It is not difficult to grow a Bonsai, but it does require constant
attention during its growing season. In order to successfully grow
a Bonsai, you must follow certain basic techniques for maintaining
a tree in a small container and have plenty of patience.
Different requirements need to be met for each type of Bonsai,
so it is important to first determine whether you want to grow the
Bonsai indoors or outdoors. A Bonsai made to thrive outdoors will
not survive indoors because it requires a lot of sunlight, humidity
and winter dormancy in order to be healthy. The first Bonsai that
people try to grow normally dies due to casual treatment as an indoor
houseplant.
What is Needed:
1. Pot
2. Soil
3. Cutting Tools
4. Wire
5. Sieves
6. Bonsai Tree
Growth of a Bonsai:
The growth of a Bonsai begins with a young tree or shrub. The best
Bonsai plant consists of a wider trunk, smaller leaves and is easy
to work with. Once you have chosen the right plant, plant it either
in a large pot or in the ground until it has matured. This will
speed up the growing process and give the roots greater strength.
When choosing a pot, the wider the trunk, the deeper the pot should
be.
When you feel the tree has matured enough to be styled into a Bonsai,
prepare the pot by covering its drainage holes with insect screening
or thin fabric. This prevents the soil from clogging up the holes
when you water the plant. When you fill the pot with potting soil,
choose a mixture for outdoor plants. The Bonsai is not an indoor
plant and the tree will not be as strong once it has been potted,
so style the tree before you remove it from its location.
Unpotting the Bonsai:
When you unpot the plant from its initial location, loosen soil
from around the roots with a stick, scraping away a third to half
of the old soil. With scissors, trim the roots that are exposed
outside of the existing soil. Place the tree in the pot, filling
the rest of the pot with your potting mixture.
After decorating the top of the potting mixture with pebbles, moss
or fine bark, you are ready to style the plant. Sculpt the trunk
of the tree by using wire. Wrap a thin piece of wire around the
trunk of the tree and to the branches you wish to structure. Bend
the tree gently, allowing the wire to hold it in place. Remove the
wire only when the branches do not spring back if the wire is released.
With continuous pruning and trimming, your artistic talents will
show as the tree matures. You have now created your first Bonsai.
