The fundamentals of making bonsai revealed
The know-how alone is not enough to successfully do bonsai creation in your garden but you will need to know some basic steps;
Choosing the right species of tree: Let’s say, it’s more important that you do select the right species of tree or plants you decide to convert into bonsai, especially in accordance with the geography of the area. You know some plants would shed leaves in winter season and are abl;e to protect themselves and others could no way stand by the freeze. Yet again there are some plants that require plenty of water in summer and some surprisingly are heat hardy. So it’s very important your choice for bonsai suits your area.
Choosing the right size: No one can just define the size of a Bonsai. It is purely the discretion of the creator himself. However it’s advisable that you zero in on the size you would like and then go ahead with the selection of the plant. A bonsai is normally from miniature ie 6 inches tall to a large size ie somewhere around 3 ft tall.
Choose the right tree: When you have decided on the kind and size of the bonsai you would like to create, you may better walk in to a nursery or even a plant shop for the next step. Now come the most important aspect of your art of thinking, just do visualize the plants and choose the plant that matches your creativity. Choosing the right tree is an important thing among the fundamentals of making bonsai. Creativity matters a lot when it comes to gardening. You need to make sure that you select a healthy plant that has a healthy stem and leaves and never opt in for a plant that has any yellow leaves.
Choose a pot: No big deal, but choose the pot that goes along with the size and style of the plant you have already finalized on. However too small or too big pots not recommended for bonsai though! Either way you go too extreme, you may kill your plant or your idea of creating an illusion of the nature. So it’s important that you strike a balance between and perhaps compromise on pot for the plant after all, what we need to achieve is that the plant should look like a miniature tree in the pot.
However, the pot should be large enough to contain sufficient soil to cover the plant and roots which will lend enough moisture always. Do make sure your pot also has required drainage system.
How to prepare the tree?
It would be better you buy a tree that has large diameter in the trunk which will finally lend it a pretty old look to the plant. Do prune the tree or plant in the shape you have envisaged, use wires to get the correct shape and shift the plant from the old one to a new one.
Most importantly, when you do the tree transfer from one to another, ensure you cut 1/3 of roots which will certainly help the growth of new roots. You might however find it quite difficult to cut the roots so wash the soil away and do the slicing of roots.
How to plant the tree?
- Add some well draining soil into the pot and place the plant into the pot.
- Do not use any soil that has high water holding capacity
- Do position or straighten the plant before you fill soil on the top of the pot.
- Run a heavy gauge wire from the bottom of the pot through the drainage holes
- Better use copper wire as it helps shaping the tree as well.
However, it’s not wise to just plant the tree and leave the nature to take care of it. Frequent transfer of the tree and pruning the roots will increase the process of miniaturization as well. Do ensure you keep shaping the tree cutting twigs and branches until you see your efforts met the visualization you had in the beginning.
You should not be selfish and cage the tree inside your house. Trees like sunlight and it needs to be placed where it gets it but keep it away from direct and intensive sun, filtered sun light is recommended for a sustainable growth. It’s very useful to know about the fundamentals of making bonsai before you start on the project.
Plants you can use:
Bamboo, Guava, Camellia, Ash, Ivy, Flowering quince, Dogwood , Persimmon, Ginkgo, Holly, Juniper, Pine, Flowering plum, , Oak, Willow, Wisteria, Elm, Azalea Cypress, Beech, Hawthorn.
Towards your Bonsai success!
Ivan Wilson.
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