Growing bonsai trees

The Principles of Bonsai Gardening

Growing bonsai trees is different from other kinds of gardening and can be very rewarding.Most people have seen bonsai trees and admired their beauty and small size but what is a bonsai tree exactly and what is bonsai gardening? The word "bonsai" translates into "tray gardening" in Japanese, which is to do with growing miniature trees. Bonsai trees do not grow quickly like other similar sized plants and it might take years to grow one.

Trimming and Caring for Small Bonsai Trees

Button wood bonsai tree

Each species of bonsai tree varies in its care requirements so when you get one you will need to find out how much water it needs, how often it has to be watered, whether it needs to be given nutrients, how often you should trim it and other bonsai tree care instructions which should come with the tree.

Dwarfing and shaping bonsai trees is done with special training methods and pruning bonsai trees keeps their shape. Copper or aluminum wiring is often wrapped around the branches and trunk until the tree can keep its own shape. Growing bonsai trees produces beautiful miniature trees but you must know how to look after these trees and how to prune them. Pruning Bonsai Trees is about trimming the roots and branches to encourage the tree to stay small. If the tree were not pruned, it would grow much larger.

How to Grow a Bonsai Tree

If you would like a go at being a bonsai gardener, you can start a bonsai tree by grafting, air layering or cutting or you can buy bonsai tree seeds. Bonsai seeds should be stored in the refrigerator until you are ready to plant them in bonsai soil. Bonsai soil varies from bonsai species to species so make sure you are using the right one. The seeds should be planted half an inch down in the soil. You can plant them in a pot or outside in the earth.

Pinus pentaphylla bonsai tree

Because of their diminutive size, bonsai trees can also be grown on a balcony or indoors, although they are traditionally an outdoor plant. If you are growing a bonsai tree indoors, it will need plenty of exposure to light and you should mist its leaves often.

Do not stand it in water because this will rot the roots. You will need to prune your bonsai tree in the spring to keep its shape and repot it every couple of years. There is no need to fertilize it in the winter. Every second spring you will need to trim the roots as well as repot the bonsai plant.

Any good bonsai gardener will tell you to clean dust or earth from the leaves with a small brush regularly to prevent mold or disease. Treat any pests with pesticide. They will be attracted to your bonsai tree because you water it.

If you are attracted to the beautiful art of growing bonsai trees, bonsai tree seeds are available, as are bonsai trees. You will need to spend time caring for your tree and pruning it but growing bonsai trees are a real delight so perhaps this type of gardening might be just what you were looking for.