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Bonsai or "tree in a pot" is believed to have its origin in China and developed by the Japanese at a later date to become very popular throughout the world. Trees are grown in miniature forms in containers with this special form of plantation and technique to look them as matured trees. Accomplishing an immaculate bonsai is a grand achievement.

Many people try this hobby as they take this matter to be just an easy and ordinary task of growing a normal plant which ultimately leads to severe disappointment. Merely purchasing a bonsai tree and get it planted in a pot will not suffice the life of the plant unless some basic rules are followed in this special method.

The choice of a plant is important. Most common outdoor plants are the azalea bonsai or rhododendron, the jade bonsai, the Japanese maple bonsai, the dwarf juniper bonsai, the Chinese elm and the bougainvillea bonsai. The container should be a supplement to the nature of the particular bonsai plant for better growth and must have a hole at the bottom for easy drainage of water. A consistently damp and loose organic soil combined with sand or gravel will be a better choice.

The main aim of a bonsai tree is to attain the preferred shape by balancing the growth of the plant above ground as well as the growth of the root. The process of shaping should begin at the very young stage and continue till it matures.

It is better to have a sketch drawn to organize the shaping of the plant by following its guidelines in pruning to give an expected shape. Some elementary techniques are employed in shaping the miniature growth of the plant by regular pruning of leaves and roots depending of the characteristics of a particular type of tree. You will require cutting tools to perform such work in a proper manner.

The shape can be controlled by using copper or aluminum wires on the trunks and branches. A proportional size of the tree has to be maintained including leaves, needles, and flowers and so on. Bonsai can be of various types like the small, medium, miniature and average.
The miniature type refers to a height of only 2 inches taking five years to mature. The small type has a height of two to six inches and takes nearly seven years to perform. The medium one is six to twelve inches in height and the average bonsai tree pushes to two feet in around a time span of three years. The wires hold the branches in place to give it the desired shape. On accomplishment of the final shape, the wires are cut in parts very carefully to avoid any scratching on the trees. Some trees are exceptionally rigid and do not respond to wiring, which are given proper shape by proper pruning.

It is advisable to use the special bonsai soil to keep your bonsai healthy and dry out easier than your house prepared soil. Due to the presence of very little soil in the container, bonsai trees require frequent but little watering. Feeding of nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash is good for your bonsai especially in the spring and fall. You can add chelated iron to the fertilizers for your bonsai.

For requirement of humidity, the bonsai can be put in a shallow tray with water as the water will evaporate from the tray, resulting in added humidity to the surroundings. Bonsai trees also require sunlight and hence place it outside for several hours each day.

Growing bonsai trees is a difficult but gratifying hobby and you will enjoy the creativity worth of your own self.

Learn more about this author, Sharon Brook.
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