Bonsai Trees For The Serious Artist

Bonsai trees are examples of an ancient art form, begun in China and further developed in Japan. In 1829, a definitive book on the subject was published in Japan and the whole nation became more involved in this practice of shaping nature to an artistic ideal. After World War II, many in the western world became bonsai enthusiasts also. There are now clubs, magazines, newsletters, training video, and many bonsai supply stores to serve the millions who enjoy these miniature trees.

Any tree or woody shrub can be used as a dwarf potted plant, but certain species are more suited to the purpose. Certain species are most easily adapted to the pruning of roots and branches necessary to restrain a mature plant to a size that can fit into a pot, and to provide the desired appearance. Plants with smaller leaves or fine needles, for instance, are better than a broad-leaved tree or shrub.

While any tree or woody plant can be trained to grow in a dwarfed and precisely shaped manner, there are species that are most readily adapted to the technique. In the United States, western species of juniper are used, and some forms of mountain cedar. For house plants, tropical and sub-tropical plants work best, while choosing a tree or bush that grows well in your particular zone and climate is wise for a garden accent.

Nurseries and online sites offer either finished bonsai plants or guidance to suitable varieties. Plants can be grown from seed, but it is easier to start with a more mature plant, with a sturdy trunk that is still pliable enough to be shaped. For a straight, flourishing tree, it is necessary to have a tapering trunk with regular branches, although perfect symmetry is not an objective. For the twisted effect of the familiar crooked examples often assumed to be the norm, training with wires or even strong clamps is done, to a preconceived design.

The first step is to educate yourself on the conventions of this way of miniaturizing and shaping plants. There are simple explanations that give the basics of the art on line, and many books on the subject. Conventional shapes range from upright growth to violent contortions. Creativity has resulted in many variations on the basic themes, but the tradition to be followed is part of the art.

Many are most familiar with the tiny trees that look like the blasted survivors of strong winds and many storms. The artists twist trunks, prune branches to shorten them or remove them entirely, pare off roots, sometimes remove leaves, and give the trees a shallow, well-drained bowl or container where water is quickly lost and nutrients swiftly exhausted.

Many of the miniature trees are designed to depict the struggle for existence in harsh conditions. Artists strip off the bark to simulate great age, sometimes scar the trunks as if they were struck by lightening, or cause them to grow over or out of rocks sized to look like a mountain top. The various conventions and the ways these are achieved and interpreted make a fascinating study.

The techniques of growing, shaping, and maintaining these stunted trees for years are all part of the art. In Japan, bonsai trees of hundreds of years in age are treasured and carefully nurtured. Careful pruning, watering, and fertilizing can keep the tiny trees healthy even under these trying conditions.

Doc Number: 38573026583

If you’re curious about a bonsai tree, then visit Gabriel Meriwether’s site and learn about the ficus tree.