by Susan Klatz Beal

Created on: February 16, 2009

The ancient art of bonsai originated in China, but it wasn't until the Japanese brought it into their culture and developed it into the art form that we know today that bonsai as a whole became something known to other parts of the world. It is still a very popular art form and is used in outdoor gardens and as part of indoor home decorating. In the United States, gardeners have learned to use the Bonsai art and culture and to adapt it to more suitable houseplants.

Sometime around the 13th century, Japanese gardeners wanting to make bonsai trees would search out specimens in the wild. Whenever possible, they would use trees that were naturally dwarfed by nature. They would then dig them up, pot them and train them to grow into one of the artistic styles of bonsai. These dwarf miniatures became some of the earliest examples of the art of bonsai.

For anyone who might be interested in learning about the art of bonsai or who might want to make their own bonsai tree, it's important to understand that not all plants or trees are suitable for use.

The ultimate goal of the art of bonsai is make the plant look like it is a mature tree, regardless of whether or not it is. In order to succeed, it is necessary for every part of the chosen plant to be in perfect scale with the size of the tree. It doesn't matter whether it is the leaves, the roots, the flowers, the flower buds, the trunk, or the fruit. Every part has to be proportional and conform to the proper scale.

CONSIDERATIONS:

When looking for a plant that is suitable for use in bonsai, look for plants that naturally have small leaves, or plants whose leaves will remain small once it is trained to grow as a Bonsai.

Plants should have attractive bark, and should have trunks that will ultimately give the illusion that the plant is a mature tree. When choosing a specimen, make sure that the girth will always remain in proper proportion to the entire tree.

*One way to give the illusion that the tree is old (even when it really isn't old,) is to expose the upper third of the root structure. This is especially effective when used with more mature specimens.

*Make sure that the branches are balanced. The goal is to make all branches look balanced while giving the appearance that they are floating in space.

*The branches are the component that gives the tree dimension, but more importantly, they are the key factor in establishing the tree's overall form.

BONSAI CLASSIFICATIONS:

Bonsai trees are classified according to one of five basic

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