Bonsai

types of bonsai trees

2008-07-30T13:45:00.002-07:00

The Most Popular Types Of Bonsai Trees

The art of bonsai is a time honored tradition that has only become popular here in the Western world within the last hundred years, or so. Once reserved for the elite upper class and royalty of the Eastern nations, now the art of bonsai is so wide spread that anyone with the time and patience to cultivate one of these little trees can enjoy the pleasure of the art form. There are a great many different types of bonsai trees available, ranging from evergreen to deciduous, flowering and fruit bearing.

The type of tree you choose should depend largely upon how much experience you have, as there are many types of bonsai trees that simply aren't suitable for beginners. In this article, we will cover the more popular types of bonsai trees, in an effort to help you choose the right tree for you and your new hobby.

Trees For Beginners

The most popular types of bonsai trees for beginners are the boxwood trees. These small evergreen shrubs are perfect for beginners as they don't require as much pruning and watering. These types of bonsai trees are rather slow growing, so it isn't necessary to prune them every day, as it is with other trees. Beginners may also do well with miniature fruit bearing bonsai trees for the same reasons. These types of bonsai trees don't require quite as much pruning as other trees do, and also allow you to have fresh fruit right in your home. Very popular!

Trees For The Experienced Bonsai Grower

As anyone who's actually had some experience with the many different types of bonsai trees can tell you, the care of some trees is so time consuming that only the most patient person should even bother. One of the best types of bonsai trees for people with that kind of patience is the Trident Maple. These lovely trees are probably the most highly coveted types of bonsai trees, due to their lovely foliage and shape, and the fact that the leaves turn beautiful colors in the fall.

The Trident Maple does require almost daily pruning, however, in order for it to keep its shape. As these types of bonsai trees are deciduous, they also require extra care when watering and feeding; as well as making certain that you give them a proper dormant period in the winter months.

There are so many different types of bonsai trees available for you to choose from that it would be almost impossible for to not find one that would suit your taste and your experience level.

tropical bonsai

2008-07-30T13:45:00.001-07:00

Information on the Tropical Bonsai Trees

There are a few different types of Bonsai trees, and the Tropical Bonsai is one of the most popular of all. There are quite a few reasons as to why the Tropical Bonsai is so loved, one being its aesthetic appeal. It is a gorgeous, unique looking tree, one that is very different from all other trees and plants in the world.

The Difference

There are a few differences between the Tropical Bonsai and regular Bonsai trees, which you are going to want to be aware of before you decide to buy and attempt to grow one. For one, Tropical Bonsai trees are ones that come from a climate that has consistently warm temperatures all year round.

This means that they require much different growing conditions than regular Bonsai trees, and this is very important otherwise they are not going to strive and will usually die off, even in as little as a few days. Keep in mind that there are some which are also from areas of high humidity such as a rainforest, and so you may have to recreate this living environment in order for your tree to strive.

Tropical Bonsai trees are very suitable for growing indoors, which is one of the most favorable features of these trees, because even people who live in locations that have cold season can grow these trees without worry of them dying off.

Important Tips

Whether you are growing Tropical Bonsais or any other form, there are a few important tips that you will want to keep in mind. Know that while there are several different types of trees that can be planted and pruned in Bonsai form, the pine family are the most difficult to grow. There are a few reasons for this, one being that pine trees tend to grow opposite to the Bonsai image. This then makes it more difficult to keep up regular maintenance with them.

Then there is also the fact that pines have certain characteristics that make them aesthetically unsuitable for Bonsai. One of the most major characteristics in this regard is that the bud whorls that occur at the branch ends of branches that have not been pruned properly. As a result, these can then sprout out smaller branches that tend to point in random directions and this causes the entire tree to look very unappealing.

As long as you are willing to put in the time and effort and can manage having a little patience as well, then you should come out with some great results when it comes to growing your Bonsai trees.

redwood bonsai

2008-07-30T13:44:00.002-07:00

Caring For A Redwood Bonsai

With so many different types of bonsai trees available, it can be difficult to know which is the best to choose. One of the most popular types of bonsai is the redwood bonsai tree. These trees are a deciduous tree that require a rather lengthy dormant period during the winter months in order to continue to grow properly; and require quite a bit of time and patience to train properly.

The redwood bonsai is best suited for those who already have extensive experience with bonsai trees; but if you are dedicated to training your tree right, and giving it the proper amount of care, it is possible for a bonsai beginner to care for a redwood bonsai tree, as well.

Proper Bonsai Care

If you have decided that a redwood bonsai is right for you, then the first thing you will need to know is how to properly care for your new tree. There are several tools you will need to care for your redwood bonsai, including pruning clippers, shears, and wire to hold the branches in place as you train them. All of the tools needed to care for your new redwood bonsai can be found at your local home and garden center, or in a catalog specifically geared toward the bonsai hobby.

The next thing you need to know about your new redwood bonsai is that it will probably require daily watering as the tree begins to grow. The best way to tell if your redwood bonsai needs to be watered is to see if the soil in the planter looks dry. If it is a lighter color than normal, or if it has more of a sandy look than a look of soil, it most likely needs to be watered. If you keep your tree indoors, you may not have to water as frequently, but will still need to check the soil on a regular basis.

Your redwood bonsai will also need plenty of fertilizer to stay healthy. There are special blends of fertilizer specifically made for bonsai trees that can be found at your local home and garden center. These liquid fertilizers should be used mixed with water so as to avoid over fertilizing, and your redwood bonsai should be fed at least once a week.

Redwood bonsai trees are quite lovely once they have been properly trained, so long as you make a point to give them the care they need to grow right. It takes a lot of patience to train a redwood bonsai, but if you have it the end result is well worth it.

outdoor bonsai trees

2008-07-30T13:44:00.001-07:00

Outdoor Bonsai Trees – Miniature Nature

Outdoor bonsai trees are a great way to enjoy nature in a small space. If you live in a city, where you only have a small amount of space outside and you want to enjoy having a forest of trees then outdoor bonsai trees are the way to go to enjoy nature in miniature. Even if you are living outside of a city but in an apartment and want to enjoy having nature on your terrace outdoor bonsai trees can provide you with a great way to do that.

Taking Care Of Outdoor Bonsai Trees

There is a bit more work to taking care of outdoor bonsai trees than there is to taking care of indoor trees. The reason for this is the amount of expose an outdoor tree gets as opposed to the indoor tree. As a result, more attention needs to be paid to these trees. Take growing and care instruction under careful consideration. Wind, rain, and exposure to sun as well as fertilizers and locations need to be carefully considered when purchasing bonsai you plan to keep outdoors.

You also need to consider the amount of space you have when considering which bonsai to get. There are a number of size classifications ranging from tiny, at around an inch to large at around 48 inches. Depending on the amount of room, you have and the time you have to care for it, you may want to consider not just a particular type of bonsai but also classification for size. This can allow you to have multiple plants in a smaller space.

If you are new to having bonsai, it may be a good idea to take the time to care for just a single bonsai tree outdoors until you get the hang of it. That way you can be sure you can provide the care each tree needs with the time and space you have available to work. Once you have determined the amount of time it takes and if you can provide the care necessary in order to take care of these miniature versions of nature outside then consider creating a forest of bonsai in a variety of sizes. It will definitely give you a little piece of a great part of nature no matter where you live. It can also provide a great conversation piece for guests as well as give you a sense of accomplishment at being able to care for these wonderful plants.

online bonsai workshops

2008-07-30T13:43:00.003-07:00

Learn To Grow Bonsai Trees With Online Bonsai Workshops

There are many ways to learn how to grow bonsai trees, most of them cumbersome and boring. However, there is one way that would be both interesting and informative as well as short for those who are stingy about their time, i.e. online bonsai workshops.

What Advantages Do The Online Bonsai Workshops Have Over Other Forms Of Teaching?

You would wonder – why online bonsai workshops? Why not a full blown bonsai growing course? There are many advantages that you get with online bonsai workshops that you would not get with any other form of learning.

First of all, these workshops are like concentrated capsules that focus on each aspect of the bonsai tree growing so it gives the most information in the least time possible. You can learn some excellent tips on different aspects – things that might take you years to discover on your own, if at all.

Secondly, each of these workshops has a particular subject though sometimes they cover the whole process of bonsai making, and therefore you could choose only the one that holds your interest. Say, you want to know how to get the best shape out of your bonsai trees – attend only online bonsai workshops that focus on shaping. In this way, you enjoy the workshop and you learn what you want.

Third, you get to know many other bonsai enthusiasts just as yourself and this could be the beginning of some very long and mutually rewarding friendships. Each workshop has its participants list and you are likely to create a bonsai-lover community through these workshops – just like having a separate world made especially for you.

Fourth, these online bonsai workshops cost a fraction of what would a full-blown course would demand and the result are as good, maybe even better. Instead of a long and sometimes cumbersome course, you get a lively short and concentrated workshop where you not only learn about things that interest you the most about these lovely miniature trees, but also about the people who share this love with you.

Fifth, the online workshops give you exposure to some of the greatest masters in the world. Many of the acclaimed bonsai growers offer such workshops and you have the advantage to learn some exceptional things in the process. Though the online courses are excellent too, it would never provide you with the opportunity to such exposure.

Lastly, a workshop would be best for you if you were a beginner or a veteran. It does not matter at what level you are, you would find just the right things to learn through a workshop while with a course you would have you go through the whole process wasting a good deal of your time.

mini bonsai

2008-07-30T13:43:00.001-07:00

Some Interesting Facts About The Mini Bonsai Trees

You are aware than bonsai means 'tree in a pot' in Japanese and this terms refers to a type of trees that are dwarfed by special growing techniques to reproduce the larger version in a miniature form. These plants are not only stunning beautiful, they are also very expensive and painstaking to grow. This is why most people would be surprised to know that there is another yet smaller type of miniaturization called the mini bonsai.

What Is The Mini Bonsai?

The mini bonsai is a tree which is further miniaturized having it grow to maximum the size of your palm. This type of bonsai is very common in Japan and China where it is also known as mame bonsai or shonin bonsai. The great thing about these mini bonsai trees is that almost all of them flower and fruit every year offering an amazing spectacle.

The mini bonsai can propagate from both seeds and cuttings in different seasons according to the growth chart of the species they belong to. The best part with these miniature trees is that they can be grown absolutely anywhere as they need very little special care or space. Their beauty is such that it can completely mesmerize anyone who sees it for the first time.

The same conditions and rules apply to the mini bonsai as it would apply to the regular bonsai trees, i.e. utmost care should be given that water is sufficient in the soil because flooding would rot the roots while dryness would kill it. You need to ensure that the plant has adequate food and light or it would wither away. Most of the mini bonsai trees though considered (maybe owing to their exquisite shape and size) to be indoor plants are actually outdoor plants.

This is why when kept indoors these trees need to be placed in a well ventilated area preferably facing southeast in a place where they could get well exposed to sun light for about six hours per day. If the place offers more than six hours direct sunlight, ensure that they have something that provides shade as protection against dryness.

For food the miniature bonsai trees would need nitrogen based fertilizer twice a month during the spring and summer and daily watering. Pruning and shaping should be done in late spring and early summer when the growth of these trees attains the maximum rate. These trees need to be repotted once every two years until they reach ten years of age. Immediately after repotting the tree would need a lot of water and natural shade to allow the roots to catch up.

Sometimes all of this looks like a lot of trouble and special care; however when you see the miniature trees in all their glory flowering and fruiting, you would find that each one of the efforts involved to get these masterpieces are well worth the trouble.

juniper bonsai

2008-07-30T13:42:00.002-07:00

Love And Care For Your Juniper Bonsai

The juniper is the most common choice for a bonsai tree. This evergreen tree comes in about fifty different varieties, which typically grow for more than 200 years in mountainous region. However, when used as bonsai the same tree would live for only a few decades. Its foliage which is one of the reasons why it is chosen for bonsai ranges from pale green to dark blue-green color.

The Juniper Bonsai Needs Tender Care

One of the best varieties of bonsai is the Juniperus X, which is a very popular natural hybrid species in Japan. This tree loves medium climate as too cold or too hot inhibits its development and even kill it. Other things that could cause the death of the juniper bonsai is too much water and poor lighting. Many people love to keep this tree indoors even though this is not exactly an indoor plant. Nonetheless, the plant can be kept happy with regular misting, regulated temperature and perfect lighting.

For an excellent juniper bonsai, you would need to repot it once in every two years during the spring time for its first ten years. This would make it grow strong and healthy while at the same curtail its growth just enough to make it a perfect bonsai. This tree thrives on nitrogen fertilizer and hence, it should be given a high concentration every two weeks during summer when it grows most, and a low concentration during winter time. Add to this a small amount of acidic fertilizer to ensure that the tree has the best there is for its development.

Never shape your juniper bonsai when the leaves are sprouting – this would kill it. The best time for shaping your tree would be the summer and this should be done exclusively with the fingers. You should also never use scissors on your juniper bonsai because it would make its ends turn an ugly brown. Always remember to leave sufficient foliage or you would experience branch withering.

This tree acquires the most interesting shapes and you could enjoy making all types of shapes with equal ease as it is very easy to train it. You should only keep in mind that this tree can die if over-watered so be careful with the watering. One way to safely water the juniper bonsai is to immerse the tree in water up to its trunk and remove it as soon the bubbles stop coming up.

Follow these steps and you will have a very happy and not to mention very beautiful bonsai tree that you could proudly show to all your friends.

japanese white pine bonsai tree

2008-07-30T13:42:00.001-07:00

All You Need To Know To Have The Most Beautiful Japanese White Pine Bonsai Tree

The Japanese white pine (or the Pinus parviflora as it is named in Latin) bonsai tree is one of the most strikingly beautiful bonsai trees ever. This tree when growing naturally can reach astounding heights of more than 50 feet and yet it can be dwarfed to become a few inches in height as bonsai. The reason why everybody loves the Japanese white pine bonsai tree is because it has this excellent canopy and gnarled shape which is so stunning. Amazingly, this tree is at its best behavior at the hands of both beginners and veterans.

Learning To Care For Your Japanese White Pine Bonsai Tree

This tree loves cool climate and direct sunrays hence, the best place to keep it would be outdoors. You would need to remember that this tree always needs to have a good drainage or its roots will rot. Since the Japanese white pine bonsai tree grows rapidly in the spring time, you need to add the fertilizer in large dozes throughout the spring season in the combination of 20:20:20. For the rest of time (summer, fall and winter) when the metabolism of the tree slows down a lot you would need to give it a slow acting fertilizer. Check the soil for acidity and if you find it less, ensure that you bring to the normal levels.

Your Japanese white pine bonsai tree needs to be pruned only during late fall when you could also wire it. Once shaped and wired in whichever way you want, you need to leave the wire untouched for a minimum of six and maximum of eight months. Keep the new shoots short and well pruned by clipping those (using only fingers) to one third of their length late on the spring. If and only if your Japanese white pine bonsai tree is healthy and strong you could remove all the new shoots, otherwise you leave it alone as such pruning would disfigure or totally kill it.

Depending whether you want to keep your bonsai indoors or outdoors you need to train its roots to grow deep or stay on the top. If you keep it as an outdoor plant, the roots needs to be deep as a little wind could topple it over; for indoor shallow roots would be fine.

An important tip is that the Japanese white pine bonsai tree is dependent for its life on a fungus known as rootball. This fungus has great (read beneficial) impact on the roots and normally when this fungus dies, the bonsai tree would also die. Hence, it is important that the white pine should never be bare rooted.

Japanese maple bonsai

2008-07-30T13:41:00.002-07:00

The Easy Elegance Of Japanese Maple Bonsai

One of the most popular species of tree used in the art of bonsai is the Japanese maple. Bonsai is the art of taking a sapling destined to be a huge tree and shapes it to be a harmonious miniature of itself. This does not seem to negatively affect the tree. A small, hardy plant lives longer than a larger one with has to expend more energy for basic survival.

Why This Species?

Theoretically, any sapling from any tree species can be used in the art of bonsai. But you'll make things a lot easier on yourself choosing a tree from species that seem to thrive on becoming bonsai. Also, there is a lot more information written on Japanese maple bonsai than many other species. When you are a beginner, you will have a lot of questions. By choosing a Japanese maple bonsai, it's easier to find answers.

Another reason why the Japanese maple bonsai is a good choice for beginners is that this is a hardy species that can survive a few mistakes. It is also very attractive, which helps to give any beginner in bonsai gardening the confidence they need to keep on developing their own art of bonsai.

A Seedling Or A Juvenile?

You can find saplings, seedlings and young bonsais for sale in garden shops, bonsai specialty stores and (of course) the web. The older the bonsai, the more expensive it is. This is the reverse for buying a dog – puppies are far more expensive than a full grown dog! Some people like the idea of being in charge of their Japanese maple bonsai's entire existence. However, for a beginner, you are better off shelling out some money and buying a bonsai that is recognizable as a tree and not a blade of grass.

Older trees are healthier, less prone to temperature variations or adverse conditions when traveling, and you have a good idea what they already look like when mature. A bonsai master can take a seedling, decide in his or her mind what the tree will look like years from now, and shape the seedling accordingly. However, that's a lot to ask a beginner to bonsai.

Different Kinds

There are many types of Japanese maple bonsai for you to choose from. There are Red Japanese Maple, Lace Leaf Japanese Maple, Dwarf Japanese Maple and just plain Japanese Maple. All of them are beautiful and adapt well to the bonsai lifestyle. All of the kinds need protection from cold winds and semi-shade in summertime.

japanese bonsai pots

2008-07-30T13:41:00.001-07:00

Japanese Bonsai Pots – When You Want The Best For Your Trees

There are plenty of bonsai tree pots and containers all over the Internet. You could find one that suits any budget or esthetic sense – so why go for the Japanese bonsai pots you would ask. Well, the answer would be like this. You could travel in any type of car or vehicle, why want a Mercedes Benz limousine?

The Advantage That Japanese Bonsai Pots Give To Your Tree

In Japan, the home of the bonsai, the container is as important as the tree it houses. Bonsai in Japanese means 'tree in a pot' and though this term undermines the importance of the match between these two elements a lot of effort is put in to have the perfect blend between the living and the non-living thing that makes a bonsai.

Yes, the container is an integral part of the bonsai tree and these Japanese bonsai pots are meant to become an extension to the tree it holds. You will find many types of containers – oval, round, triangular, hexagonal and even irregular shaped ones – each one meant specifically for one type of tree. If you ever want a perfect bonsai tree, use only the types of pots that match it to perfection.

When you choose Japanese bonsai pots for your tree, you are giving it three distinct advantages. The first would be that you are using the wisdom of thousand of years of a civilization which has perfected this art to a level that it sometimes surpasses even the beauty of Mother Nature herself. This wisdom would give you a head start when you plan your bonsai, because you are using something that would complement your tree to faultlessness – say just like wearing tailor made clothes to highlight your best attributes.

The second advantage is the beauty of the container itself. There is nothing more stunning than the original Japanese bonsai pots which somehow seem to have a life of their own. Whenever you look at one of these, it would seem like they are telling you a story – it is simply mesmerizing and you cannot get that effect with any other type of container, no matter how expensive.

The third advantage is the advice that comes with each of these Japanese bonsai pots. When you get these pots, you would also get information on what type of tree it is meant to hold, how to grow such a tree and many tips that would make your task easier. In Japan they always root for perfection – and when you get a little piece of that perfection you know your tree would be perfect too.

jade bonsai

2008-07-30T13:40:00.002-07:00

Whatever Happened To Baby Jade Bonsai?

Jade bonsai is also known as baby jade bonsai, which is actually a more sensible name. The art of bonsai begins when the trees are still saplings. You prevent them from growing to their full height with careful pruning and shaping. Your goal is to keep the tree from growing too big. You can't get them to shrink. Other names for the baby jade bonsai include Small Leaf Jade and Elephant Plant.

Great For Beginners

Bonsai trees are high maintenance plants. They often require daily attention, like a pet. But not the baby jade bonsai. They can often go for long periods without water, because they are succulent plants. This doesn't mean that they taste good – rather, that they can store water in their trunks. This makes them a bit more forgiving than some other species of bonsai trees.

Baby jade bonsai is also a fast grower, so you need to prune and shape more often than some other tree species. The art of bonsai, like any other skill, takes a lot of practice in order to be good at it. It's hard to get that practice if you don’t have many chances to prune and shape a slow growing bonsai. But baby jade bonsai is sure to give you the needed practice.

Basic Care

You need to keep your baby jade bonsai in warm conditions, preferably not letting the temperature dip below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. They can be moved around a room in order to catch the sun. If you where you live gets cold winters, you need to keep your baby jade bonsai indoors. This plant is a tropical species and never gets winter in the wild.

Whenever you water your baby jade bonsai, only pour in enough water until the soil is moist. Let the soil completely dry between waterings. Over watering can be just as dangerous as not watering in the long run.

You'll have to repot your baby jade bonsai about every two years. You will have to trim the roots at this time, as well. Bonsai experts recommend it is best to repot in the early spring. Let the soil dry and leave in a shady spot until leaves or twigs start growing. Then you can resume your normal watering schedule.

More often, you'll be pruning your jade bonsai. This not only keeps the tree small and helps it to live longer, but it aids to the overall look you want to create. Decide on a shape you want the bonsai to either take on or keep. Then pinch off any new growth that does not keep to this ideal with your fingers.

inducing flowering for bougainvillea bonsai

2008-07-30T13:40:00.001-07:00

Is Inducing Flowering For Bougainvillea Bonsai Necessary At All?

The majority of the bonsai trees do not flower or fruit with very few exceptions. Part of that exceptional group is the bougainvillea which belongs to the Nyctaginaceace family that is special in the fact that this is partly a very strong tree and partly an evergreen vine. This is maybe the only one tree that was discovered and adapted to bonsai in America exclusively.

Inducing Flowering For Bougainvillea Bonsai To Get It At Its Best Possible Stance

It is true that this is one of the fastest growing bonsai trees in the world and maybe the most versatile in shaping and form. However, the best that it has to offer is visible when it is in full bloom. This brings you to the question on whether inducing flowering for bougainvillea bonsai is necessary or not for this bonsai tree.

Basically the bougainvillea flowers naturally in winter and early spring though some species can spontaneously flower throughout the year. The colors of the flowers can be widely varied – white, pink, scarlet, red, orange, lavender, yellow and carmine. In the bonsai tree it mostly covers the whole canopy giving you a sight that would leave you breathless. If the plant is happy, which means that is well fed and kept in controlled climate inducing flowering for bougainvillea bonsai would be easy. All you need to do is simulate the spring time by constantly reinforcing the critical signals of that time, such as the dryness in the air, the starting of cold and even a certain amount of wind.

If you are not getting the right results while you are inducing flowering for bougainvillea bonsai you should stop pushing it for that particular year and renew your efforts the next year. In order to get the best results start your preparations right after the fall.

You need to keep in mind that the bougainvillea is an excellent evergreen vine which can give you an excellently gnarled and twisted trunk while at the same time can be wired and shaped with great ease. Once you get your bonsai, all you need to propagate it is taking tiny little drafts from the mother plant to be potted at the later date. Whatever qualities the mother plant would have, the baby plant would have the same.

Though a bonsai bougainvillea in flower is stunning and definitely would fetch a greater price, it is advisable to avoid inducing flowering for bougainvillea bonsai because (1) in the majority of cases it is not necessary as the plant would definitely flower when time comes for it do so, i.e. in the winter time and (2) it might stress the plant due to undue interfering with its life cycle.

indoor bonsai

2008-07-30T13:39:00.002-07:00

Many Ways To Display Your Indoor Bonsai

Bonsai is an art form, albeit it uses elements we don't normally associate with art. Instead of using canvas, frames and paints, bonsai uses bits of nature – the bonsai tree, soil, water and rocks. Indoor bonsai is even more special, as this living sculpture is living inside with you as a perpetual connection to Mother Nature. The art of bonsai is not all about the tree. It is also about how that tree is displayed.

Mirror To Nature

Many people approach the art of indoor bonsai as trying to make a miniature mirror of what you may find in nature. They may decide to make a whole tray that mimics a landscape in real life – or a landscape that SHOULD be in real life. Not only do you get to exercise your creativity muscles, but perhaps you get to have a better appreciation for the earth and all creatures in it.

Displays of indoor bonsai that look like miniatures of the normal sized world include a tray half filled with water to mimic a river or lakeside. Pebbles become rocks. Moss becomes bushes. Little figurines of animals or people often feature in these indoor bonsai displays. You can find these little figures in model railroad stores.

Anything Goes

Some people like to be different in everything they do – including how they display their indoor bonsai. If you surf through private web pages of amateur bonsai hobbyists, you'll see displays which don’t even treat the tree as a tree. This writer has seen an indoor bonsai display stand in the shape of a skateboard, which the bonsai tree – its branches held out like arms – skated along. It even wore a little bandanna and sneakers.

Perhaps you would like your bonsai to inhabit a miniature alien world. You could put it in a tray filled with soil that mimics lunar craters. You could shape your indoor bonsai tree so that it is bending down in a very un-tree like posture. In bonsai, you really can do nearly everything you can imagine.

Traditional Displays

One of the best things about the art of indoor bonsai is that the beauty does not depend on the presentation – although it can help. The tree itself is a thing of great beauty. It is like a diamond – another thing of great beauty. When set in a band of precious metal, it becomes even more valuable. But it is your bonsai, and you are free to display it however you want to.

how to make a bonsai

2008-07-30T13:39:00.001-07:00

How To Make A Bonsai Tree Grow Indoors

Many people are fascinated by the beauty and unique nature of bonsai trees. Basically, they are a small tree that is grown in a tray or pot. More people are taking up the hobby of bonsai growing all the time. These plants were originally intended for outdoor growing, but over the last several years, people have learned how to make bonsai trees grow indoors.

Getting Your Bonsai Situated

If you want to know how to make a bonsai survive indoors, the first thing to realize is that different types will do better in those conditions than others. Obviously, you'll want to find out which types are best suited for your specific needs before you run out and buy one.

Your bonsai tree will be planted in a tray that is much shallower than a standard planting pot. You'll need to simulate the conditions that they live in naturally. This means keeping them warm and humid. The temperature should be at least 60 degrees F during the day, and then cooler at night. To create the necessary humidity, mist the leaves often, and do it generously. While doing this, make sure you do not over-saturate the soil, as this will cause the roots to rot. Like many other plants, the bonsai should be placed a well-lit area to absorb the necessary UV rays.

Bonsai Care

When learning how to make a bonsai grow indoors, you'll find that caring for your plant can be a bit trickier than some. Due to the shallow pots mentioned earlier, any fertilizer that is added to the soil should be diluted accordingly. This will help to avoid over feeding the plant. Many people wonder how to make a bonsai retain it's unique shape. Regular pruning should begin in the spring, and continue throughout the growing season.

Another challenge is learning how to make a bonsai survive pest infestations and diseases. This can be quite difficult when growing a bonsai indoors. Your plant may be more vulnerable indoors than if it were outside. Many of the pests that would not survive outside will thrive in the controlled climate of your home. Nature provides some protection for outdoor plants by killing pests with cold temperatures. This is not the case inside the home. It's very important that you constantly inspect your plant for signs of infestation. Some of these pests are too small to see, but they will leave visible signs of their presence.

Again, these plants were intended to be grown outside where they can enjoy the sunlight, humidity, and air circulation that is necessary for them to survive. Learning how to make a bonsai survive indoors is quite challenging and takes time to master. If you cannot provide the environment that is necessary, you should probably think of purchasing a different kind of plant.

growing bonsai trees

2008-07-30T13:38:00.004-07:00

A Step by Step Guide to Growing Bonsai Trees

Bonsai trees are truly beautiful and unique. There is no other tree or plant in the world that could be mistaken for a Bonsai, because they are completely their own. Many people look at Bonsai trees and assume that they would be difficult to grow but this is actually not true. In fact, as long as you are willing to put some time and effort into the process, growing Bonsai trees can actually be quite easy and enjoyable.

Getting Started

If you want to start growing Bonsai trees, the first thing you are going to have to do is get Bonsai seeds. Know that Bonsai cultivators acquire the tress in different ways, namely by using methods such as cuttings, air layering, and grafting. There are truly too many other inexpensive options for starting a new specimen, to include starting a tree from a cutting. You will then need to get appropriately sized containers, which in this case means quite small because the Bonsai like to be in tight quarters while they are growing.

Next in the process of growing Bonsai trees, you need to consider the pruning process. This is perhaps one of the most important aspects of all when it comes to growing Bonsai trees. The pruning of the branches is typically done in spring, and much but not all of the new growth is removed at this time. You should wire the desirable branches in an artistic way, as this is where the aesthetic appeal of the plant comes from.

Fertilization is also very important with Bonsais just as with any other plant. You need to fertilize your Bonsai with a water soluble fertilizer a couple of times a month during the growing season. You can pretty much have all the freedom in the world when it comes to choosing a fertilizer, but keep in mind that your choice of fertilizer may vary, depending on the particular species that you have chosen to miniaturize.

When you are growing Bonsai trees, there is obviously a lot of information that you have to take into consideration. The act of growing Bonsai trees is incredibly rewarding however, and so it is definitely worth it to put in the time and effort that is required here. This is definitely not a skill that you will regret learning. Just make sure that you have the patience for growing Bonsais, because this is definitely a characteristic that is going to be required here.

ficus bonsai care

2008-07-30T13:38:00.003-07:00

All You Need To Know About Ficus Bonsai Care

There are many, many species of trees that are used successfully for bonsai. Each of these trees have three specific attributes – (1) they look exceptionally attractive when dwarfed, (2) they live at least for a few decades and (3) are easily moldable. Only when a tree fits these three criteria does it become a success with bonsai.

Tips On Ficus Bonsai Care That Would Keep Your Tree Both Happy And Beautiful

One such perfect match is the ficus which is also known as the miniature banyan tree for its very close resemblance to the latter. This is an exceptional tree, easy to grow and maintain provided you know all about ficus bonsai care.

First of all you need to know that the ficus is an indoor plant, though it at times needs a breather of fresh air and a little direct sunlight. The ficus bonsai care dictates that its soil be kept always slightly humid as this tree tends to die without water. Ensure that you check the soil for humidity from time to time so you would know when it needs watering.

The best way to ensure it has adequate water is to immerse the pot in water for about 10-15 minutes and then take it out and drain it until no water drips out. This procedure would ensure that your ficus bonsai tree has enough water at any given time.

The next concern on the ficus bonsai care agenda is the repotting of the tree. This needs to be done every two years only during the spring. You need to closely watch the tree as sometimes it just shoots of with sudden spurts of growth in which case you would need to repot it ever year. Every time you repot it, allow it to stay in shade for about two to three weeks so its roots have sufficient time to adjust to the new soil.

One very important yet often overlooked aspect of ficus bonsai care is the temperature at which it is comfortable. The ficus bonsai should never be exposed to temperatures lower than 60 degrees because it would kill it. Therefore, in winter you need to keep in a controlled temperature room where direct sunlight is available so it could bask in the sun for at least a few hours every day.

Even when showered with utmost care the ficus still tends to shed a few leaves in the winter, though it does not really impact its overall well being. While you are taking care and keeping it comfortably warm, remember that the tree needs water as often as possible so as to ensure that the soil is always wet.

dwarf jade bonsai

2008-07-30T13:38:00.001-07:00

Dwarf Jade Bonsai – New And Making Itself Known

The dwarf jade bonsai is relatively new to the word of bonsai. Just about any plant can be used for bonsai since it is simply the art of cultivating a plant into a particular size and shape and maintaining it in that size and shape for the duration of its life. However, there are some plants, which are more traditional used than others. The dwarf jade bonsai is a new comer to the plants, which are commonly being used and cultivated as bonsai.

The Particulars About The Dwarf Jade Bonsai

The dwarf jade bonsai is a fleshy soft wood shrub which can sometimes be classified or grow to be a small tree though no more than 3-4 meters in height. The dwarf jade bonsai is also known as the portulacaria afra or elephant plant or it is also sometimes known as the small leaf jade plant. It usually shows up in nature on hillsides, which are dry and rocky, and in succulent scrub areas. One of the great things about this particular plant is the fact that it can withstand long periods without water.

This makes it an excellent choice for beginners in the world of cultivating bonsai. In addition, the plant works well because it adapts to styles quickly and develops relatively quickly so you can see the results of your work without having to wait. Something else that makes this particular plant an interesting choice for those who are beginning in bonsai.

The plant has green bark when it is young that then develops to a red brown and then slate gray. There are conspicuous leaf scars on the bark and it has a smooth texture. The leaves are simple, yet elegant. They are opposite with a circular shape about 1.5 cm diameter. The color is fleshy, pay grey or play grey blue green, you can also see this plant with dark green. The leaves sit at right angles to each other along reddish stems.

This is a flowering plant so there are small star shaped flowers that run from pale pink to purplish color. The plants may be to actually dry out considerably to flower. This plant needs full sun so if you are going to grow it indoors make sure to pick a place that has a significant amount of light or consider a growth lamp, it is a tropical plant so if you are in northern climes you need to protect it from cold temperatures below 50 degrees. Watering should be done by allowing the soil to approach dryness. It is not as sensitive as other succulents when it comes to over watering.

china bonsai tool

2008-07-30T13:37:00.002-07:00

What The Heck Is A China Bonsai Tool?

Like with any other art or craft, you need the right tools to help you get the image in your head to real life. Bonsai is the art of shaping, maintaining and presenting little trees. Since the size and scale of what you are doing is so different from maintaining a regular-sized tree, the usual gardening tools are too cumbersome to use. Some bonsai masters prefer Japanese bonsai tools, and others prefer bonsai tools from China. They are usually referred to as Chinese bonsai tools, but sometimes are listed as China bonsai tools.

Made of Metal

Chinese bonsai tools are not made of china, despite their name. Even though china is pretty strong and the bonsai small, a china bonsai tool would not last you too long. They are usually made of metal, preferably steel. They are, as their name suggests, made in China. Bonsai tools, as well as bonsai, originated in the Orient thousands of years ago, so the Chinese have a lot of experience making bonsai tools.

Various Kinds

There are many kinds of bonsai tools from China. You don't need all of them, but you do need some basics. First off, you need a bonsai care book or access to bonsai websites to help instruct you in how to use your tools. Since they are smaller and lighter than usual gardening tools, they will cost less.

The main tool you will need is some kind of cutter. There are leaf cutters, twig cutters and wire cutters. The last is for helping trim the wires you use to help shape and support your bonsai tree – not to be used on the tree itself. You need to know if your species of tree does best with a sharp blade or a dull blade.

There are also root hooks, which look very similar to the hoof picks used for cleaning out the hooves of horses, ponies, donkeys and cows. The only difference from a hoof pick is that a root pick is longer. Root hooks help you with replanting, when you have to trim back as much as half of your bonsai tree's root system to keep the tree small and long lived.

You also can choose to get a bonsai brush, usually made of bamboo or some other plant and not metal. They are also made in China. Bonsai tools like the brush are as elegant as the trees they help you care for.

buttonwood bonsai

2008-07-30T13:37:00.001-07:00

Training A Buttonwood Bonsai Tree

There is a time honored tradition that was once reserved for eastern royalty that has gradually become more and more popular here in the western world over the last hundred years or so. That time honored tradition is called the art of bonsai. Bonsai is the art of taking regular trees and training and pruning them so that they not only stay miniature sized, but also so that they grow into the loveliest of shapes that are as lovely as they are unusual. One of the most popular types of bonsai tree is the buttonwood bonsai. These sweet little evergreen trees are relatively simple to care for once they have been properly trained. It is that training process that we want to cover here.

Getting The Right Supplies

When training a buttonwood bonsai, the most important thing is to make sure that you have all the tools necessary to do so. You will need shears and clippers in several different sizes, wire to hold the branches in place, and at least one pair of needle nosed pliers (although we recommend getting several different sizes before training a buttonwood bonsai). You should also have several different sizes of containers for your buttonwood bonsai readily available, as the tree will need to be transplanted several times as the root ball gets bigger.

Training Your Buttonwood

Training your buttonwood bonsai is the hardest part of bonsai care. Once you have planted your tree in special bonsai soil, you will need to use several different weights of wire to wrap your branches with. This wire can then be twisted to make each branch take on a different shape. If this is your first time training a buttonwood bonsai, you should head to your local library to pick up a few books on bonsai trees so that you can get an idea of what you want your tree to look like.

You will need to carefully prune off any unwanted branches that don't fit into the overall scheme of the way you want your buttonwood bonsai to look. This is one of the most important parts of training a buttonwood bonsai, as new growth will need to be pruned off daily. This is especially important as it will help your new buttonwood bonsai to keep its shape; and forgetting to prune regularly will result in a tree that looks misshapen.

The buttonwood bonsai is a great tree to have in your home, and will provide you and countless generations of your family with enjoyable beauty if properly cared for. There are many classes available for you to learn the proper techniques for training your buttonwood bonsai if you don't feel comfortable going it alone. Talk to your local home and garden center to see if they can recommend a good class for you to join.

bonsai trees

2008-07-30T13:36:00.002-07:00

What You Must Know About Bonsai Trees

Bonsai is the art of cultivating miniaturized plants. The plants themselves are normal sized plants; they are not grown specifically for bonsai. The miniaturization is what makes bonsai such a great hobby, as enthusiasts prune the roots and shape the leaves of normal trees and shrubs to restrict them to a miniature bonsai scale.

Bonsai trees are generally divided into two categories of trees: deciduous bonsai trees, which lose their leaves seasonally, and evergreen bonsai trees.

Deciduous Bonsai Trees

The Trident Maple Bonsai (Acer Buergerianum) is an outdoor deciduous bonsai highly desired for its blazing autumn foliage. Leaves are three lobed (thus the name Trident) and drought resistant. Foliage will drop during the winter.

The Japanese Red Maple Bonsai tree (Acer Palmatum "Atropurpurea") is another popular deciduous tree. This tree has deep red leaves in the late fall, making it a collectors' favorite.

The Japanese Wisteria Bonsai (Wisteria floribunda) is a miniature version of the familiar spring vine. The Bonsai version has the same shiny green foliage and fragrant clustered flowers.

The Winter Jasmine Bonsai (jasminum nudiflorum) is native to China, with its bright, glossy leaves and the inch-long yellow blooms that appear at the tips of the stems before the leaves follow.

Evergreen Bonsai Trees

Among the most popular plants is the dwarf Juniper from Japan. This is the plant that comes to mind when most people think of bonsai. The trees are hardy and tolerate adverse conditions.

The Gold Thread Cypress (chamaecyparis pisifera 'filifera aurea' nana) has bright yellow threadlike leaves and produces half-inch-long cones in season.

The White Pine Bonsai (pinus strobes 'stonebrook') has fine needles that give the impression of a soft, feathery texture. This is an outdoor tree that earns its keep in the wintertime, when it stands out against drab backgrounds and bare deciduous branches.

Beginner Bonsai Trees

If you are new to bonsai, you probably want to find out for sure that you enjoy the art of bonsai before you spend hundreds of dollars on bonsai plants. Don't worry; there are bonsai trees at budget price points, and you can purchase a small juniper tree, a Hawaiian Umbrella bonsai tree, a red Anthurium, a White Rabbit's Foot Fern tree and many other bonsai trees for less than $30.

Another option for the bonsai newcomer – and a particularly great gift idea – is a bonsai starter kit. For about $25, you can purchase everything you need for your first bonsai: a glazed ceramic container; a 3-year-old juniper tree; training wire; a soil mix; drainage hole covers; textured rock; instructions for potting, training, and caring for the tree; a miniature ceramic figurine; and a humidity tray.

bonsai tree maintenance

2008-07-30T13:36:00.001-07:00

Bonsai Tree Maintenance – Pruning

Growing bonsai trees is quite different than the gardening you're probably used to. Bonsai trees are as much created as they are grown. Time and great care must be taken to make sure proper maintenance is being performed. One of the most important aspects of bonsai tree maintenance is pruning. Everyone thinks of bonsai trees as miniature trees that are grown in pots. Actually, it's the pruning techniques that result in the tiny trees that we end up seeing. This article will provide an overview of basic pruning techniques for different types of bonsai trees.

When To Prune

Pruning is a type of bonsai tree maintenance that must be done at a certain time during the growth cycle. It's very important to find out what the recommended pruning times are for your particular tree. There is a wealth of information available online to get you pointed in the right direction. Since we've already established that these trees are no different than the full sized versions, their growing seasons will be the same as well.

The Basics

One of the most important things to remember when performing bonsai tree maintenance is that the roots also require pruning. Trimming the roots is part of what helps the tree maintain it's diminutive size. If this is not done in concert with the branch pruning, the result could be quite unbalanced. The real trick to creating an attractive tree is finding the proper balance between branch growth and root growth. If you let the roots get too far ahead of the branches on a certain side, it could trigger a growth spurt during the following season that throws the whole tree off balance. It's recommended that you do not let the roots get more than 30% ahead of the branches and foliage on any given side.

The purpose of bonsai tree maintenance is to maintain the appearance, as well as the health of the tree. This is why you always have to be on the lookout for problem branches. These are not necessarily harmful to the tree, but they will ruin the look you are trying to achieve. Any branches that are crossing each other or turning sharply and growing back toward the tree should be removed.

The tools used for bonsai tree maintenance are somewhat different that regular pruning tools as well. Obviously, this is due to the size of the trees and the detailed effect you're trying to achieve. Since they are so small, be careful not to cut anything other than what you intend to remove. One wrong cut could seriously harm your bonsai tree. Finally, it's important to give your tree ample time to recover and begin new growth after pruning. This too will be determined by the type of tree you have. There are various glue-like substances that are designed to aid in the healing process of the wounds after pruning.

The pruning aspect of bonsai tree maintenance is not difficult, but you still need to know what you're doing. Take some time to learn as much as you can about your tree and the recommendations for it.

bonsai tree forms

2008-07-30T13:35:00.002-07:00

Common Bonsai Tree Forms

Most people are, at least, vaguely familiar with what a bonsai tree looks like. You've probably heard it a hundred times, but anyone who's seen The Karate Kid has seen a bonsai tree. Bonsai trees are regular tree species that have had their growth repressed by growing in containers and specific pruning techniques. Many of them also have a distinctive shape to them that makes them recognizable. There are, in fact, specific bonsai tree forms that these trees usually take. Below is a description of some of the more common ones.

Formal Upright

The first bonsai tree form we'll look at is the Formal Upright form. The distinguishing feature of this form is a straight trunk, evenly tapered from bottom to top. The branches will be evenly spaced around the circumference of the tree, but all of them will be at different heights. It is also possible to see this type of tree leaning slightly to the front. The longest of the branches is on the bottom, and they get shorter as they work their way to the top.

Informal Upright

The next bonsai tree form is the Informal Upright form. This type of tree is similar to the Formal Upright in that the trunk is evenly tapered from bottom to top. The difference is in the fact that the trunk has sweeping curves in it. These curves get smaller and less pronounced the closer you get to the top of the tree. When viewing the tree from the front, the curves should be going to either side.

Slanting

Slanting is another bonsai tree form that is quite popular. Obviously, this type of tree has a trunk that slants to one side or the other. It may also have characteristics of some of the other bonsai tree forms as well. These trees should be placed so that the lean does not go toward or away from the viewer. The most important thing for this type is that the majority of the roots are on the side opposite the lean. This will provide the tree with the necessary stability.

There are other bonsai tree forms as well, such as cascade and semi-cascade. These forms are not as well defined as some of the others that we have already discussed. They are quite random in their form and pattern, which makes them very difficult to create. If you're interested in getting into bonsai gardening, try to do as much research as you can first, so you know what you're getting into.

bonsai tool set

2008-07-30T13:35:00.001-07:00

Shopping for a Bonsai Tool Set

If you are interested in growing Bonsai trees, then you are going to need to get yourself a Bonsai tool set. A good Bonsai tool set is going to include all of the tools that you need for the planting and pruning of your Bonsai tree. Although the basics tend to remain the same from one Bonsai tool set to another, the specifics can vary incredibly.

Your Options

One great Bonsai tool set in particular that you can purchase is the 7 Piece Chinese Bonsai Tool Set, which includes a 230 mm root hook which is used to comb out the roots before pruning and repotting, Chinese made Bonsai coir brush which is used for cleaning debris from the soil surface and leveling the soil after repotting, 205 mm steel curved tweezers with rake which is used for cleaning debris and dead foliage, and a pair of 185 mm fine pruning shears.

It also includes a pair of 175 mm Bonsai wire cutters, 180 mm concave branch cutters, and 180 mm concave knob cutters which are considered as being one of the most commonly used tools in any Bonsai enthusiasts’ bag.

Where to Buy

If you want to get a Bonsai tool set for yourself, then the Internet is definitely going to be one of the best resources available to you here. This is because the Internet allows you to browse through literally hundreds of different websites in a matter of minutes, something which you could obviously not do otherwise.

There are just a few things that you are going to want to keep in mind if you do decide to shop online. For one, you never want to give out any of your personal information unless you are sure that the company is legit and the website is secured. If you are not sure of this then you will not want to give out any information, especially not particularly personal information such as your address and credit card numbers.

Remember that although the Internet can be incredibly useful, at the same time there are dangers that are presented with it, and so you need to proceed with caution and care. As long as you use common sense you should have no problems and should be able to find exactly what it is that you are looking for, quickly and easily.

Growing Bonsai trees is truly a craft, an art form, and something that everyone can enjoy. Just make sure that you have the time and patience to put into it before getting started.

bonsai seeds

2008-07-30T13:34:00.002-07:00

Get Growing Bonsai: Where to Find Bonsai Seeds

Bonsai trees are truly spectacular. They are unique, different looking than all other trees and plants in the world, and this is one of the most loved features of all. Growing Bonsai trees does not have to be difficult, as long as you educate yourself a bit first and have a bit of patience.

Getting Started

If you want to grow Bonsai trees, then the first thing you are going to have to do is get some Bonsai seeds. This is what you will use to start the trees. There are quite a few different stores that you can go to where you can find these Bonsai seeds, and the Internet in particular offers a lot of options.

The Bonsai Site is one website that you can check out for Bonsai seeds. They work with the Angelgrove Tree Seed Company, which is a certified seed company that has over two decades of experience. They offer the same seeds that they draw upon for their own propagation work and all of the seeds are drawn and packaged at time of order only so that they are as fresh and high quality as possible.

The Dallas Bonsai Company is another great one that you can go to for Bonsai seeds. They get their seeds from the largest seed company in Japan, and these seeds are shipped to them immediately and are not opened so that they retain their freshness and are of the highest quality for you as possible.

Not only do they offer seeds for you to purchase but also an array of valuable information that you can use to help get you started on growing Bonsai trees.

Get Going

Once you have your Bonsai seeds and are ready to get started, you can get on to the really fun part. You will need to get appropriately sized pots where you will plant the seeds, and keep in mind that in order to keep your Bonsai as healthy as possible, you always need to use the proper Bonsai soil, as it is specially designed to provide your tree with the nutrition and nourishment that it requires.

This soil is designed to dry out easier than standard houseplant soil, and remember that Bonsai must also be fed nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash in both the spring and fall.

Growing Bonsai trees can definitely be challenging, but is always a lot of fun and definitely something that you will enjoy.

bonsai pots

2008-07-30T13:34:00.001-07:00

Guidelines For Selecting Bonsai Pots

The ancient art of Bonsai takes normal sized trees and reduces them to delicate miniatures. In a world that worships youth, Bonsai bucks the trend by placing a premium on age. The older and more mature the Bonsai tree, the greater is its value.

Why Bonsai Pots Matter

The container a Bonsai tree is grown in can make or break the look of the tree. Bonsai pots are as important to the design of the look of the tree as the tree itself. You should always choose a Bonsai plant first, and match the plant to the Bonsai pot instead of doing it the other way around.

Function Over Form

First and foremost, a Bonsai pot is functional. The pot must accommodate the tree's roots for one or two years. Bonsai trees grow best outdoors, so your Bonsai pot must hold up to winter weather and frost. It should have drainage holes sufficient to keep your Bonsai tree from sitting in soggy soil. Bonsai containers are usually shallow; however, if you are trying to get fruit from a fruiting Bonsai tree, consider a slightly deeper container so the tree will have access to greater amounts of water.

Color Counts

As a general rule, unglazed, dark-colored containers tend to make classic bonsai trees look old – a highly desired effect in the world of Bonsai. The more ancient and mature the tree looks, the plainer should be the container in which it grows.

Evergreen trees are set off to their best advantage in neutral brown, gray, and red unglazed Bonsai pots. Delicate trees look their best in light colored containers.

Flowering trees, on the other hand, look best growing in glazed containers tinted with deep shades of green, blue, and purple. Remember, the bonsai tree, not the bonsai pot, is the star of the show here .The container should complement the tree and not draw attention away from it.

Shapes Count, Too

As the saying goes, you have to learn the rules before you break them. Follow the rules of Bonsai tradition and scale, and after you gain years of Bonsai experience you can experiment with breaking the rules.

The rule of thumb for working with shapes of Bonsai pots is that oval containers go with deciduous trees; rectangular containers go with evergreen trees; and hexagonal bonsai pots are best for trees with short, prominent trunks. Remember to keep the size and shape of the container in scale with the tree.

bonsai plants

2008-07-30T13:33:00.004-07:00

Choosing The Right Bonsai Plants

If you are new to Bonsai or you are thinking about taking up Bonsai as a hobby, one of the first choices you will have to make is to decide which Bonsai plants you will grow. Hundreds of varieties of trees and plants are available, and evaluating your circumstances will help you decide what kind of Bonsai plants to grow.

Indoor vs. Outdoor

Some Bonsai plants can only be grown indoors, and some can only be grown outdoors. If you have access to the outdoors, even the smallest niche or ledge, you can grow outdoor Bonsai plants. Outdoor plants need to experience the changes in season that occur naturally outdoors, including changes in temperature, frost, and the amount and level of daylight the plants receive.

While outdoor Bonsai plants may be evergreen or deciduous, indoor Bonsai plants are nearly always evergreen, and will not drop their leaves every winter like deciduous trees do. Bonsai trees are perennial favorites of apartment dwellers because they require so little space to grow. Most indoor plants can be kept outdoors at temperatures higher than 50 degrees.

Flowering vs. Non-Flowering

The next decision you need to make is whether you prefer a flowering variety of Bonsai plant or a non-flowering variety. Generally speaking, Bonsai plants that flower require more light, and brighter light, than plants that do not flower. If you are growing your plants indoors, you will need an area that gets direct sunlight several hours a day to grow flowering plants.

Fruit Trees vs. No Fruit

If you can grow your Bonsai trees outdoors, you can grow miniature fruit trees, Bonsai style. One popular fruiting Bonsai plant is the Wine Grape Bonsai-Cabernet vine. An 11-year-old tree produces tiny edible grapes, hanging in clusters from a Bonsai grapevine.

Another popular fruit tree is the Flowering Dwarf Pomegranite Bonsai, prized for its vivid orange flowers and small orange-red fruits. The Dwarf Banana Bonsai tree is another favorite, bearing clusters of pink flowers in the summer and adorable bananas, just three to six inches long.

Bonsai Plant Accessories

Once you catch the Bonsai bug, you'll want to buy accessories to keep your plants healthy. One of the most practical accessories you can purchase to keep your Bonsai plants feeling their best is a grow light to boost the levels of daylight your plants receive. Lamps vary in wattage from 60 watts to 150 watts. Use a desktop or tabletop grow light to keep your plants healthy and alert.

bonsai pine trees

2008-07-30T13:33:00.003-07:00

Bonsai Pine Trees – Enjoy The Beauty Of Pine Anywhere

Bonsai pine trees are some of the more popular bonsai. The idea of having something that grows so large in nature in such a small tiny space and looking exactly as it would if it were growing in nature is highly appealing. There are a few things to know with bonsai pine trees if you are looking to cultivate them or looking to care for them. The first thing to know with any bonsai tree and that includes bonsai pine trees is that they require care in order to remain the size and shape that they are. If you are looking into getting a bonsai, keep in mind it is not a plant you can just sit and let grow.

Caring For Bonsai Pine Trees

Bonsai pine trees take a bit more care than some bonsai because of the type of tree it is. They need full sun rather than partial. The reason for this is the more sunlight the tree gets the less likely it is for the needles on the tree to feel the need to grow and extend. Short needles help to keep the plant at a bonsai size. They also need to be carefully watered. If you water them too much they can either develop root rot, as in the case of the Japanese black pine which is very sensitive, or they can start to grow excessively and become harder to care for. To help control this and keep these things from happening, consider letting the plant dry out just a little bit between watering. In addition, to avoid the chance of root rot consider making sure that the pots are well drained so that the bonsai do not sit in moist soil for too long, it is also a good idea to keep the pine away from the wind because this too can cause the plant to dry out faster.

In regards to fertilizers, it is best to use organic products and fertilize in the spring, with a mixture of 0-10-10. It is also a good idea to stop fertilizing if you see buds start to swell and wait until the new needles are fully developed before adding fertilizer. This will help prevent the plant from growing rapidly. They are good for temperatures as low as 68 degrees and as high as about 86 degrees so they make a good choice for all types of climates.

bonsai nurseries in florida

2008-07-30T13:33:00.001-07:00

How Do You Find The Best Bonsai Nurseries In Florida

Basically speaking Florida is nowadays the home of some great bonsai nurseries which are renowned not only nationally but also internationally such as the Eve's Garden. When you look up the best bonsai nurseries in Florida the first name you would find would be Eve's Garden.

How The Eve's Garden Became Known As One Of The Best Bonsai Nurseries In Florida

For the answer you would need to go back to the time of inception in 1979 when this organization started as a minor yet exceptionally qualitative bonsai nursery specializing in both domestic and imported bonsai plants. The special ingredient in this nursery is probably something that you would not find in any other such nursery – along with the tree they give you recognition as their lifelong customer which means free and qualitative consultation plus guaranteed satisfaction about the tree you buy.

In order to claim the title of one of the best bonsai nurseries in Florida the Eve's Garden has all that you would need in a bonsai nursery plus a little extra. You will find that the trees that are offered by this nursery are carefully groomed to perfection to suit any taste and amazingly even budget. Where the bonsai trees elsewhere come very expensive, the prices quoted by this nursery are surprisingly reasonable without having any compromise with the quality of the tree.

Once you are their customer, you are assured of the best possible service at all time. Their role does not end with the receipt of the tree; rather it starts there. You would find that you would be able to count upon their assistance at any time you need in spite of it being recognized as the largest and busiest bonsai nurseries in Florida and the United States. This is also one of the very few nurseries which can ship bonsai trees in perfect condition anywhere in the country.

The Eve's Garden was not always this successful. In fact in the first ten year it was hardly known as a business let alone be part of the best bonsai nurseries in Florida. Their shot to fame was owed to the fact that they never compromised with the quality and a well deserved break from two exceptional companies, i.e. Disney and Mitsukoshi which refuse to use any other organization for their requirements of bonsai which is huge and recurring.

You will find this nursery located in land O'Laes Florida, and today besides the exquisitely unique bonsai trees they still grow, you would also find other services an products offered such as bonsai figurines, tools, starter kits, containers, feng shui products and lucky bamboo arrangements among others.

bonsai growing

2008-07-30T13:32:00.003-07:00

Gardening Tips For Bonsai Growing

Bonsai growing is more than just gardening, it's an art form that has been around for thousands of years. It is continuing to gain popularity all over the world. If you have a love of gardening, but have never tried bonsai growing, the practice is as unique as the plants themselves. Below are some general tips to consider if you're thinking about trying it.

Bonsai trees are not miniature trees that are grown in pots, as many people believe. The size of the trees is actually due to the confinement in small pots as well as trimming of the root systems. This is only part of what makes bonsai growing so unique.

Bonsai Growing

If you're lacking in patience or attention to detail, then this type of gardening may not be for you. It involves strict care guidelines and precision craftsmanship. The beautiful bonsai trees that you see in pictures are not just grown. They are created by people who have spent years honing their skills.

These plants require more attention and care than other plants. They grow in very little soil, which means they require frequent watering. This is where a lot of people run into problems when bonsai growing. There is a tendency to over water causing the roots to become saturated and rot. This will kill your tree as quick as anything. This is why most bonsai pots come with more drainage holes than standard pots. Humidity is also very important for bonsai trees. Frequent and generous misting of the leaves is necessary, especially if you are growing indoors. As is the case with many other plants, bonsai trees enjoys ample amounts of sunlight.

The next thing to consider is the actual shaping of the tree. This is the tricky part that takes so long to perfect. We already know that the size of the tree is maintained by pruning and root trimming, but the shape of the tree is where the creativity comes in.

The tree is shaped by wiring branches to it's trunk as it grows. The way these branches are wired will determine what shape the tree takes. As the tree grows, changing the wiring configuration will alter the shape of the branches and trunk. It will take some trial and error to figure out the best way to do it, but when it is done properly, the results are nothing short of amazing. Depending on what type of tree you have, the shape can also be changed by trimming small branches and leaves.

Bonsai growing is like many other types of gardening in that some species are easier for beginners than others. Some good choices for those who are just starting out are Japanese White Pine, Green Mound Chinese Juniper, and Chinese Quince, just to name a few. If you take the time to learn all you can about bonsai growing, you will be rewarded with a hobby that will last you a lifetime.

bonsai gardening

2008-07-30T13:32:00.001-07:00

Bonsai Gardening – The Peaceful Living Art

Bonsai gardening is an old traditional art in China and Japan. It involves the shaping of a plant so that it remains small and takes on particular shapes and forms. Bonsai gardening is considered a meditative art and is highly specialized. That does not mean to say that bonsai gardening should be left to experts and artists and people who simply enjoy it cannot participate, they can.

What is the attraction to bonsai gardening

Bonsai gardening holds a fascination, a draw for many people. It is amazing how it is possible to take a plant, which in nature would be ten, twenty even forty feet tall and groom it carefully into a miniature version. Some bonsai are passed down generation-to-generation and carefully cultivated. There are known bonsai to be 75 even 100 or more years old, which have been carefully cared for by people who are masters in bonsai gardening.

The attraction to bonsai is they have a beautiful delicate quality. They are small, though thee are some bonsai that make it to be over 2 feet tall. There are also a number of specialized tools that are used with bonsai in order to carefully shape and prune the plant in order obtain the size and shape. This includes pruning the roots as well as branches and leaves. There are varieties of styles in which bonsai are traditional cultivated into. These are usually based on what looks best for the particular type of plant that is being used.

The reasons these styles are used are to show off the best qualities that the particular tree or plant has to offer. Whether these features have to do with the trunks, the leaves, or the way the branches spread out. The idea is to create something that is pleasing to the eye. It is done carefully through planning. It can be relaxing to sit and let the plant tell you which shape it wants to go in and then bring that shape out through the various tools used in cultivating bonsai.

There are also several sizes of bonsai, which should be considered as part of the attraction. These sizes have class names and specific qualifications. This means that the bonsai in order to make a classification must be a minimum of so high but not higher than the maximum number for the classification. These classifications are tiny, small, medium, and medium to large, and large size groups.

bonsai garden

2008-07-30T13:31:00.003-07:00

The Four Elements That Make A Bonsai Garden Special

There is a lot of joy in growing bonsai tress. There is a special peace that comes with watching these miniature trees develop into mature trees full with flowers and fruits. There is an immense satisfaction that emanates from a perfectly grown bonsai tree – you could compare the feeling with watching your children growing up from birthday to birthday. Many people come to love these types of trees so much that they go one step ahead and create a bonsai garden.

The Bonsai Garden

The bonsai garden takes a lot of planning, organizing and work. With bonsai tree you have only the tree to worry about, however with a garden you would have to pay attention to each and every aspect of the environment as well. For the garden to feel perfect, you would need to create a miniature landscape with everything in it grown on the same scale. There are four elements that would make your bonsai garden perfect – (i) nature-like look, (ii) perfectly matched bonsai trees, (iii) beautifully sculptured trees, and (iv) complementary containers.

The first thing that your bonsai garden should have is a natural look. That means that everything else in the garden would have to be as small as your bonsai trees. For example, you could have a miniature lake, miniature rocks, miniature stones, etc. All the other plants in the garden also should be of the same size as the bonsai trees.

The second element of a perfect bonsai garden would be perfectly matching bonsai trees. For a garden to look good the trees should feel like they belong there. The trees should complement each other perfectly so much so that when you look at the garden it should make a perfect image. Each tree should look natural, which means the branches of the trees should have the same pattern as fully grown up trees have in real life with the strong ones low and thinner ones tapering towards the top.

The third element would be the shape of the trees and their branches. The branches of each tree in the bonsai garden should be such that would allow the sun rays reach to all parts of the trees. In this manner the trees would stay healthy and so would all other elements in the garden.

Lastly, the garden should have perfectly matched pots or containers. In Japan, the tree is usually grown to match the pot – so perfect and important is the match between the tree and its container.

When you have all the elements combined just right, your bonsai garden would look like poetry to the eyes – and you would feel like an accomplished poet.

bonsai gallery

2008-07-30T13:31:00.001-07:00

Visit A Bonsai Gallery When You Want To Buy A Piece of Art

Gallery is a word that is normally associated with art and would involve most of time paintings, sculptures and other form of art. It is therefore very apt to use the same term to the exhibition of bonsai trees, which are no less works of art that any paintings or sculptures. It takes the creator of bonsai years of hard work and planning to create the miniature trees which would look just as the nature would have created them; each one of the bonsai trees are indeed a masterpiece.

There are many sources that sell bonsai trees and you could find some excellent specimens at any bonsai nurseries which nowadays have mushroomed all over the country. However, the best way to buy one of these miniature masterpieces is through window shopping, i.e. visiting a bonsai gallery.

What Is A Bonsai Gallery?

Run a search on the Net with 'bonsai tree' as keywords and you would be flooded with results for bonsai gallery. These galleries are the showcase where the bonsai creators display their exquisite creations. You want to buy a great bonsai tree, you need to take a look at these galleries and feast your eyes of the varieties of shapes and sizes of these trees.

In the absence of the Internet, you would have only a few sources close to your home to choose from. Fortunately, now you have the whole world as a market at your finger tips and you could order if you so wanted, your bonsai from Japan itself.

There is more to a bonsai gallery than a source from where you could buy a bonsai tree. You actually get plenty of education and exposure from each one of the bonsai galleries you visit as each tree has a story to say and each one is indeed a miniature work of art which leaves you speechless.

If you are a beginner and want to get an idea of how to shape a tree, what type of container it should be kept in, how to plan its growth and many other such tips you would find all this information listed with the bonsai gallery as well. Most of the people who post these galleries on the Net would be more than happy to give you advice on how to grow your own bonsai trees just as one parent would be happy to share child care tips with another.

These galleries are a way in which each bonsai creator expresses his or her pride for creating real live art and when you buy them you would show your appreciation just as an art connoisseur would do for any other form of art.

bonsai ficus ginseng

2008-07-30T13:30:00.000-07:00

Let's Go Bonsai, Ficus Ginseng Tree

There is something undeniably breathtaking about the simple elegance of making bonsai. It seems to take the part of the natural world and make it portable. Even in artificial lighting, synthetic structures and CD noises, a little tree still lives. It takes a lot of time and patience to grow bonsai. By focusing our attention on one plant, this can help us take better care of the entire environment.

Choosing Your Palette

If you are a beginner at bonsai, Ficus Ginseng trees are a good choice for you to begin with. Other good trees for beginners at the art of bonsai are Japanese Maples and Baby Jades. Often in web sites, books and gardening places that cater to bonsai, Ficus Ginseng will be referred to as Ginseng Ficus, Banyan Fig or Taiwan Ficus.

Whatever you call this eye-catching bonsai, Ficus Ginseng is clearly distinguishable from may other tree species. It has a very thick trunk and partially exposed roots. Some even look like they are standing on tip toe. These thick upside down forked trunks are topped with very dark green leaves. Although it might sound a peculiar choice for bonsai, Ficus Ginseng seedlings often become beautiful and elegant bonsai trees.

Your seedling or young tree becomes your palette in bonsai. Ficus Ginseng is able to blend in with a variety of different displays, decorations, interior designs and pots. However, it is also clearly recognizable as a tree. Many people enjoy pursuing bonsai to help them express their creative sides.

Basic Care

Shaping and pruning are the main brushstrokes of bonsai. Ficus Ginseng trees are usually pruned with dull instruments in order to prevent excessive bleeding. When your Ficus Ginseng has about ten leaves, prune about six to eight of them off. You won't need to prune the roots until it's time for repotting.

Repotting is done every couple of years. This gives you a chance to prune away half of the root system and to make any changes in the display. Putting a bonsai in a new pot or display tray is akin to reframing a painting or photograph. Sometimes, Ficus Ginseng grows so quickly that you might need to repot yearly. It's best to do this in the spring.

Unlike other species of bonsai, Ficus Ginseng can tolerate many kinds of soil conditions. They do best in strong light conditions, but will manage to live in low light. Many Ficus Ginsengs are tolerant of being over watered, but try not to make a habit of over watering. They need less watering in winter than in summer.

bonsai catalog

2008-07-30T13:29:00.002-07:00

Why Use A Bonsai Catalog?

If you're looking for a place where you can find everything you need to take proper care of your bonsai trees, or even just a place where you can browse the many different types of bonsai, then you need a good bonsai catalog. With a good bonsai catalog you can find everything from the right type of fertilizer for your tree; to different varieties of planters for your tree, ranging from the plain to the ornate. If you've been worried about whether you can find the things you need for your hobby from a bonsai catalog, then you need to read on to see a list of all the things that one of these amazing catalogs can hold for you.

Choose Your Trees

In a bonsai catalog you can see all of the many different types of trees available at a single glance. This is especially important for anyone who is just getting started with this exciting hobby, as there are so many different types of trees to choose from, that with a bonsai catalog you can see which one suits your tastes the best.

Buying Your Supplies

A bonsai catalog is also a great place to find all of the supplies you may need to care for your bonsai trees. Since bonsai require regular maintenance, there are several tools (such as pruning tools, shears, clippers, etc.) that you must have if you want your tree to stay healthy and grow in the right direction. With a bonsai catalog, you can order all of the many different tools you will need at the same time, and from one place, rather than taking a chance that your local home and garden center won't have everything you may need.

But it isn't just pruning tools that you can find in a bonsai catalog. You can also find the wire you will need to use when training your tree, as well as a wide variety of planters that you can choose to place your trees in. Since bonsai are actual trees, their root balls never really stop growing completely, so it is necessary to replant your tree into a larger container once in a while so the roots don't get choked.

A bonsai catalog is the perfect place to find everything you could ever need for your bonsai trees, or for getting started with a new hobby. Whether you just need a place where you can get all of your supplies at the same time, or you want to browse through the different types of trees available, you can't go wrong with a bonsai catalog for all your bonsai needs.

bonsai care

2008-07-30T13:29:00.001-07:00

Understanding The Importance Of Proper Bonsai Care

Bonsai trees are gaining in popularity as time goes on among people of all ages and classes. Once reserved for only the elite class of royalty, bonsai are now easily affordable on most any budget. But bonsai care is another story entirely. If you want to start your very own bonsai garden, then it is of the utmost importance that you first realize that bonsai care is a time consuming process. Bonsai are not good plants for anyone who spends great amounts away from home, due to the fact that they require constant care.

Bonsai Care Basics

There are four main aspects of bonsai care that you should know about before you decide whether or not to get yourself a bonsai tree. The first is that your bonsai tree will require constant monitoring of the water levels. A bonsai tree cannot be allowed to go dry, or the tree will die. Proper bonsai care entails watering your tree each time the soil looks to be dry, otherwise the roots can become brittle and the tree will wither.

The second thing you need to know about bonsai care is that your tree will require regular feeding , as well. A liquid fertilizer, made especially for bonsai trees, is the best; and should be diluted with water rather than fed to your tree full strength. You can purchase the fertilizer that is specially made for bonsai care at virtually any home and garden center; and many online specialty stores dedicated to bonsai care will carry it also.

The third most important part of bonsai care is understanding that your new bonsai tree is just that - a tree; and not your ordinary house plant. As such, your bonsai will require a dormant period each year. This is not such an issue for those who keep their trees outside in a bonsai garden; but for anyone who keeps their bonsai indoors, you will need to be sure to give your tree a cool and dark place to stay for a few months during the winter.

The fourth aspect of bonsai care is the pruning. In order for your new tree to grow into a true bonsai, you will need to prune on a regular basis. If you have purchase your tree already trained from a home and garden center, then all you will need to do is regularly trim off the new growth in order to keep your tree growing the way it was trained. If you started your tree from scratch, you will have to prune more regularly until it is growing the way you want; then trim on a regular basis to keep the new growth off.

Bonsai care can be very time consuming, but if you love these little trees as we do it can also be very rewarding.

bonsai accessories

2008-07-30T13:28:00.002-07:00

Bonsai Accessories And Tools

Before you decide to join the millions of people who are enjoying the art of bonsai gardening, you need to realize that it's very different than what you are used to. Bonsai gardening is as unique as the plants themselves, and to do it properly, you need to have the correct bonsai accessories and tools. Let's take a look at some of the things you'll need to get your bonsai hobby started.

Planting

Bonsai accessories differ from other plants from the very beginning. The trays that bonsai trees are typically grown in are much shallower than the pots used for regular plants. They are also designed with an abundance of drainage holes. Since the root systems of these plants are so small, it's important that they do not become saturated. This can lead to the roots rotting. Many bonsai pots come with mesh screens over the drain holes to prevent them from clogging. The soil also requires special consideration for bonsai gardening. The key is to avoid compaction, and provide adequate air and water flow through the soil.

Tools

There are many bonsai accessories and tools that are necessary for creating and maintaining the unique look of these types of plants. This is especially true when it comes to pruning and trimming. Due to the delicate nature of the work being performed, ordinary gardening tools are not recommended for work on bonsai trees.

One of the first bonsai accessories you should acquire is a set of concave pruning shears. Instead of just cutting, these shears were designed with the healing of the trunk in mind. The concave wound that is left behind makes it easier for the tree to heal itself naturally. The concave shears can be used to cut branches up to 1 ½" in diameter.

Scissors are essential for any collection of bonsai accessories. There are specially designed bud scissors that are for doing the more detailed pruning work that is required for bonsai gardening.

A set of bonsai wire cutters is also a good idea since these trees get there unique shape by being trained with the use of wire. The bonsai wire cutters differ from regular ones in that they have a shorter head. This reduces the risk of damaging anything other than what you're trying to cut.

A root hook is another important bonsai accessory due to the fact that these plants need to be re-potted frequently. This tool is useful for clearing away soil and untangling the delicate roots.

There are numerous other bonsai accessories and tools available, but these few mentioned above should be enough to get you started in your new hobby.

bonsai

2008-07-30T13:28:00.001-07:00

International Bonsai Tourism

Bonsai enthusiasts are dedicated to their craft. Wherever they go, they keep an eye out for unusual containers or a plant that can be adapted to their avocation. If you love these delicate miniature trees and shrubs, why not plan your next vacation around a park or destination where others share your enthusiasm?

Australia – Brisbane Botanic Gardens

The Bonsai House in the Brisbane Botanic Gardens displays about 100 plants, some of which are more than 80 years old. Enjoy specimens that include figs, maples, azaleas, camellias, and conifers, all arranged in a clean, airy space next to the Japanese Garden.

Belgium – Gingko Bonsai Center

This delightful center has four gardens, a greenhouse, a tropical area, a starter trees area, and offerings of pots and other materials. The center also offers bonsai education courses and workshops for the gardening public.

Canada – Montreal Botanical Garden

The garden boasts a tree house courtyard with an extensive collection of North American specimens.

Bonsai in Japan Omiya

This is the mecca for bonsai lovers everywhere. The Bonsai Village in Omiya, Japan, houses hundreds of thousands of trees and other plants, scattered among about ten private gardens. The village was established in 1925, two years after a major earthquake. Today there are 16 nurseries in the village, each focusing on a specific theme, like azalea, or natural looks with minimal human touch, or deciduous trees.

Jurong Lake in Singapore

Thousands of specimens can be found on display on two islands in Jurong Lake. Visit both the Chinese Garden and the Japanese Garden to get the biggest bang for your buck.

Latin America

Bonsai is extremely popular in Latin American countries, particularly in Puerto Rico, the country which will be the host of the 2009 world Bonsai Convention. In addition to the usual courses at beginner, intermediate and advanced levels, the Puerto Rican groups have endeavored to teach the techniques of the art to the disabled.

The popularity of the art is also evident in Mexico, where groups sponsor exhibits, demonstrations, and regular classes to discuss design, pruning, types of plants, containers, and other topics of interest to the bonsai community.

Italy

The art is alive and well in Italy, as evidenced by the annual Crespi Cup of Milan. Among the prizes awarded at the Crespi cup are: best tree judged by naturalness and artistic quality; best coniferous tree; best deciduous tree; best shohin; best suiseki, and best pots.

Be sure to include a bonsai stop on your next international vacation.

bald cypress bonsai

2008-07-30T13:27:00.000-07:00

Choosing And Caring For Your Bald Cypress Bonsai Tree

The ancient art of Bonsai is the practice of growing normal-sized trees and plants on a miniature scale. Bonsai enthusiasts enjoy hours of culture and cultivation, controlling the amount and quality of the daylight their plants receive and carefully pruning roots and branches to maintain the plant's tiny scale.

Certain plants are better suited than others to the rigors of Bonsai. The Bald Cypress Bonsai is one of the most popular Bonsai trees, prized for the way it forces new leaf buds out along the bare trunk after the trunk has been cut.

Beginner's Bonsai

The Bald Cypress Bonsai tree is an excellent tree for someone who is just getting started in the art of Bonsai, because it is so easy to grow. If you live in the southern United States, you will find the Bald Cypress Bonsai growing prolifically in great numbers outdoors, and you can probably find an outdoor specimen to bring indoors and train. If you do not have access to these quantities of Bald Cypress Bonsai, you should be able to find a specimen at your local nursery, or order one from a Bonsai supplier.

When converting an outdoor specimen into a Bonsai tree, bear in mind the Bonsai rule of scale: the height of the tree should be approximately six times the width of the base of the tree. This rule will result in your cutting a great deal of your top growth off, but be bold. The tree will grow back in true Bonsai style.

Bald Cypress Bonsai trees are frequently planted in groups in a single container to form a "Bonsai forest." If you decide to build a forest, remember to work in odd numbers, forming your forest from groups of three, five, seven, nine, or eleven individual trees.

Caring For Your Bald Cypress Bonsai

Your Bald Cypress Bonsai likes wet soil, almost on the swampy side. Water the tree overhead to simulate rain falling from above, and fill the pot almost to the rim with water. During the summer, you may have to water your Bald Cypress bonsai twice a day.

This Bonsai tree likes full sun and, like most Bonsai trees, it prefers to live outdoors. Fertilize your tree once a week during the springtime, tapering off to once every two weeks during the late spring and fall. Hold off on the fertilizer as fall gives way to winter, so your Bald Cypress Bonsai tree can go dormant until next spring.

Azalea Bonsai

2008-07-28T10:39:00.002-07:00

Azalea Bonsai – Common Beauty

Azalea bonsai are some of the more common bonsai traditionally introduced when bonsai was brought over from China to Japan. It is one of the more dramatic plants to use as a bonsai. The Azalea bonsai is a member of the genus Rhododendron. Which means the Azalea bonsai is an evergreen, which actually grows as a small shrub. Small shrubs usually sit less than 6 feet in height. The Rhododendron of which the Azalea bonsai belongs has between 500-900 species and because they flower in larger flowers, they can be truly stunning as a bonsai. It is one of the reasons why Azalea bonsai are so popular.

Care And Details Of The Azalea Bonsai

This plant loves filtered or partial sun light. It is important to avoid exposing this plant to direct sun during the spring and summer months. The plant can do well outdoors even in winter climes but does need to be protected. Do this with some glass. It does not need to be brought indoors during the winter. Watering should be done with rainwater if possible, and keep soil damp. This plant does not like to have dry roots. It is important to repot every year in order to insure that the soil acidity remains high.

If you are, using fertilizers feed every 20-30 days if using a slow acting organic formula during early spring to late autumn. Micronutrients should be added using a schedule and chelated iron should be added a couple times a year. If you are using chemical fertilizers feed every 2 weeks with half strength solution for acid loving plants. Also, if you repot in spring do not feed until autumn and do not feed during the hottest month of the summer in order to protect the plant.

Pruning should be done in late summer, seal the wounds. This plant will grow shoots from old wood so keep this in mind. Also shoots grow in groups of 5 so reduce that to 2 then remove all the leaves but 2 sets on the 2 remaining shoots. Older branches are brittle so be careful while wiring, the day before you wire skip watering to help soften the branches. Repotting should be in spring after the flowers have died, every year for young trees, and 2-3 years for older trees. PH balance needs to be 4.5 to 5.5. It is best to use a soil specifically designed for Azaleas. Because of how root mass grows do not use a soil with particles because these can form mats and make water and feeding difficult.

Artificial Bonsai Trees

2008-07-28T10:39:00.001-07:00

Where to Find Artificial Bonsai Trees

If you are interested in growing Bonsai trees but are not sure if the real thing is for you, then you do always have the option of working with artificial Bonsai trees. The good thing about artificial Bonsai trees is that you do not have to worry about caring or maintaining them, and yet they still have the uniqueness and aesthetic appeal of the real thing.

Artificial Bonsai trees are also great because you do not have to worry about planting seeds, pruning, watering, and all of the other care processes that you usually would have to. There are many great stores around the world that offer these artificial Bonsai trees, a few of which will be discussed here in more detail.

Where to Look

If you would like some of these artificial trees for yourself, then one place you will definitely want to check out is the Bonsai Boy Company. They are a fantastic company, one that offers one of the largest selections in the world when it comes to Bonsai trees, both real and fake.

They offer Bonsai specials, Juniper Bonsai trees, flowering and fruiting trees, outdoor deciduous trees, outdoor evergreen trees, one of a kind trees, corporate gifts, Bonsai pots, figurines, humidity trays, desktop grow lights, fertilizers and chemicals, Bonsai books and videos, tools and wire, Bonsai soils, natural stone landscapes, and much more.

Another great company offering artificial Bonsai trees is Bonsai Gardener. This company offers an array of Bonsai trees for you to choose from, and at some of the most affordable prices on the market today. Whether you are looking for the real deal and are willing to put the time and effort in that is going to be required of you, or you are just looking to get the aesthetic appeal of the real Bonsais but without all the hassle, then there are great artificial versions for you to choose from as well.

Bonsais can easily be considered as one of the most unique and beautiful types of trees in the world. Not only that, but because of their miniature size they are incredibly versatile in terms of where you can grow them and keep them to show them off. They are not dangerous for children or pets, and make exciting and attractive statements in any décor.

There are many options available to you when it comes to the Bonsai plants, and if you are looking for a unique and gorgeous tree, this is definitely one kind that you are going to want to seriously consider.