Bonsai Trees

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A bonsai is, in Chinese, a plant in a pot. The Chinese were the first to create ornamental trees in miniature in the 2nd century BCE - 2nd century CE during the Han period, where the art of landscaping was perfected, and trees are known to have been planted in containers. A vibrant legend describes how Jiang-feng had such great magical powers that he could conjure up intricate landscapes in dishes –they were complete in every sense and had rocks, mountains, lakes, rivers, people, as well as trees. From here the practice reached Japan during the 11th-13th century, along with the spread of Zen Buddhism.

In Japan, the art of bonsai was perfected and then taken to the rest of the world. Today, however, bonsai trees are recognised as a Japanese system of growing stunted plants. Bonsai plants are not genetically modified or cruelly treated in any way.

Bonsai are just plants that are around two inches to three feet in height, grown from seeds or cuttings. The trees are grown in decorative pots and kept small by expert pruning of branches and roots. The trees are wired on the branches and trunks to produce the desired shapes. The plants live very long and are prized possessions in many families. The common varieties are pine, azalea, camellia, bamboo, and plum. Over time different techniques were used and five main styles emerged: formal upright, informal upright, slanting style, cascade, and semi-cascade.

Professionals use special tools to create bonsai, such as concave branch cutters, pliers, shears, and root trimmers. There are twelve simple steps to creating a bonsai. First, choose a small shrub of a common garden variety, like azalea, boxwood, camellia, cotoneaster, gardenia, or hibiscus. Using bypass pruners, trim the plant until you can see the structure. Remove the plant from the container and place the root ball in water. Then reduce the soil around the roots so that the root ball will fit the bonsai container. Then trim roots so that they are reduced substantially until they are 2/3rd of their original size. Next, place a piece of gauze or plastic window screen over the drain hole of the container. Then put in one inch of potting soil mix. Put the root ball in and spread the roots over the soil gently. Put in more soil to cover the roots—leave around one inch at the top for watering. Then prune the rest of the foliage so that the plant has a structure with branches like a miniature tree. Water the plant until the soil is soaked well, and then cover with aquarium gravel. Give the plant fertilizer at frequent intervals, or use a slow release fertilizer. Recommended fertilizers are fish emulsion or cottonseed meal. Put the young plant in a place where it receives the morning sun. Watch it blossom. Trim when required.

With practice and imagination one can perfect the art form to create landscapes in an indoor setting, bringing home the vibrancy of nature. Bonsai trees are known to bear fruits, flowers, and seeds, and to reproduce into many more miniature plants.

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