In this post you will understand to grow bonsai tree at home and advantages and disadvantages of bonsai tree is also given here.
Bonsai meaning
Bonsai word is formed by two words. In Japan bon means “less deeper” and sai means “to plant”.
How to grow bonsai tree at home
Bonsai plant has an unusual method of growing. The plant is not grown by seed actually it is a process to keep a large tree in small size into the pot and the plant looks older than its age. Beautifully designed bonsai looks like wooden plants and more wooden plants may decorate your garden as wooden planters it also gives the feel of a garden pharmacy.
It is a plant that needs regular water and good care some helpful bonsai making steps are given below.
- Step 1 - Bonsai plants are kept in nursery with at most care.
- step 2 - Selection of plant pot.
- step 3 - Soil mixture is prepared for the pot and it contains good amount of nutrients.
- Step 4 - Fertilizer is prepared.
- Step 5 - Schedule bonsai watering system.
- Step 6 - Replanting.
Techniques
Straight method – In this method tree grows straight whereas round and pyramid shape is given to the branches.
Irregular straight method – These trees grows straight but stem has lots of curve. Young plant with more branches is being selected for this method.
Slant method – In this method tree branches grows slant.
Plants were forced in a particular shape and size by copper wire and placed in a triangular pot.
Sweep method – In this method all branches are tied with wire to mold the tree. Care is taken that no branches cross each other.
Bonsai plant height
The tallest bonsai tree is of 1 meter.
Smallest – 15 to 30 cm.
Average height – 30 to 60 cm.
How to select bonsai plants
While selecting bonsai tree you should check the following qualities of the tree
- Plant should have long life
- It should easily survive in tough circumstances
- Plant leaf, fruit, stem, flowers and branches should be attractive
- Insects and moths should not attract towards the plant
Bonsai tree selection
Pomegranate, mango, banyan, peepal, pine, rubber, lemon tree, neem tree, jambolan, fig, tamarind, gular tree, orange tree, cedar tree, Indian jujube, pear, semal tree, boganvelia.
- Peepal tree specialty – This tree only releases oxygen for 24 hours continuously.
- Bamboo – In the bamboo tree region sky lighting fall chances are reduced.
- Tulsi (Basin) – One basil plant releases oxygen equal to ten trees.
Bonsai growing medium
Grow bonsai from seed – It is a long process in comparison of cutting. In this process you can purchase some seeds from nursery or plant shop then germinate them in healthy and rich soil.
Bonsai growing from cutting – In comparison of seeds cutting is always preferred due to fast growth in plants. You can simply take a branch cutting of your favorite tree then plant it in your nursery or garden backyard you should already prepare a rich field for your bonsai plants.
Plant pots
- Egg shape pot.
- Round size, square.
- Shallow bonsai pots: There must be two holes in shallow pots.
- For bend method you should choose deeper pots.
- You can choose various pot size like 25 cm, 30 cm indoor plant pot.
Soil requirements
Bonsai soil recipe – soil should be friable so that water can easily drain out. Choose red soil along with dung fertilizer, vermicomposting, sand and decomposed leaf fertile then mix all of them in equal ratio.
Organic fertilizer
Fertilizer recommendations – Cow dung manure, neem cake, peanut cake, castor cake, rotted leaf manure.
Fertilizer cake recipe - Peanut cake (half kg) + neem cake (half kg) into 5 litre water and save it for at least 1 month. This mixture need to be provided to your plants twice in the month. Also add single super phosphate into the mixture.
These plants that can grow anywhere in any season they are the big trees that easily grows near roads without any care like banana trees, peepal trees (fig tree).Watering system
It depends on the plant whether you have mango bonsai tree, jamun bonsai or any other trees. Water the tree according to their nature and need.
15 years old bonsai tree
Bonsai tree price depends on various factors including species, design, looks and age of the tree. While purchasing 2 year old plant you have to pay less in comparison of 15 year old tree.
Pruning
Pruning is an important part one should perform this activity with much care. One should choose good pruning tools and selecting strong, comfortable pruning scissors are very important. These attractive plants need regular pruning you should cut all the unimportant branches.
Replanting bonsai
First carefully separate the plant then remove the mud from the roots and cut 75 % roots from all four sides after this process place the plant in a new pot with the help of wires then fill mud. To avoid large roots regular pruning of the root is necessary along with pot change. New roots are faster while consuming nutrients in comparison of old roots.
Bonsai pots should contain small holes on 4 corners if not you can create them. Then insert copper wire into the holes this gives benefit while cutting and pruning of the root. Actually this method provides easiness while taking bonsai plant out of the pot.
Usually bonsai plants are developed in nursery and later they are planted into the pot. It is advised if the roots exposed and coming out of soil, coming out of pot or the pot’s clues began to close then please change your bonsai tree pots without any more delay.
Advantages and disadvantages of bonsai tree
Advantages
- Growing bonsai tree is a boon for the people who are interested in small garden activity but living in metro cities and don’t have much land to install their gardens.
- These trees are a stress reliever.
- It gives you the opportunity to work for the nature and somehow it can change your behavior into a more peaceful person.
- Like indoor house plants they are also used as air purifier.
- Sacred fig bonsai delivers oxygen continuously for 24 hours.
Disadvantages
- Bonsai plants need much care and regular water and nutrients in comparison of other house plants.
- Shifting tree from one pot to other pot is tough job.
- Bonsai tree business is difficult to start because the tree needs long time and good care.
Grow bonsai plant at home
Leave trim plays an important role in the growth. Remove unnecessary leaves on regular basis it will help your tree to grow healthy. After cutting unnecessary leaves the nutrition that was consumed by these waste leaves will equally divided into other parts of the tree.
Pruning branches, trim roots, cutting back trunk are some of the important factors to grow bonsai plants.
Making bonsai – Use of wire is common in bonsai trees in this stage you can use copper wire for better results. Wiring branches and trunks allows the person to make the design of the choice. Clamping devices can be used for shaping bonsai trunks and branches.
Taking care of bonsai plants
While growing bonsai in containers require much care than other house plants. It generally needs more and regular water along with good nutrients. Every bonsai does not needs much water you need to give water according to the species.
Bonsai care
In winters try to place your plants in side your home if it is not possible then arrange a sheet and a polybag to cover your bonsai tree. In summers during hot days don’t place your plant in direct sunlight try to provide partial sunlight. Moreover, morning - evening two time sunlight is more than enough for the tree, in summers provide sufficient water to the bonsai trees.
While planting bonsai plant don’t allow any air in between the roots so press your plant properly.
- Place your plant in fresh air and sunlight.
- Try to keep plant natural.
- Do not tie the copper wire tightly.
Bonsai care beginners
However, bonsai tree requires good amount of water but it depends on the particular species of bonsai. It also depends on pot size, soil and climate moreover overwatering tree can cause a root rot that may result in plant loss.
Re potting is one of the most important thing. You should perform this exercise when roots growing out of pot remember when you will see bonsai roots coming out of pot don’t wait for long and change the pot as soon as possible. You can also change the pot once in a year according to the species.
Bonsai garden design ideas
- Rock grown.
- Broom.
- Raft.
- Group planting.
- Windswept.
- Slanting.
- Semi – cascade.
- Full – cascade.
- Multiple trunks.
- Formal upright.
- Informal upright.
Important bonsai plants in hills
Araucaria, Aucuba, Silver fir, Spruce, Taxus, Thuja, Zanthoxylum, Peach, Pines, Plane tree, Magnolia, Ginko, Juniper, Koelreuteria, Podocarpus, Sal, Silver fir, Spruce, Flame of the forest, Coral tree, Cryptomeria.