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The Beautiful Art of Bonsai
by Giano Capersi
http://www.buygardening.com
Bonsai gardening is a true art form, and ~ when done
correctly ~ can produce an almost ethereal effect.
Offering many styles, bonsai can be categorized into five
basic forms: Chokkan (formal upright), Moyogi (informal
upright), Shakan (slanting), Kengai (cascade) and
Fukinagashi (windswept). Each offers its own unique set of
characteristics and is produced in a different manner.
First one must choose a tree.If you know the style that you
want to adhere to, you must pick the right kind of tree to
be formed into that style. The kind of bonsai tree is the
very foundation for your work of art, so you must choose a
perfect tree for a perfect work of art. There are important
things to take into consideration when choosing a tree for
a certain style of bonsai.
Strong, healthy roots are an important element of a tree
that you~re planning to bonsai. Chances are, if they give
the appearance of having a solid foundation, then they
probably do. Examine them carefully and check for any
problems, such as root rot, infestation or withering. If
any of these are present, go on to the next tree, because
there~s no sense in spending the time and effort to apply
the bonsai technique to a tree that~s basically unhealthy.
If the roots are the feet of the tree to hold it up well,
then the trunk are the legs. Make sure it is healthy too,
and make sure it suits the specific style of bonsai you are
choosing. The shape of the needs to conform to that style,
because it will determine the shape and bend of the tree.
The best choice is a thick trunk that gradually narrows to
a thin peak. These lines will give you a lovely tree. The
whole style of your tree will depend upon the trunk.
Just as you look for a certain shape in your Christmas tree
each year, you will look for a certain shape and pattern
when you are choosing a tree for your bonsai. Just as with
as Christmas tree, the best tree for a bonsai will have
thick branches on the lower part of the tree and thin
branches on the upper part of the tree.
Bonsai require adequate water, just like any other plant;
one of the most important nurturing parts of raising any
plant is adequate watering. As a rule, water every other
day, but feel the soil surface to make sure it is a little
dry. Certain conditions such as weather, humidity, moisture
retention of the soil, size of the pot and other factors
will determine your bonsai's moisture requirements. Try to
have a consistent watering cycle. You can best achieve this
by watering at the same time. Either early in the morning
or late in the day is best.
Don't encourage or even expect rapid growth of your bonsai.
The bonsai process is a slow, and delicate and needs to
take time. Unike with normal plant cultivation, you should
not use a fertilizer on a frequent basis. Fertilizer once
or twice a month is ample. Just make sure to space these
feedings evenly throughout the growing season. Use half the
recommended strength on a package of water-soluble
fertilizer. If your bonsai dries out (and this should not
happen if you water regularly), avoid fertilizing at all
until the next cycle. After repotting your bonsai, wait a
a month before resuming a fertilizing schedule.
The maintenance of your bonsai, outside of these routines,
will consist of repotting it every two or three years and of
trimming and pruning to achieve the shape and miniature
stature you want. Wiring is done for six months at a time
to train a branch to grow a certain way on its own. Be very
gentle and careful when wiring. If you break a branch, you
will destroy the bonsai form you worked so hard to acheive.
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