One touch of nature makes the whole world kin.
-Shakespeare
We are adapted to need a little bit of nature in our daily lives. This has always been and will not change. Nature is what created life on earth. Without nature, humanity would not exist. The beauty of this world is too great for words.
This nature’s recipe is made up of all things, large and small. The saplings to the 100 years old trees, the river to the largest oceans, and the small hills to the highest of Everest. It is possible to bring that essence of nature to your home and everyday life. With bonsai, you can feel nature’s presence without leaving the house!
What is Bonsai?
It is quoted by someone great saying that bonsai are like human brains that develop themselves according to the surrounding around them. Bonsai is a kind of artificial plant that grows according to various mixtures of techniques. The Bonsai is also known to be an art form that emerges from a mixture of horticulture and techniques implied from Asian aesthetics. It is a beautiful form of art that has its roots in buried from the Chinese empire and was later copied by the Japanese. The literal meaning of Bonsai is a plant in a container.
After knowing much about this are you excited enough to welcome such an amazing art form of horticulture to your home? Aren’t you curious enough to nurture it to be a good plant and a pleasant art form piece at your home? If your questionnaire is on the same page as we are on then you are at the right place! Here you can find out the best way to grow a good Bonsai in simple 10 steps:
Choosing the Bonsai Species
This usually goes without saying, but the varieties of plants great for bonsai are near-infinite. Consider this the initial step and do some research. Selecting the plant species set’s, the entire framework for the journey. Some people like to experiment with exotic or oddly shaped plants. This is part of the art, but it’s risky for beginners. If you are new to bonsai, then it’s best to find a good firm and hearty plant. If you are buying one, make sure the leaves are small and proportioned to the size of the plant. Make sure to do some initial research on the breed. Should it be kept indoors or outdoors? How much sunlight does it need? Make sure to ask yourself these questions and make your selection accordingly. Make sure to check out our guide for the 6 Best Bonsai Trees for Beginners.
Choosing the Perfect Bonsai Pot
So, you’ve selected your tree and are ready to plant it. Next, let’s talk about what you’re going to put it in. Traditionally bonsai has been kept in clay pots and that’s what we recommend, but it really doesn’t matter if you stick to a few basic rules.
Bosnai Pot Size
Make sure your bonsai pot is big enough to fit the roots of your bonsai and still have space for enough soil. We do not recommend plastic containers under any circumstances. Most plastics contain certain chemicals that are harmful to plants. Even “BPA Free” plastic containers can hinder your plant’s growth. It’s best to play it safe and avoid polymers altogether.
Weep Holes
There should be several holes on the bottom of the pot, so water doesn’t get trapped and cause root rot. These holes will also come in useful when wiring your bonsai tree, as they give a solid structure to anchor the roots to.
Aesthetics
Perhaps the most important step in selecting a pot is that it looks nice. What’s the point if it doesn’t look nice? Make sure it goes well with the surroundings. Most importantly, the bonsai pot should bring out the beauty of the plant that’s it. Calm, neutral colors and low-profile design is usually the best option. You don’t want the pot to steal the show.
You can choose to buy a bonsai pot or make one yourself. Check out our friends at Spinning Pots if you’re interested in making bonsai pots.
Branching and Tapering
Knowledge of tapering and branching is a must. If you’re not familiar with branching and tapering, don’t worry. We will cover the basics here. A detailed guide will be available [here].
Tapering is a process of shaping the trunk in such a way that the base of the trunk is thicker than the top. It is very rare that you can manage to improve this difference in thickness of the trunk
Thickening the Trunk
To thicken the part, you need to distribute the bonsai’s growth to branches just above the part you want to grow. You can distribute the growth of the branch by trimming the whole tree except that branch. It will take about 2 years before there is a noticeable change.
Thinning the trunk
It is nearly impossible to make the trunk thinner. But all hope isn’t lost. The trick is to make the rest of the tree bigger, while stunting growth in a section. So the trunk isn’t thinning, but it will seem thicker. Obviously, the overall size of the tree will be larger as a result of this.
Bonsai Nebari (Roots)
Make sure to pay attention to the nebari. The Nebari can be the difference between a pretty bonsai tree and a beautiful one. It can be the most fascinating part of your bonsai. For some bonsai trees, the entire look is based on Nebari. What is nebari? The Nebari are the surface roots of the plant. They are roots that are visible to us and add to the natural look of the plant. Nebari is always preferable if you want to have an amazing Bonsai. Part of the art of growing bonsai is cultivating a well-organized and good-looking Nebari. Check out our Nebari Guide to learn to taper the Nebari according to your liking. We cover many procedures for the methods like air layering, propagation technique, and many more!
Size Matters
Size is also a keynote factor in the steps you need to know for growing a good Bonsai. The size also matters for the growth to help them achieve the perfect look for a good Bonsai. Not maintaining a good size will make your bonsai worthless to acquire a beautiful view. Having an odd and unusual size will not offer an appealing look for your plant. Hence, it also becomes hard for you to tame it accordingly whenever you feel like. Short and medium-sized bonsai are the best-suggested keeping at your home or workplace.
Tendering
It is important to know that other indoor plants are less delicate with respect to Bonsai. You need to be more caring with Bonsai trees. The basic forms of tendering can be broken down into the following tasks:
Watering Your Bonsai
Watering is the most important part of tendering Bonsai. Time periods of watering bonsai very much depend on its species. But we can have a basic guideline in our mind which can help us to water Bonsai at right time just by observing it.
The basic guide is that you need to water bonsai trees as soon as you notice that soil is getting dry, and one mistake you shouldn’t make is water it daily.
Fertilizing Your Bonsai
Normal trees manage to extend their root to a huge extent in search of nutrients, but this is not the case with Bonsai. Bonsai trees are usually found in small pots so they cannot extend their roots.
Fertilizers are made up of 3 basic things, Nitrogen, Phosphorous and, Potassium. Nitrogen works on the growth of Leaves and steams while Phosphorus works on the health of Roots and growth of fruits and Potassium encourages overall plant health.
Bonsai Tree Repotting
Repotting regularly is very important. Small pots can become stagnant leading to root rot or parasites. Your bonsai tree may also get confined to the pot and die. A fresh pot with fresh soil could help it grow and thrive.
Trimming Bonsai
If some shoots are longer than needed you need to prune them out. You can use a good pair of shears to prune long shoots. For larger branches, it’s good to use concave cutters. The important difference lies in the wound that is left. Concave cutters leave a concaved wound in the plant. This will help to heal faster than the flat wound left by shears. After removing big branches, be sure to cover the hollow wound using wound paste. It helps the tree to heal this wound faster.
Wiring Bonsai
Wiring is a major element of growing bonsai trees. You will find that the wiring system is responsible for the more exotic-looking trees. Wires are used to mold the branches and trunk in the perfect direction. Many bonsai artists do not use wiring. The wiring system will also offer a lot of support to your plants. It will help the plant stand up to train elements and always look its best. Moreover, also try to make it a point that all the viewers utter the lines that, ‘I’m in love with the shape of you!’ for your Bonsai plant.
Have a daily routine with a checklist
In order to grow a good plant, you will need some maintenance skills. It’s more than watching grass grow. Skills could help your bonsai develop better, stronger, and faster. You may not have a green thumb, but you will develop skills over time. If you follow the information above. This isn’t all though. You need to keep a regular check. If these steps aren’t followed, your plant will die. Months and sometimes years of effort were wasted. Always keep an eye on your health.
Download and print our checklist (Coming Soon)
Bonsai really can be of many great benefits to you! We wish you the best of luck on your journey into this ancient art form.