As you go through the history of Japanese bonsai trees
(among others), you will note that this term is used to
refer to a ‘plant in a pot’. As per the information
provided on Harvard's Arnold Arboretum site, "the ancient
Chinese were the first to miniaturize trees for ornamental
purposes, around A.D. 200. Later, the Japanese, who used
it to create beautiful gardens, adopted the bonsai technique.
Basically, the bonsai are outdoor plants and they flourish
in cool and humid conditions, away from the bright sunlight
for most parts of the day. In case you want to keep them
indoors, you have to create the same cool and humid environment
for them; otherwise they tend to wither away.
Podocarpus, Serissa and dwarf Pomegranate are suitable
for bonsai along with some common plants, such as Schefflera,
jade plant, Ficus benjamina, Bougainvillea, Citrus and Hibiscus.
You can also make bonsai out of several woody herb species
like bay, rosemary, myrtle and lavender.
How to care for your Japanese Bonsai Trees
All bonsai need a light and well-draining soil, but the
actual soil can vary from plant to plant. So, the soil mixture
suitable for growing bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) cannot
be considered ideal for cultivating the southern red cedar
(Juniperus virginiana).
A typical bonsai soil mixture comprises 1/3 part coarse
sand to help the drainage of excess water; 1/3 part organic
matter like ground sphagnum moss or pine or fir bark, which
are capable to hold moisture and nutrients and 1/3 part
a coarse, fired clay like Turface that also has the capacity
to hold nutrients and moisture. You can adjust the proportions
according to the needs of your trees.
You can select any suitable place, such as the terrace
to create your traditional Japanese garden. Planning an
outdoor Japanese garden is an intellectual pursuit that
also requires artistic visualization and imagination. The
key element of its lay out and planning is that you should
not let the gardener’s personality influence the garden.
In this way, the viewers can visualize the garden in their
own distinct ways. Another core element is simplicity in
terms of the design and lay out.
Don’t keep anything that competes with the décor
of the garden or distracts the attention of the viewers
away from the garden.
In your bonsai garden, you can plant clumps of Fargesia
nitida, a pretty clumping bamboo. Japanese maples are also
ideal and they can be transplanted into containers as well.
In order to make your bonsai garden look more natural, you
can put some moss over the soil beneath your bonsai tree
that will look like real grass. To promote the growth of
your bonsai, you have to rewire the bonsai every year and
trim its center roots after one year.
Things to remember about Japanese Bonsai trees
When you see a bonsai, you must remember that it is a Japanese
expression that refers to an artificially miniaturized potted
plant or collection of plants, which are cultivated to recreate
a natural scene. Generally, a twelve inches tall bonsai
having an outcropping of strong roots can give the appearance
of a very old tree.
Likewise, a symmetrical crown adorning the top of a straight
trunk can provide the impression of a stately and ancient
shade tree. The Japanese people possess centuries old dwarf
trees and hand it over to the next generation as their living
heirlooms.
About the Author
About the Author: Christopher Chase is a respected Bonsai
enthusiast. He is the author of dozens of articles on the
subject of Bonsai, subjects include Shohin Bonsai, Bonsai
and Suiseki and Bonsai Art.
