So what makes a Bonsai tree a bonsai?

The answer is, what we do to our trees that makes them remain small. Pruning is the main thing we do as Bonsai growers to make trees, and keep them [...]]]> Bonsai are by definition miniature trees, without the interference of man these trees would grow and develop as normal.

So what makes a Bonsai tree a bonsai?

The answer is, what we do to our trees that makes them remain small. Pruning is the main thing we do as Bonsai growers to make trees, and keep them as bonsai. The other major factor is shaping, however a miniature tree is still a bonsai, shaped or not. Without the shaping it may not be as pleasant or interesting to look at as we would like but it remains a bonsai tree.

There is a lot of experience and expertise needed to prune correctly and develop top class Bonsai trees. But to keep a small tree looking good is within everybody’s capability with a couple of pointers.

The major difference between pruning a Bonsai and pruning regular plants is that bonsai require top and bottom attention. In other words we prune not just the tops of bonsai trees to keep them looking good but also the roots.

Pruning the roots restricts the size and therefor the amount of water and nutrients the bonsai can absorb. It is easy to see why this helps maintain and encourage the miniaturization of bonsai trees.

So rule #1 you need to prune tops and roots of a bonsai tree.

So what do we prune and how?

Well the pruning of the top of the bonsai is for two main reasons these are.

• To encourage the development of the branches in a particular direction.

• To maintain the shape and look of the tree.

Again we are trying to shape the bonsai tree by deciding what direction any growth should take, and to shape the tree by deciding how much grows on any branches we let develop. It is all about looks and with most bonsai they are developed to look good mainly from one direction.

Now the pruning of the root system is obviously not directly done for any aesthetic reason, as they can’t be seen. So why do we prune the roots? As stated previously the roots supply the majority of the nutrients and water.

So they do help decide the size of the bonsai and this then impinges on the final shape of your bonsai tree.

So bonsai tree roots are pruned not directly for shape, but to restrict the amount of nutrients for growth that the bonsai can take in and therefore restrict growth.

There is a balancing act required, as the roots still need to keep the tree strong and healthy as well as giving it stability to prevent your poor bonsai ending up on its side.

So there you have it an outline of why and what you need to prune on your bonsai tree no matter what the variety of your bonsai , maple, cedar, juniper etc.

We will cover pruning in a bit more hands on detail in future posts keep a look out for those, and let us now what you think or make a contribution via your comments.

All the best from the maple bonsai crew.

Technorati Tags: bonsai shaping, bonsai tree design, pruning bonsai

But first how do you know if your bonsai tree is dry or not, there is no definitive answer it is mostly experience but try the following.

If the soil is damp from half way down the depth [...]]]> Following the previous article I wanted to outline the influences on the amount of water your bonsai tree requires.

But first how do you know if your bonsai tree is dry or not, there is no definitive answer it is mostly experience but try the following.

If the soil is damp from half way down the depth of the bonsai pot then give it a sprinkle, if it is wet leave it. Now your interpretation of wet soil in a bonsai pot may be different from mine, but wet and damp are different.

As you get to know your bonsai tree and its needs you will get better at this.

Now what things impinge on your bonsai trees desire for water, here are a few and a brief explanation.

1. Soil and the bonsai mix you are using. Certain types of bonsai soil hold more or less water, obviously the more water your bonsai soil holds the greater the time between watering.
2. Disease and poor health. If your bonsai tree wilts, don’t assume it needs more water. First check the soil is dry then add water. If there is root rot present guess what more water is going to do?
3. Bonsai pot size. The bigger the pot the more water it holds, the longer time before the bonsai will dry out.
4. Atmospheric conditions such as the humidity. If it is humid there is more moisture in the air, this means that watering time for the bonsai tree can be increase, because less of it evaporates.
5. Sunlight has so many influences on water consumption of your bonsai. The heat will dry the bonsai out. The increase in growth from the light will mean the bonsai provides it’s own shade that will allow longer between watering.

Now this is not a full outline of all the factors that will decide on your bonsai trees need for water and the time between watering. However it should make you aware of some of the things that can have an effect on your bonsai.

Remember you bonsai tree is artificially kept small both the top and the root system. Therefor getting the watering right is important. The ideal situation is to be watering on a regular basis once a day or every two days. The bonsai tree should be dry just before watering. This allows you and the bonsai to get into a routine.

Then if you suddenly have a hot spell or you leave it in direct sunlight, it is easier to predict your bonsai will need additional water or an extra watering.

Hope this helps you and your bonsai tree.

Technorati Tags: bonsai care, bonsai tree, bonsai tree watering

We plan on bringing more articles on maple bonsai obviously, but also covering more bonsai, bonsai trees and specialist stuff. The type of information will include articles on [...]]]>
Hi folks, well we finally got round to updating the Maple Bonsai Blog site, hope you like it. All the old articles and bonsai information is still available.

We plan on bringing more articles on maple bonsai obviously, but also covering more bonsai, bonsai trees and specialist stuff. The type of information will include articles on other bonsai types such as Juniper bonsai, Oriental Ficus bonsai, Elm bonsai all these are indoor bonsai. We will include Red Maple bonsai, Japanese Wisteria bonsai and others such as the Cypress and Cedar bonsai.

In fact you name it we will write about it if it’s bonsai related. The articles and bonsai related features should start appearing on a more regular basis, with guest bonsai experts contributing and giving us the benefit of their years of bonsai experience.

Now as if this is not great news in itself we are hoping to be bringing more bonsai photos, bonsai videos and reviews of shows and bonsai related items. The types of thing we mean are bonsai tree pots, bonsai training tools, bonsai soil mixes etc.

Wow now that’s a lot of bonsai, how will we fit it all in. So my advice is as follows.

1) Let us know what you think about the new look maple bonsai blog
2) Grab that RSS feed to keep up to date with all things bonsai
3) Make any suggestions about things you would like to see
4) Contribute if you wish, although we can’t guarantee inclusion
5) Tell all your friends and family about this site

Now remember for bonsai information bookmark this site visit regularly and most of all enjoy both the Maple Bonsai Blog and of course your own Bonsai trees and bonsai plants.

By the way if you get all inspired and decide to buy something bonsai tree related through a link on this site we may make a small commission. Now you don’t have to but it helps pay the bills. But whatever enjoy it all for free and all the best Bonsai lovers.

The Maple Bonsai Team.

Technorati Tags: bonsai tree, maple bonsai tree

So at one point or another a friend or relative in desperation because of a lack of inspiration will buy them a bonsai they have always wanted.

Now the vast majority of [...]]]> Lets face it a lot of people have fancied one of those cute little bonsai tree’s for decorating a room or apartment.

So at one point or another a friend or relative in desperation because of a lack of inspiration will buy them a bonsai they have always wanted.

Now the vast majority of people have no idea at all on the basics of bonsai let alone the finer details.

So how do they or you go about buying that dream bonsai tree without ruining a perfectly good relationship.

Simple follow these 3 basic rules or write them down and give them to the person you suspect will be purchasing that bonsai tree, you have always said you wanted.

1. Pick a bonsai that has good roots and branches. We do not want exposed mouldy roots or snapped, stripped branches. No need to be a Japanese bonsai master, poor roots and branches any one can spot.

2. Check the complete bonsai tree over, no apparent damage, diseases or infestation. Again no need to be a bonsai doctor use common sense when assessing the bonsai, you can even ask the garden center staff.

3. Go for something that looks like the ones you see in pictures. If it looks like a classic maple bonsai, has good bonsai type roots and branches, and has no nasty things you don’t see on bonsai pictures. Then guess what it probably is a great little bonsai tree. In this part were looking for the shape and form of the bonsai and is it suitably potted, we don’t want a novice having to re-pot there bonsai tree as soon as they get it.

Now these are very basic pointers but they should go a long way towards helping you get one of the better Bonsai that you see in DIY or other large retail outlets.

Enjoy the start of your new bonsai tree collection.

Technorati Tags: bonsai, bonsai tree, buying bonsai

There has to be a better way, and there [...]]]> Well it’s that time of year again stores all over are selling Bonsai trees. People see those cute little things and have just the spot for them at home. O those poor innocent bonsai trees, no sooner placed around the home then they dry up and die.

There has to be a better way, and there is, grow your own bonsai. It’s really not that difficult just, read a few articles on your favourite bonsai blog or buy a good book . Nothing ventured nothing gained.

Have fun.

Technorati Tags: bonsai, bonsai care, bonsai trees

More often than not, the approach to bonsai art comes with a present. A friend, a relative or a partner gives a new little tree in a short pot and he can’t tell us how to handle it.

Those bonsai trees are set on a piece of furniture or next to a window [...]]]> Author: Davide Petilli

More often than not, the approach to bonsai art comes with a present. A friend, a relative or a partner gives a new little tree in a short pot and he can’t tell us how to handle it.

Those bonsai trees are set on a piece of furniture or next to a window and normally die in a couple of months. Here comes the misconception that bonsai trees die after a short time.

But a bonsai can live among hundreds of years (there are specimens of 1000 years and more), so you are not excused if you let your bonsai die. But what to do with that strange thing?

This is a brief kick start guide to help you in the first months with your bonsai:

Establish what species it is: first thing first you have to know what species your bonsai tree belongs to. It is important because every species has different needs. This may be a hard task, there are hundreds of species and each can have a lot of varieties and cultuvar.

To start you don’t need to know the exact variety or cultuvar, you just need to know the general name of the species: it could be a maple, an elm or it could be a pine or a juniper.

Arborday.org has a guide on the trees classification that can help you. Also Wikipedia has a classification list.

Set your bonsai tree outdoor: unless your bonsai belongs to a species native of tropical regions, you have to put it outdoor (of course if you live in a tropical place you can set your tropical bonsai outdoor). A bonsai cannot survive indoor due to a handful of reasons, if you assume your bonsai is an ornament you are wrong. Period.

If you identify the species, you can know the precise spot where to set it. Usually conifers should go in full-sun, the other species should be set in mid-shadow or even shadow. This is a really rough distinction and there are a lot of exceptions, a good cultivation sheet can help you a lot.

Learn how to water it: watering is a crucial task and one of the most difficult of bonsai cultivation. Every species needs different quantities of water, and you should understand the needs of your own bonsai tree.

The bonsai lives in a small pot, there’s a relatively small quantity of soil in it and the tree can certainly suffer dryness and temperature excursions.

As a general rule, if it is summer you have to water your bonsai every evening. If you water it in the morning the soil will dry in no time and the tree will suffer. If you water it in the evening it’ll have all the time it needs to adsorb water and nutriments and, even if the next day the soil will dry, the bonsai will not suffer.

During spring and fall you have to diminish watering, just wait until the surface of the soil starts to dry out and only then water. It is easy to over-water your bonsai tree, so follow the rule above and you should be ok.

During winter the bonsai wants little water, just keep the soil humid, not wet, and water when it begins to dry.

There are two watering methods: the first is giving your tree a shower and continue until the water exits from the drainage holes; the second is to immerse the pot in a can of water and let the soil adsorb.

In both cases remember to bathe the foliage too (never if the sun still hits).

Fertilize your bonsai: fertilizing is the most underrated task by the novice. It is really important to fertilize the bonsai because the soil in the pot will easily loose it’s nutriments for the tree.

The quantity of soil is limited and it is an isolated environment so it’s our duty to provide nutriments. If your matter si if water is sufficient, the answer is no. Can you live just drinking water? No. For your bonsai is the same thing.

Until you become an expert, a balanced fertilizer (10:10:10) will do it’s work. You don’t have to acquire a bonsai specific fertilizer, the bonsai has the same physiology of all the vegetables, every fertilizer will do. Remember just to dilute it more than the recommendations say or you’ll risk to burn your bonsai.

A simple and good solution would be to use the hanagokoro, a Japanese organic fertilizer, very strong, easy and safe to use as it is almost impossible to overfeed.

You should fertilize during spring, when the vegetation begins, until July (in the boreal hemisphere) then stop in the hottest period. Restart in the second half of August until October (November for the conifers).

Get another bonsai: only action will allow you to gain the sufficient experience to manage a bonsai. Keep collecting bonsai and make your own, with try and errors you will become an expert.

Needless to say it is a great satisfaction to produce your own bonsai and a lovely feeling to watch your bonsai garden growing.

You may have noticed I have omitted such tasks as pruning, wiring, jin, shari and so on. This is a primer, a kick start guide, born just to help you keeping alive your bonsai.

Defining what is a bonsai isn’t easy, but we can resume it in the “perfect balance between the tree, it’s form and the pot hosting it”. If you don’t learn how to take care of your tree, and limit your experience to this primer, your bonsai will survive but it’ll loose its “bonsai title” in a couple of years or less.

If you are serious with bonsai art, you want to study. You can buy books – I will soon post reviews – or read some good online resource – in the sidebar there are a phiew -.

Of course keep reading this blog, I will post a lot of things about bonsai.

If you think this list isn’t complete (keep in mind it’s a survival guide), feel free to add your points.

Article powered by Bonsai and Japan . Visit me!

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/first-time-bonsai-a-5-points-survival-guide-124852.html

Technorati Tags: bonsai, Bonsai Art, bonsai tree, maple bonsai