Bonsai - tree in a pot
Bonsai - tree in a pot
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Bonsai is an ancient art form of dwarfing trees. The word 'bonsai' literally means 'tree in pot' in Japanese. Although it's a Japanese art form, today bonsai has become a world-wide hobby.
A bonsai can be created from any plant that has a woody stem, like a tree, shrub, or vine. You could use cherry, oak, pine, maple, birch, azalea, hibiscus, etc. Making a bonsai is very easy. All you need is a shallow bonsai pot, a small tree, soil and pruners. With only two minutes per day you can have a perfectly healthy tree.
Pruning a few overgrown branches, watering and spray misting once a day is all what is needed to maintain a bonsai.
Ten easy steps to making a Bonsai:
- Select a tree or plant.
- Prune the plant and remove enough growth until you see the structure.
- Place the roots in a bucket of water to reduce the soil around the roots easier. Remove enough so it fits into a shallow container.
- Trim the roots. Remove the same proportion of foliage to roots to keep the plant in balance.
- Place plastic over the container's drain holes so soil doesn't wash out when you water.
- Put a 1-inch layer of soil in the bottom of the container.
- Place the plant in the container, spread the roots, and cover with more soil. Leave space below the rim for watering.
- Prune remaining foliage in a way that it has the branch structure of a tree.
- Water the soil thoroughly.
- Cover the soil with gravel for a finished appearance.
Tips:
- Prune branches often;
- Display your bonsai outdoors where there's morning sun;
- Water often because it dries quickly;
- Turn the pot's direction every few days so it gets enough light on every side.
— The writer is a freelancer based in India
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