded as a bonsai however; they can be successfully grown into one. Although, do remember before going out and buying just any tree, find out the root habits and soil preferences of the tree, the more you know about it the greater chance you will have growing it successfully as a bonsai.
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Published in: Gardening
ken bultman | Oct 7, 2009 | Reply
Thank you, young lady. I’m going to try again. My previous attempt ended in the murder of an innocent tree but I did not have the privilege of your expertise then. I think I shall start with a yew. It will remind me of you.
deep blue | Oct 7, 2009 | Reply
Great work Tanya. Now that’s a comprehensive guide to bonsai care. This will greatly help me in growing my chinese elm.
Best regards,
Will
Jacques Berkeley | Oct 7, 2009 | Reply
Wow! You’re really the expert on bonsai! To some extent, bonsai reflects Japanese society. Just as they prune and cultivate trees, they prune and cultivate people within their society. It’s a very controlled place.
cutedrishti8 | Oct 7, 2009 | Reply
great work…Will be very helpful
Diverseblogger | Oct 7, 2009 | Reply
Welcome back (Wink Wink lol)! I just love the bonsai tree. I bought mine from a Chinese guy and he said they bring good luck (I was sold lol). Very helpful information and I love it! Keep it up
XXElleXX | Oct 8, 2009 | Reply
I had to read this Mystify..have just been given a Moreton Bay Fig/Bonsai tree..if left to it’s own devices, it would be bigger than your average house! Thank you for sharing this..an excellent write and fabulous pics
strovek | Oct 8, 2009 | Reply
Very informative. Thank you.
Sourav | Oct 8, 2009 | Reply
I liked this article and found it very helpful. As a nature lover I liked have these information. Thanks for the article!
Patrick Regoniel | Oct 8, 2009 | Reply
Interesting. Bonsai helps you commune with nature indoors.
giftarist | Oct 8, 2009 | Reply
Very informative..I want to try again..
Stephen J. Ardent | Oct 8, 2009 | Reply
Great article, I’ve alway wanted to try this.
Ruby Hawk | Oct 8, 2009 | Reply
Very useful information, I might even try it. I have all kinds of sprouts growing in the area that I could pluck.
chitragopi | Oct 10, 2009 | Reply
wonderful article
Agnes Chin | Oct 13, 2009 | Reply
Wow, very comprehensive write up on bonsai. My husband loves bonsai however, he is too busy to maintain them, he gives them away to his sister who loves bonsai too to take care of them.
Teves | Oct 16, 2009 | Reply
I have a bonsai too. Most of my bonsai are Ficus…
Anitha sharin H | Jan 3, 2011 | Reply
wow I like alot love that very small Tree good nice yes.I am seeing to that Growing very small Tree wow good yes