Fun Stuff > CHATTER

Bonsai and You!

(1/3) > >>

Avec:
Hello!
So to celebrate my graduation I finally committed time to construct my very own bonsai tree. This included finding the right soil, the right species (assuming I'm taking it to college with me), and overall getting a feeling for the art that has been practiced for centuries. Because I'm relatively new to it, I thought it'd be interesting to keep a log of my first tree (bougainvillea). This thread, however, isn't only for myself (as indicated by the title). I'd love to hear about that bonsai you've been working on for years, or maybe that you were inspired to have your own just now. Tips and tricks are welcome, too, with pictures of course. So to get us started, this is my own:


 
I've yet to do any work aside from planting, as the roots themselves needs to adjust to the new soil (a mixture of wood and other organic matter, calcined (baked) red clay, and some fresh compost). I'm trying to get a feel for how often the plant needs to be watered in the early summer through personal experience as well as internet and book research.

Barmymoo:
That is one of the cutest trees I've ever seen! I know almost nothing about bonsai - what does it entail? From your post I've already figured it isn't just a matter of buying a pot plant and watering it sometimes.

My eldest girl in Paris was very keen on buying a bonsai tree for her birthday. Are they hard to care for?

Avec:
History and Etymology
Bonsai is the art creating the right conditions under which a tree (or ornamental shrub) can become a miniature copy of its larger brethren (quite literally bon means 'tray' and sai means 'tree'). Although it can be a controversial topic, it seems that the art of bonsai originated in China, rather than Japan, with which it is traditionally associated. Some distinguished experts attribute the art form of growing miniature trees in pots back to Chinese monks, who instead of planting one tree had several in a decorative rock garden (what is known today as pun-ching). It took a while for Europeans to consider this oriental practice as art. The first showing at the World Fair in Paris in 1878 had largely negative reviews of the small garden (the English had a different perspective, but didn't get their version of it until 1909). Now, however, it has sprouted on several continents with many nations adapting their own native species of flora to the art of bonsai.

Avec:
Tending to your bonsai can depend purely on the amount of time you want to invest (still consider though, that very few works are worthy of being considered a true bonsai, with some specimen being passed down between several generations). You're still growing a tree, you just need to make several adjustments as to how it is taken care of. This involves pruning, watering, adding fertilizer, and replanting as necessary. Some of these tasks are done on a nearly day-to-day basis, and others are done only once or twice a year if not with longer intervals of time in-between.

In nature, trees adjust to their respective environmental conditions by growing in a specific way, shape and size. A tree very high up in the mountains, with soil that isn't rich in nutrients, has little rainfall, and less oxygen by the nature of the altitude, readily grows in the style we desire to replicate. The first part of your journey is choosing your own tree. Oriental philosophy has you traveling into the wild for weeks at a time to find the one tree that is worthy, but now-a-days you could just as easily buy a starter tree at your local gardening store. Those of you who are more adventurous, can grow from seed or propagate a branch you've collected.

Did you have a specific species you want to work with Barmymoo? And as for your question, that depends purely on what type of a tree it is.

Tom:
Someone's been doing their homework. Got a reading list?

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page