A Simple guide for bonsai beginners – try your own.

A simple guide for bonsai beginners. You too can try it and become a bonsai master easily.

Really the wonderful art from of bonsai was originated in China about 2000 years ago. Also, there are evidences for the existence of bonsai in Japan during the 12th century. Gradually it began to spread to different parts of the world, including India.

Usually, the plants adapted to a particular climate, are suitable for making bonsai in that place. Likewise, in India also we can use a lot of beautiful plants for this.
If you are passionate about gardening, Bonsai is the right choice for you.

My Bonsai experience.

From my experience, I can say that you will become more attached to a bonsai, than to any other plants in your garden.

Truly, I never saw a live bonsai plant before starting ours, a few years ago. Our first plant was the sapling of a banyan tree, that we collected from the old compound wall of a temple.
The pic below shows how the plant looks like now.

Ficus benghalensis ( the Banyan tree ) bonsai.

As a beginner, always try to select saplings of native plants. Because plants that thrive in a particular place or climate, can do better at different stages of bonsai training. For example, tropical trees like Tamarind, Ficus, Cassia fistula, Jade tree etc. are ideal in places like India.

Contents

Potting medium.

Before starting, let us see how to prepare a potting medium that we can use commonly at different stages.

Surely you can prepare the medium in the following ratio.

Ingredient Percent
River sand 40%
Garden soil 30%
Vermi compost ( or any other organic fertilizer) 20%
Peat moss 10%

If necessary, make slight variations to this combination according to the nature of your plant. For example succulents like the Jade plant, Adenium etc. need a medium which is more sandy, for better drainage.

Propagation

From stem cuttings

Saplings of Jade tree from stem cuttings.

We can use stem cuttings for the propagation of a lot of bonsai trees. For example different species of ficus, the Fukien tea tree, Schefflera, Jade etc.

For this, collect mature stem cuttings of about ten inches, from healthy mother plants. Dip the lower tip of the stem in a rooting hormone. Then carefully plant it about two inches deep in an ordinary terracotta pot filled 3/4 with potting medium.

Keep the pot in shade for a few days and water regularly. Gradually move it to indirect sunlight when new leaves begin to sprout. Let the plant grow as such in the same pot for one or two years.

Also add any organic liquid fertilizer diluted with water, at intervals of one or two months.

Propagation from seeds

Seedlings of Adenium plant

Definitely we can use seeds for propagation of plants like Tamarind tree, Adenium etc. for making bonsai. Never forget to use good quality seeds from mature ripe pods for this.

It is better to soak the seeds overnight to make the coats soft. Then sow the seeds about half inch deep in a pot filled with medium. Keep the pot in shade free from pests or ants, and water regularly.

Usually the seeds germinate within two or three weeks. When the seedlings grow upto a height of about six to ten inches, transfer each one carefully to separate pots. You can use the potting medium in the same ratio as stated above.

Allow the plant to grow in the same pot, till you start training your bonsai.

Propagation through saplings, directly from sellers.

For example, the sapling of the Ficus jinseng bonsai in the pic below, was bought directly from the nursery.

Ficus ginseng bonsai

Always Remember that the growth rates of plants are based on different factors. Especially like the nature of the plant, climate, the way we care it etc.

Pruning – with the simple guide for bonsai beginners you can do pruning.

Pruning is the process through which you can  remove the unnecessary branches. Before you start pruning, make sure that there are enough branches for your plant. Use a sterilized sharp knife or pruning shears for this. Applying some kind of fungicide on the wound, can prevent decaying of the stem.
Now, it is the time to apply your own artistic creativity for developing the plant.  You must have an idea about the final appearance of your bonsai. Hence observe your plant carefully before removing the branches.
Choose the right bonsai style that suits fine for your plant

Wiring

Using soft and flexible aluminium or copper wires, you can twist the branches of your plant to particular directions. For this, wind the wire gently on the branches and slowly bend it.
You should take care against breaking the branches while bending. Also avoid winding the wire too tightly, because it can leave marks on the stem. Keep your plant in this stage carefully, and water regularly. Also feed the plant occasionally with diluted liquid organic fertilizer.
After a few months, your bonsai will become ready to transfer to an original bonsai pot.

Wiring a Ficus benjamina bonsai.

Re potting – with the simple guide for bonsai beginners.

For re potting, first take the plant out of the pot carefully along with the soil. Then remove the soil and prune 2/3 of the roots using a sharp knife or pruning shears.

Root pruning of a Schefflera bonsai.

Meanwhile prepare the bonsai pot for replanting your bonsai.  You can use the same wire to hold the plant tight in the pot.

Original bonsai pot ready to replant.

Final Steps:

  • Transfer the plant to the bonsai pot and tie the trunk tightly with the wire through the holes of the pot.
  • After that, fill 3/4 of the pot with the potting medium.
  • Keep the pot in shade for a few days, and gradually move to partial sunlight.

Your favourite bonsai is ready, and you can keep it anywhere in your garden.

Bonsai Plants Ideal Gifts – Give and Receive.

Bonsai Plants Ideal Gifts, especially to our loved ones on occasions like birthday, wedding, house warming etc. Surely, most of us face a dilemma while selecting gifts. In such situations, with out any doubt, you can think about giving a beautiful bonsai plant. Moreover the advantages of selecting bonsai plants as gifts are innumerable, a few of which I will share with you.

1.Bonsai Plants Ideal Gifts, Why?

  • It is a beautiful art piece.

The first and most important reason for recommending Bonsai plant as a gift, is its beauty and artistic look. Certainly, like any other art piece, a Bonsai is also created with dedication, caring and patience.

  • It is long lasting.

Also like any other material gifts such as money, gold etc. the Bonsai is long lasting, if you care it properly. Though, not common in India, it is a tradition in countries like Japan and China, giving Bonsai plants as gifts. Usually, people of Japan and China keep Bonsai plants aged hundreds of years, received as gifts from their ancestors.

  • It is easy to keep anywhere.

Usually, we have to keep valuable gifts in safe custody. But we can keep a bonsai plant anywhere in our house. Also, it is quite natural to remember those who gifted it, whenever happen to have a look at it. Both indoor and outdoor bonsai plants are available.

  • Greens give health and happiness.

Moreover it is a reality, that greens always give happiness and peace of mind. Reducing blood pressure, depression, stress etc. are other health related benefits. In addition to that keeping plants indoor, freshens air by producing oxygen and absorbing toxins.

  • It is auspicious to keep a bonsai.

In addition to that, according to vastu, feng shui etc. it is auspicious to keep certain types plants. For example the Jade tree, bamboo etc

2. Bonsai Plants Ideal Gifts – Examples.

  • Ficus bonsai

Bonsai plants ideal gifts for your loved ones.
Ficus retusa bonsai.

You can select any type of bonsai plants adapted to a particular place for gifting. In tropical countries like India, different varieties of Ficus, Tamarind, the Jade tree etc can be selected. Flowering plants like Adenium, Bougainville, Ixora etc are also ideal.

After all, if the person who receives the gift, is a fresher in the field, you can also give a bonsai kit along with the plant.

  • Adenium Bonsai.

Bonsai plants ideal gifts for your loved ones.
Adenium bonsai plant.

  • Bougainvillea Bonsai.

Bonsai plants ideal gifts for your loved ones.
Bougainvillea bonsai plant.

The Bonsai plants shown in the pics, are from the collection of Tamarind Bonsai, Kottayam.

  • Ixora bonsai.

Bonsai plants ideal gifts for your loved ones.
Ixora bonsai plant – pink.

  • The Jade Tree Bonsai.

Bonsai plants ideal gifts for your loved ones.
Jade tree bonsai.

(Remember the old saying: “Jade by the door, poor no more” – as it is also known as Money tree )

3. Bonsai Plants Ideal Gifts – Give and receive with love.

Moreover, the health shape and beauty of your Bonsai depends on the way you care it. Hence, if you plan to gift a bonsai to someone, try to make it sure that if the party is really interested in it. Otherwise the effort you made for that will end in vain. Keeping all these in mind, gift beautiful bonsai plants to your loved ones. Also after learning the benefits of keeping a bonsai, get ready to receive bonsai plants from your loved ones.*******************

Bonsai – An ideal gift

Everyone of us, might have faced a dilemma while selecting gifts for loved ones on occasions like birthdays, house warming, wedding etc. The advantages of selecting Bonsai plants as gifts are innumerable, a few of which I will share with you.

1. The first and most important reason for recommending Bonsai plant as a gift, is its beauty and artistic look. Like any other art piece, a Bonsai is also created with dedication and caring the plant with patience.

2. Like any other material gifts such as money, gold etc.the Bonsai is also long lasting if you care it properly. Though, not common in countries like India, it is a tradition in countries like Japan and China, giving Bonsai plants as gifts. It is really amazing, that people of Japan and China keep Bonsai plants aged hundreds of years, received as gifts from their ancestors.

3. All other valuable gifts you receive, are to be kept in safe custody, whereas a Bonsai gift can be placed anywhere in your house, inside or out side, thereby remembering your loved ones whenever you happen to have a look at it.

4. It is a reality, that greens always give happiness, peace of mind and provide many health related benefits such as reducing blood pressure, depression etc.

Best Bonsai plants for gifting

Ficus bonsai

Ficus retusa bonsai

Any type of Bonsai plants, adapted to a particular place, can be selected for gifting. In tropical countries like India, different varieties of Ficus, the Jade tree, Tamarind, flowering plants like Adenium, Bougainville, Ixora etc are ideal.

If the person who receives the gift, is a fresher in the field, you can also give a bonsai kit along with the plant.

Adenium bonsai

Bougainvillea bonsai

The Bonsai plants shown in the pics, are from the collection of  Tamarind Bonsai, Kottayam.

Ixora ( Pink ) bonsai

The Jade tree bonsai. (Remember the old saying: “Jade by the door, poor no more” – as it is also known as Money tree )

The health, shape and beauty of your Bonsai depends on the way you care for it. The most important thing to be remembered while giving or receiving a Bonsai is that, both the parties should have an interest in it, otherwise all the efforts made for that will end in vain.

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