Bonsai
The
Meaning of the Word
Bonsai means 'plant in a tray' - a reminder that Bonsai is plant and
pot in visual harmony.
(well (refering to image), it's a start)
The Origins of the Art
Bonsai is the ancient oriental art of creating visually perfect trees
that are dramatically smaller than their untamed wild counterparts.
The origin of the art is lost in the mists of time; certainly Japanese picture scrolls of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries portray bonsai in ceramic containers.
It is thought that even earlier the Chinese collected naturally dwarfed pines and other trees from mountaintops and rock crevices, to grow in containers in their homes. It is supposed that the Japanese saw this and elaborated the technique.
The Aim
The aim is to reproduce in miniature an aged forest giant or glade
of trees, without malformation of any indication of restriction. The
results must be natural; this requires understanding, ingenuity and
vast amounts of patience.
Container
Shapes vary but usually conform to simple geometric designs, such
as a square, circle, and rectangle.
The type of container will vary according to the style of Bonsai tree you wish to create.
Generally, shallow rectangles are particularly favoured for group plantings. These may be rimless or have protruding outer or inner rims. Moderately deep round or oval dishes are generally used for individual trees, especially those grown primarily for their fruits or foliage. Shallow pots are usually glazed with a plain colour - black, grey, blue, dark brown or green - and there should be no ornamentation. The deeper pots are best left unglazed, as they are more susceptible to waterlogging. Taller containers are used for cascading plants that need extra support.
Drainage
Ensure that the container has drainage holes and protect those holes
from blockage by soil by protecting them with mesh, bits of broken
pots.
Soil
The soil mixture for bonsai trees should be rich enough to sustain
healthy growth and very well drained and aerated. To this effect use
what you have available. In Japan volcanic soil has these qualities,
else where loam, sand and grit are the main ingredients. General mixture
would be 50/25/25 Loam/Sand/Grit conifers. However require a very
free draining mixture with up to 90% sand and grit. Leaf mould can
replace loam for deciduous trees if desired.
The sand should be sharp and coarse, but not salty
or dusty.
The loam should be of a sandy nature, although heavier loams are occasionally
used for flowering plants.
Grit, should be no larger that 4mm, no smaller
than 2mm.
Leaf Mould should be well rotted and from deciduous trees.
This
English Oak Tree
It was a lack of attention on my part combined with hot summers and
mild winters that helped created this tree. It is 3 years old. Severely
stunted after the first years growth (as I neglected to water it sufficiently),
it died back to the main trunk only (It was looking at a stick). I
re-potted it, thinking that new soil and a little attention might
revive it and the second year it produced three new shoots. I then
repeated my earlier mistake of failing to water and the tree continued
to suffer and failed to grow very much at all. This year, I am pleased
to say, it has recovered (again) and I have what I think is the beginning
of a tree I can bonsai.
| Height to top (leaf) | 150mm |
| Height to 'V' | 70mm |
| Width (leaf to leaf) | 120mm |
| Diameter | |
| at base of Truck | 10mm |
| at 'V' | 4mm |
| of branches | 2mm |
Growing from Seed
See This English Oak tree
above and also Planting
Instructions