Bonsai Growing Answers
What exactly is a bonsai tree? Well some of the common characteristics that make a bonsai tree include: it must be of a certain artistic shape, it’s size must be quite small and the tree must be grown in a container. So a bonsai tree should look like a fully grown tree except in miniature and should replicate what that tree should look like if it were growing in the wild except on a much smaller scale. The bonsai trees appearance is controlled in this way through pruning wiring, pinching, shaping, watering and other techniques.
The Japanese and Chinese regard bonsai trees as not just plants but as growing works of art. They believe that there are certain styles which must be followed if the tree is to be considered as beautiful. These styles range greatly such as formal, informal, cascading, rock formation, multi-trunk and multi- tree arrangements. Some people strictly try to adhere to one or the other of these styles however it’s of my opinion that as long as you regard your own tree as looking beautiful then you should grow your tree into any shape or form that you wish. Instead these styles should be used as a template for inspiration.
When just starting out with bonsai growing there are many ways in which you can begin, however I recommend you buy a plant from a local gardening store which is well known for providing quality trees. Whilst you can purchase on the internet and might be able to find a bargain it’s not always guaranteed to work and sometimes bought items will be not be what you wanted. It’s always a good idea to do a bit of research before starting off any activity and so join any local bonsai tree clubs around for extra advice.
Watering is one of the most frequent activities that a bonsai tree owner will have to perform, especially during the summer months,. This is not something that you can do every month or so, instead it is something that you have to do every few days, depending on the time of year, more or less watering will be required. It is something that must be committed to however it is also something that is well worth the effort as the rewards of seeing a beautiful tree grow are worth the time and energy invested.
In the past if you wanted to go on holiday you would have to get a friend to look after your bonsai trees or take them to a bonsai nursery. Nowadays it is much easier as you can use automatic watering systems which can take care of your plants whilst you’re away. To make your life easier you can also use these automatic watering systems to grow trees whilst you are at home as well. Other activities such as pruning, pinching, wiring and clamping the tree all must occur if you want the tree to grow into the desired shape. This should be performed during the growing season which is normally for most trees during the spring time and summer months.
If you want to grow bonsai trees right from the start then you’ll need to buy a seedling, a small/shallow pot and some fertile soil and compost. Taking a cutting from another tree is another way of starting out your tree. Whilst it’s perfectly fine to start off growing your tree in one of these two ways, it is also very time consuming and for a beginner this may take a while so it might be a better idea to buy a young, small premade tree which to nurture and grow.
Finally you need to think about where you’re going to place your tree? Is it going to be indoors or outdoors. If you’re growing your tree indoors then you need to think about having a sunny window lit area, plus you’ll want to place it in a room in which the temperature does not vary too greatly as heat from a radiator can disrupt and hurt the trees growth. On the other hand if you’re growing your tree outdoors you can dedicate a small area of your garden to growing different types of trees. Depending on the size of your garden this could take up a lot of room and so you must plan this out delicately.
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