Growing Japanese Bonsai Trees for Bonsai Gardens
Author: Christopher Chase
As you go through the history of Japanese bonsai trees (among
others), you will note that this term is used to refer to a
‘plant in a pot’. As per the information provided on Harvard's
Arnold Arboretum site, "the ancient Chinese were the first to
miniaturize trees for ornamental purposes, around A.D. 200.
Later, the Japanese, who used it to create beautiful gardens,
adopted the bonsai technique.
Basically, the bonsai are outdoor plants and they flourish in
cool and humid conditions, away from the bright sunlight for
most parts of the day. In case you want to keep them indoors,
you have to create the same cool and humid environment for them;
otherwise they tend to wither away.
Podocarpus, Serissa and dwarf Pomegranate are suitable for
bonsai along with some common plants, such as Schefflera, jade
plant, Ficus benjamina, Bougainvillea, Citrus and Hibiscus. You
can also make bonsai out of several woody herb species like bay,
rosemary, myrtle and lavender.
How to care for your Japanese Bonsai Trees
All bonsai need a light and well-draining soil, but the actual
soil can vary from plant to plant. So, the soil mixture suitable
for growing bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) cannot be
considered ideal for cultivating the southern red cedar
(Juniperus virginiana).
A typical bonsai soil mixture comprises 1/3 part coarse sand to
help the drainage of excess water; 1/3 part organic matter like
ground sphagnum moss or pine or fir bark, which are capable to
hold moisture and nutrients and 1/3 part a coarse, fired clay
like Turface that also has the capacity to hold nutrients and
moisture. You can adjust the proportions according to the needs
of your trees.
You can select any suitable place, such as the terrace to create
your traditional Japanese garden. Planning an outdoor Japanese
garden is an intellectual pursuit that also requires artistic
visualization and imagination. The key element of its lay out
and planning is that you should not let the gardener’s
personality influence the garden. In this way, the viewers can
visualize the garden in their own distinct ways. Another core
element is simplicity in terms of the design and lay out.
Don’t keep anything that competes with the décor of the garden
or distracts the attention of the viewers away from the garden.
In your bonsai garden, you can plant clumps of Fargesia nitida,
a pretty clumping bamboo. Japanese maples are also ideal and
they can be transplanted into containers as well. In order to
make your bonsai garden look more natural, you can put some moss
over the soil beneath your bonsai tree that will look like real
grass. To promote the growth of your bonsai, you have to rewire
the bonsai every year and trim its center roots after one year.
Things to remember about Japanese Bonsai trees
When you see a bonsai, you must remember that it is a Japanese
expression that refers to an artificially miniaturized potted
plant or collection of plants, which are cultivated to recreate
a natural scene. Generally, a twelve inches tall bonsai having
an outcropping of strong roots can give the appearance of a very
old tree.
Likewise, a symmetrical crown adorning the top of a straight
trunk can provide the impression of a stately and ancient shade
tree. The Japanese people possess centuries old dwarf trees and
hand it over to the next generation as their living heirlooms.
About the author:
About the Author: Christopher Chase is a respected Bonsai
enthusiast. He is the author of dozens of articles on the
subject of Bonsai, subjects include Shohin Bonsai, Bonsai and
Suiseki and Bonsai Art.
