Trick or Tree? How to Get Your Bonsai Groove On
The ancient practice of growing miniature container trees isn't as intimidating as it sounds
Have you ever wanted to try your hand at growing bonsai? With patience and these pointers, cultivating a dwarfed tree for the first time can be quite rewarding.
Ficus benjamina also known as Malayan banyan or Java tree (picture above) is a good choice for beginners. It maintains its tree-like shape regardless of its size.
The Juniperus chinensis, also called the Chinese juniper, is another good choice. With rugged trunks, small to fine leaves, and naturally interesting forms, these conifers can look ancient without much ado.
2. Pot properly
To prevent soil washing out of the bottom of a pot, put a piece of mesh, or a shard of pottery over the holes before adding soil. If you are digging up a plant from the garden, take a large enough portion of soil with enough of the root system to ensure survival. If re-potting a plant, loosen the soil around the roots with a stick, scraping away a third to half of the old soil. You may trim the roots outside of the core with a pair of scissors. Place the plant into the new pot, and fill with soil.
Tip: The wider the trunk, the deeper the pot should be.
To prevent soil washing out of the bottom of a pot, put a piece of mesh, or a shard of pottery over the holes before adding soil. If you are digging up a plant from the garden, take a large enough portion of soil with enough of the root system to ensure survival. If re-potting a plant, loosen the soil around the roots with a stick, scraping away a third to half of the old soil. You may trim the roots outside of the core with a pair of scissors. Place the plant into the new pot, and fill with soil.
Tip: The wider the trunk, the deeper the pot should be.
3. Style and sculpt
Sculpt the trunk of the tree by wrapping a thin piece of wire around the trunk of the tree and the branches you wish to structure. Bend the tree and branches gently, allowing the wire to hold them in place. Woody branches and trunks should be wired loosely as the wire may cut into the bark. When the branches do not spring back when the wire is released, then the wire can be removed completely.
Sculpt the trunk of the tree by wrapping a thin piece of wire around the trunk of the tree and the branches you wish to structure. Bend the tree and branches gently, allowing the wire to hold them in place. Woody branches and trunks should be wired loosely as the wire may cut into the bark. When the branches do not spring back when the wire is released, then the wire can be removed completely.
4 Trim religiously
For the Malayan banyan or Java tree, new shoots should be repeatedly pruned back to two or three pairs of leaves. A nicely branching crown can be achieved this way and the leaves that grow subsequently will also be smaller than the ones removed.
And there you have it – no matter how small your space is, you can enjoy a pot of greenery with a tiny tree.
TELL US
Bonsais – yay or nay? Let us know in the Comments section if this is a plant you’d like to cultivate, or are already doing so.
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For the Malayan banyan or Java tree, new shoots should be repeatedly pruned back to two or three pairs of leaves. A nicely branching crown can be achieved this way and the leaves that grow subsequently will also be smaller than the ones removed.
And there you have it – no matter how small your space is, you can enjoy a pot of greenery with a tiny tree.
TELL US
Bonsais – yay or nay? Let us know in the Comments section if this is a plant you’d like to cultivate, or are already doing so.
MORE
Find a landscape professional near you
Browse bonsai garden ideas
Go for plants that already have an aged character (wider trunk paired with smaller leaves) and are easy to work with.