The rewarding hobby of bonsai growing
submitted: Sep 6th 2008 |
by: NickOsten |
Total views: 1 |
Word Count: 364 |
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You might think that growing bonsai trees is difficult - but at least there's a bit of history behind it! The practise was developed originally by the Chinese,-and as so often happened, the Japanese copied it and developed it. Bonsai literally means "tree in a pot", and the tree is dwarfed by constant pruning of roots and branches and the use of wires.
You shape the tree at a very young age by pruning and trimming above and below the soil level. Some of the trees can be as small as two inches while others can grow up to two feet tall.
Getting started
Choose a species. You can go for Bottlebrush, She Oak, Silky Oak or even Fig, and you have to look for a tree that has many branches so that you have something to work with. Choose something with naturally small leaves.
Choose a shallow pot. This is important, and you should also have drainage holes. Check that it has only been glazed on the outside, as you could be stopping the plant from breathing if it glazed on the inside.
Put the tree first of all into a large pot so that it gains strength, and when it has matured enough, you can put it into the shallow pot.
Another very important consideration is the soil. There are special bonsai soils that dry out faster than others, so make sure your garden centre supplies this - if not, order it. Bonsai trees need constant watering, but never too much, and in autumn they need nitrogen and phosphoric acid. Check that your garden centre supplies this!
You should also consider humidity. Placing the pot in a humid area is sometimes not enough - you could do your own work by placing it in a shallow tray full of water, allowing that water to evaporate. Or just put it in the kitchen! It's your choice.
Of course, it's your creation and your chance to show your artistic flair. You prune and you water as much or as little as you want, and in the end you will have the reward. It can prove expensive to buy in bonsai trees but if you start from scratch, you have a rewarding hobby!
About the Author
Find out more about bonsai trees, how to grow them and where to buy bonsai trees at the author's site.
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