Bon sai is an art that has been practiced in Asia for many centuries. Bonsai grow from the same seeds as normal plants. They are grown in small containers and are sprouted and grown to remain small and elegant. Learn how to grow one, growing it in one of the traditional styles for bonsai, and care for it so that it develops healthy for years to come.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Choosing a Bonsai
Step 1. You can choose between three species
Choose the type to grow taking into account the environment in which you plan to keep it. Your region's climate and home environment should, together, be taken into consideration when deciding which species to grow. To be on the safe side, choose a species that is indigenous to the area you live in.
- Deciduous species such as elms, magnolias, oaks, and wild apple trees from China or Japan are good choices if you plan on growing your bonsai outdoors. However, make sure that the species you choose can grow in your area to its full size.
- If you prefer, conifers, junipers, pines, firs, or cedars are excellent choices.
- If you want to grow a tree indoors (or if you live in warm climates, consider tropical species. Crassula ovata (money tree), Serissa japonica, and olive tree can all be grown as bonsai.
Step 2. Decide whether to plant the tree from seeds
Planting a bonsai from seed is a long but rewarding process. If you plant a tree, you need to give it time to root and grow strong before it starts sprouting and growing a certain way. Depending on the species, this process can take up to five years. Many believe that this wait and effort is worth it, because the seeds cost nothing and because the grower is able to control the tree at every stage of its development. To grow a bonsai from seed, follow these steps:
- Buy a sachet of bonsai seeds. Soak them overnight before planting them in soil with good drainage and the right nutrient composition for the species being grown. Plant the tree in a growing container (other than a display container that is used only after the tree has developed the way you want and has reached maturity).
- Give the tree the right amount of sun, water, and a suitable temperature, always determined by the species of the tree.
- Wait for the tree to become solid and vigorous before you start growing it a certain way.
Step 3. Consider looking for a bonsai
This method of procuring a bonsai is highly valued, because caring for a bonsai found in nature requires a lot of skill and knowledge. If picking a tree that started growing naturally appeals to you, consider the following:
- Choose a tree with a sturdy, but still young trunk. Older plants don't fit easily into a container.
- Choose a tree with roots spread evenly in all directions, rather than roots that are only developed on one side, or intertwined with those of another tree.
- Dig around the tree and dig out a generous amount of soil along with the roots. This reduces the chance that the tree will suffer a shock when moved into the container.
- Plant the tree in a large growth container. Care for them according to the needs of the particular species. Wait about a year for the roots to settle in the container before you start growing the tree the way you want.
Step 4. Choose from trees that have been partially formed as bonsai
This is the easiest way to get started in the art of bonsai, but it is also the most expensive. Bonsai that have been grown from seeds and partially grown the way they want have already been cared for for a long time, so they are usually quite expensive. Search online, local nurseries and plant stores for a bonsai to keep at home.
- If you buy a partially formed bonsai from a store, talk to the person who trained it about the specific needs of the plant.
- When you bring your bonsai home, give it a few weeks to adjust to the new conditions before you start working on it.
Part 2 of 4: Maintain a Healthy Bonsai
Step 1. Pay attention to the seasons
Bonsai, like all trees and plants, react to the changing of the seasons. If you keep your bonsai outdoors, it will have even greater reactions to changes in temperature, sunlight, and the amount of rainfall in the region. In some regions there are four distinct seasons, while in others the season changes are less noticeable. Either way, learn about how the bonsai species reacts to the seasons in your region, and take this information as a guide to care for it.
- The trees are inactive during the winter; they do not produce leaves and do not grow, so they need few nutrients. During this season, watering is basically the only care they require. Avoid trimming it too much, as it won't be able to replace the discarded materials until spring.
- In the spring, the trees begin to use the nutrients accumulated over the winter to develop new leaves and to grow. As the tree is in transition at this time of year, it's time to repot the plant (adding nutrients to the soil) and start pruning.
- The trees continue to grow during the summer season, using the remainder of the accumulated nutrients. Make sure you water them well this time of year.
- In the fall, the trees grow slowly, and the nutrients begin to accumulate again. This is a good time to bud and repot.
Step 2. Give the plant morning sun and evening shade
Place it in direct sunlight in the morning, then move it to a shady spot in the afternoon. This rule applies to most bonsai, but not all, so make sure yours needs a different combination of sun and shade. Just leave it near a window, being careful to rotate it every two or three days so that each part of the plant receives an equal amount of sun.
For indoor plants it may be necessary to place a cloth screen on the window during the warm summer months
Step 3. Protect the bonsai from excessive temperature changes
During the summer, it is best for the plant to stay outdoors most of the time. Bring her inside overnight if temperatures can drop below five degrees. To prepare it for winter, let the bonsai acclimate gradually accustom it to stay inside, until you always keep it inside.
Step 4. Feed and water it
Use a fertilizer suitable for bonsai health. Do not let the soil dry out too much. When the soil begins to look too dusty, water the bonsai. A little water every day is the best method; prevents the bonsai from running out of water and getting too much water.
Part 3 of 4: Forming a Bonsai
Step 1. Decide on a style
There are several training styles that you can choose for your bonsai. Some tend to simulate a real tree, while others are more stylized. There are dozens of bonsai styles to choose from. Here are some of the most common:
- Chokkan. This is the formal standing form; it resembles a tree that grows sturdy and straight and that spreads its branches evenly around itself.
- Moyohgi. This is the form known as the random erect; the plant has a more natural and sinuous posture instead of developing straight upwards.
- Shakan. This is the slanted shape - the tree looks bent in the wind and almost drooping.
- Bunjingi. This is the form of the literati. The trunk is often long and almost spiral, with minimal branches.
Step 2. Form the trunk and branches
Gently bend the trunk and branches in the direction you want them to grow. Wrap copper wire around the trunk and branches to start molding into a particular shape. Use thick wire at the base of the trunk, and thinner wire for the branches.
- Wrap the wire at a 45-degree angle, using one hand to hold the tree steady as you work.
- Trees need different threads depending on the time of year and if they have recently been repotted.
- Don't over tighten the thread; it would damage the tree and damage it.
- As time passes and the tree grows, starting to take the shape you designed, you have to rewind it again with thread and continue forming it until it takes the shape you decided without the help of the thread.
- During the period of formation, the tree should remain in the container.
Step 3. Prune and trim the bonsai
Use a small pruning tool to carefully remove leaves, buds, and parts of branches to help the tree grow a certain way. Each time you prune, growth is stimulated in another part of the plant. Knowing where to prune, and to what extent, is part of the art of bonsai, and learning how to do it takes a lot of practice.
- When transferring the bonsai from a large to a smaller pot, cut the roots according to the shape of the new pot. Avoid pruning the roots until the trunk reaches the desired size.
- Prune at a time of year when the plant has a large supply of nutrients, such as spring or fall.
- Over pruning can cause damage, so avoid pruning too much.
Part 4 of 4: Displaying a Bonsai
Step 1. Move the tree to a display case
When you feel that the tree has assumed the desired shape, it is time to move the tree out of the formation container. Beautiful ceramic or wooden containers are available to obtain the best effects from the bonsai display. Choose one that complements the style you gave the plant. Be sure to repot carefully so as not to damage the roots, and use a container large enough to hold soil and nutrients necessary for the plant's health.
Choose a container that is as long as the height of your tree. The thicker the trunk, the deeper the container should be
Step 2. Optionally, add other distinctive appearances to the container
Even if the bonsai is the star of the display, enriching the container can help improve the display of the bonsai. Stones and rocks, shells, and tiny plants can be used to give the impression that the tree is part of a woodland or beach scene.
- Make sure you don't smother the roots with stones or other objects.
- Adding some moss is a great idea for creating an intriguing display.
Step 3. Place the bonsai on a display stand
A beautiful bonsai deserves to be exhibited like any work of art. Choose a metal or wooden platform with a white wall in the back to enhance the bonsai. Placing it near a window is a good idea, because the bonsai will continue to receive the necessary light while it is on display. Keep watering, fertilizing and caring for the bonsai so your artwork can stay alive for several years.
