Bonsai is a fascinating and creative art form, but many people are unaware of the fact that growing indoor bonsai is not usually recommended for most varieties. Bonsai was originally intended for outdoor growth, and many of the plants purchased in stores may not fare as well indoors.
A fact most may not know about bonsai is that they are not a special type of tree; they are, however, a tree that is specially grown. Carefully cultured from a very small plant and trained to grow in a specific shape and form, bonsai trees are the same varieties of trees that are found growing in nature. Japanese maple, juniper, Japanese elm and more are favorite types of bonsai grown. Because these trees are natural occurrences, their optimal growth is dependent upon the conditions that are only available outside. The same is true of their miniatures counterparts; trees grown as bonsai. During the growth of the tree, it is essential for it to receive ample amounts of sun, and to be part of the outdoor environment which includes wind, insect and bird intervention, and elements of rain, snow and frosts. Most true bonsai plants will include the explicit instructions to place the newly purchased bonsai tree outdoors as much as possible for its optimal growth and overall health.
Keeping indoor bonsai is a possibility, however. Bonsai trees are divided into two different types: indoor and outdoor. Indoor bonsai are generally of the tropical variety; trees which grow in warm and humid climates. These trees are accustomed to a continually warm environment such as indoor conditions usually provide. The amount of sunlight does not vary, however; the plant will still require a generous supply of bright light although indoors the light should be indirect. This is due to the fact that light from the sun refracted through glass panes of windows often is much more concentrated and can actually burn the leaves of the trees and dry out the soil in which the tree grows.
There are certain varieties of bonsai trees that are better suited for indoor life. Baby jade, ficus plants, sago palm, money tree, bougainvillea, gardenias and schefflara are some of the most successfully grown bonsai tree types. When purchasing a bonsai tree that is destined for indoor bonsai usage, it is important to learn the type of plant that has been started. Anything other than a plant that will survive in indoor conditions is destined to fail.
Growing indoor bonsai isn’t an impossible task; just one that requires knowledge on the part of the grower. Just as with any other plant, it is imperative to know the conditions that will help the plant to grow to its optimal expectations. With this information, anyone can enjoy bonsai indoors as a decorative plant.
Growing Bonsai
A miniature tree may seem to be the perfect gift for that hard to buy individual on your gift list, but growing bonsai for beginners is more involved than for the typical houseplant.
Bonsai is a creative art form that involves using regular, full sized plants that are grown and maintained in specialized methods that result in the plant growing in only miniature size. This tiny version of a natural tree that in nature normally grows to heights of 15 to 20 feet can be pruned and manicured to only reach about a foot in height. Even in its diminutive size, the tree is a perfect replica of a natural tree; branching out and leafing out just as it wood in its natural habitat.
Department and specialty stores often offer these trees at the holiday season as exotic and unique gifts. Their beauty and one of a kind appearance may seem to many to be the perfect gift for the person on their gift list that has everything, but for the success of the plant, it is imperative that bonsai, for beginners in particular, be understood for the intricate art form that it is. Bonsai masters have striven for years to develop this creative art into the specialty that it is now.
The word “bonsai” breaks down into two English words, bon for tray and sai for tree. When thought of in this manner, the word “bonsai” simply means “tray tree”, or the growth of a tree in a shallow tray. When done properly, with meticulous pruning and training of the branches, the result will be a tree exact and perfect to the smallest detail to their natural cousin growing in nature. Each branch, the full canopy of the leaves and the thickening trunk will be identical to the natural tree variety in every way. Just as the appearance is similar to the natural full grown tree, so are the requirements of the bonsai tree. The diminutive trees still retain the needs of their larger counterparts; needing full to partial sun and good drainage to realize their optimal growth and beauty.
It is not difficult to maintain bonsai, for beginners or for seasoned gardeners. It is necessary, however, to gain knowledge of bonsai plants chosen in order to see success and longevity in the bonsai plant in order to give it the support and maintenance that it needs to keep it growing efficiently.
Bonsai Tools
Growing bonsai is a fascinating art form, and working with the proper bonsai tool will make the process much easier to achieve the appearance desired.
A process that began centuries ago as a means to harmonize man and nature, bonsai is a beautiful pastime that can soon evolve into an obsession. It is much more that simply planting a tree in a small pot and watching it grow. Rather, the tree must be cultured and nurtured with careful planning and maintenance for it to gain the look desired. A sense of purpose and the conception of what the finished product will look like is necessary before beginning, and from that point it will be an ongoing journey to achieve that final product.
The success of the tree will depend on the knowledge of the gardener and the bonsai tool used. There are actually several tools that are necessary for the ongoing development of the tree. To begin the process, you will need to have a pot or shallow container to house the plant. Obvious items needed are a good potting soil and fertilizer. Pointed shears, a pair of small trimmers, a hand pruner, a small bladed sharp knife, wire cutters and wire are also necessary equipment for properly tending the bonsai. As the tree grows and the trunk becomes thicker, the tools may need to be upgraded for tools that can handle the girth. Beginners may do well by purchasing tool sets for bonsai that include the basic equipment needed to start, and work on adding additional pieces as needed. Many sources of tools and equipment are available through the internet.
An often overlooked tool for growing bonsai is educational material such as books and instructional videos. Watching a bonsai master skillfully creating a beautiful specimen with quiet precision in a video can help a beginner gain confidence and skill in their own first attempt. Researching the steps of planting a tree as bonsai and learning the procedures for pruning and trimming it as it matures can be invaluable information for a first time gardener.
Purchasing the proper bonsai tool or kit will help bring about the success of nurturing a bonsai tree. Since most bonsai live well over 30 years, achieving the visual appeal that bonsai are known to possess will create a beautiful display in your home as well as showcase your talent and dedication as a bonsai gardener.
Bonsai Trees
Artfully grown, a bonsai tree is a truly remarkable specimen that reflects both the wonders of nature and the amazing craft of the gardener. A tree grown in bonsai form is an exact replica of the same tree grown in a natural setting but in miniature form.
Some of the earliest documentation of bonsai extends back to approximately 206 B.C. in the Han Dynasty of Chinese lore. It told of an emperor who, in his own courtyard, developed a vast miniaturized landscape that include lakes, hills, rivers, valleys and plant life that depicted the appearance of his empire. By having this outside his window, he was able to gaze out at his “empire” whenever he wished. This was the beginning of an art form that has spanned in popularity to become a greatly admired craft all over the world.
Many different bonsai tree types are used to create these incredibly lovely and picture perfect specimens. Japanese maple, elm, juniper, pine and many others are examples of taking a tree from its natural setting and displaying it in miniature form. One extremely unusual and beautiful tree that many start with is the Japanese red maple. Its seasonal leaf coloration is phenomenal in any form, but when the diminutive bonsai exhibits their seasonal hues, the beauty is made even more remarkable. Another is the juniper; its dark green foliage proving to be a popular look for bonsai.
The style that a bonsai plant assumes will be dictated by the gardener, fashioned after the vision he has for the tree. The small trees will, when properly maintained, live for many years and be a work in progress throughout its lifetime. Careful pruning of both the tree branches and the roots as well as training gives the tree its unique appearance that is reminiscent of its full sized counterpart. Growth of the bonsai tree is kept deliberately slow during the development phase, which can last up to twenty years.
Most of the bonsai found for sale in malls and department stores are not true bonsai, but rather starter plants. Without the patient pruning, wiring and designing, it will grow to be just another plant. Purchasing a true bonsai that has been nurtured by a bonsai master can be an expensive venture, reaching into the thousands of dollars.
The bonsai tree is an artful exhibition of bringing nature and man together in harmony, balance and unity. It is also an attractive and unique way to showcase some of nature’s most wonderful flora in miniature form.
Indoor Bonsai
Bonsai is a fascinating and creative art form, but many people are unaware of the fact that growing indoor bonsai is not usually recommended for most varieties. Bonsai was originally intended for outdoor growth, and many of the plants purchased in stores may not fare as well indoors.
A fact most may not know about bonsai is that they are not a special type of tree; they are, however, a tree that is specially grown. Carefully cultured from a very small plant and trained to grow in a specific shape and form, bonsai trees are the same varieties of trees that are found growing in nature. Japanese maple, juniper, Japanese elm and more are favorite types of bonsai grown. Because these trees are natural occurrences, their optimal growth is dependent upon the conditions that are only available outside. The same is true of their miniatures counterparts; trees grown as bonsai. During the growth of the tree, it is essential for it to receive ample amounts of sun, and to be part of the outdoor environment which includes wind, insect and bird intervention, and elements of rain, snow and frosts. Most true bonsai plants will include the explicit instructions to place the newly purchased bonsai tree outdoors as much as possible for its optimal growth and overall health.
Keeping indoor bonsai is a possibility, however. Bonsai trees are divided into two different types: indoor and outdoor. Indoor bonsai are generally of the tropical variety; trees which grow in warm and humid climates. These trees are accustomed to a continually warm environment such as indoor conditions usually provide. The amount of sunlight does not vary, however; the plant will still require a generous supply of bright light although indoors the light should be indirect. This is due to the fact that light from the sun refracted through glass panes of windows often is much more concentrated and can actually burn the leaves of the trees and dry out the soil in which the tree grows.
There are certain varieties of bonsai trees that are better suited for indoor life. Baby jade, ficus plants, sago palm, money tree, bougainvillea, gardenias and schefflara are some of the most successfully grown bonsai tree types. When purchasing a bonsai tree that is destined for indoor bonsai usage, it is important to learn the type of plant that has been started. Anything other than a plant that will survive in indoor conditions is destined to fail.
Growing indoor bonsai isn’t an impossible task; just one that requires knowledge on the part of the grower. Just as with any other plant, it is imperative to know the conditions that will help the plant to grow to its optimal expectations. With this information, anyone can enjoy bonsai indoors as a decorative plant.