For instance people have mentioned that they know the basics of pruning a bonsai and have experience of pruning other plants in the garden to remove dead growth or branches that are growing in the [...]]]> A problem that some bonsai enthusiasts often face especially the less experienced is around the topic of shaping their bonsai tree.

For instance people have mentioned that they know the basics of pruning a bonsai and have experience of pruning other plants in the garden to remove dead growth or branches that are growing in the wrong direction.

The problem they have is a bit more fundamental around the artistry of the bonsai tree design. How do they know what shape the tree should be, they don’t have the eye! Whatever that means.

Well if any of you read the last article there is no need to let your bonsai tree grow for ten years before you get a feel for the shape it should be, however there are some guidelines you can follow that will help.

1) The variety of tree, the formal bonsai shapes such as formal upright, slanting and cascade are more suited to specific species of tree than others. So do some research decide on the style you want then choose a suitable bonsai tree variety.

2) Next, look at lots of pictures of bonsai trees and study bonsai you see, try to get a feel for the classic lines and structure that is used. You will find it doesn’t take that long to be able to spot typical shapes a tree could form. They may not end up winning competions but so what, it will bring you satisfaction.

3) Study nature and full size trees you see as you are out and about. This is my preferred method. A lot of bonsai experts and masters prefer to look at trees without any foliage for precisely this reason they can see the true form and structure of the tree. It is like an architect looking at the structure of a building, they can admire its true design the rest is just decoration.

A couple of examples for you to consider, first recently I have noticed a lot of Jin on trees as I pass them near where I live. Jin are dead branches or stumps that are devoid of bark and can be seen on bonsai and deliberately introduced if desired, to give the impresion of age. Well one in particular has caught my eye so I have taken a photo and will be adding it to a bonsai tree in the future that seems to have a branch in a similar position, or one I can grow.

In another instance I recently travelled to the coast and whilst driving noticed all the trees leaning inland away from the obviously regular coastal wind. This gave rise to some tremendous shapes similar to the photos shown. You bet I will be using these as inspiration in the future.

Lets remember Bonsai are supposed to represent full size trees growing wild so where best to take design tips and inspiration from than natural growing trees themselves.

Hope this helps give you a few ideas and inspire your creativity and ability to get the eye for growing and shaping bonsai trees.

OK not literally but in a shack next to his bonsai collection.

When we talk about patience [...]]]> Well we have all heard no doubt that the secret to bonsai tree growing is patience and dedication. But it seems some people take things to the extreme, check out this article were one enthusiast sleeps with his bonsai trees.

OK not literally but in a shack next to his bonsai collection.

When we talk about patience and bonsai is this what you think of? Such as letting your chosen bonsai tree grow wild for twenty years before starting to shape it!

The point is, we might not all be quite this enthusiastic or dedicated to bonsai as this guy. Lets face it the majority of us will never win any awards for our trees, or even want to. There are always those who go that bit further, but there is no reason that Bonsai as a hobby can not be enjoyable and relaxing.

By slowing down and developing a small amount of patience when we attend to our bonsai it will hopefully give the average collector other benefits such as less stress.

This article certainly shows what can be achieved if you get carried away with things though, and some of the musings about shape will hopefully inspire at least a few people reading this.

Hope this helps your bonsai passion, just don’t get too carried away, and if you do good luck in your next competition and I hope you sleep comfortably

Technorati Tags: bonsai, bonsai trees, japanese bonsai

So we have covered what needs to pruned and why on your bonsai in a general sense. Lets have a look at what we are doing to the bonsai top when we prune it.

There are essentially two main reasons for pruning your Japanese bonsai, these are very closely related.

1) What you can call [...]]]> Bonsai Tree Pruning

So we have covered what needs to pruned and why on your bonsai in a general sense. Lets have a look at what we are doing to the bonsai top when we prune it.

There are essentially two main reasons for pruning your Japanese bonsai, these are very closely related.

1) What you can call structural pruning
2) Also shaping and maintenance

By structural pruning we mean cutting the stock down, the trunk of the bonsai to make it shorter, and removing branches to give us the basic shape we desire for our little bonsai tree.

The other reason is general shaping and maintenance of the Japanese bonsai to give the required look that we are after.

The tools you use for this pruning can be normal garden tools and household scissors, especially for the beginner as this keeps the cost down. It is however more advisable to use dedicated bonsai tools as they are sized and shaped to perform any pruning by creating the least amount of damage and leaving the bonsai with the correct shape and minimal scaring.

For structural pruning if you are growing you own Bonsai you will need to select your bonsai plant and cut the trunk down to the required dimensions. The actual size depends on the variety, in the case of the Japanese maple bonsai you need a trunk about 4” diameter at the base. When you remove branches be sure to use a sealant to help the bonsai recover this serves two purposes.

• Helps heal the bonsai and reduce scaring

• Prevents disease entering the plant

Look out for new buds growing around any removed branches and just rub these off. Unless one is a new branch growing in a position you desire.

After pruning it best to feed your bonsai tree to make sure it recovers as quick as possible.

The shaping of your bonsai tree is usually related to the formal Japanese Bonsai style you are trying to achieve. But if you are not following a formal style you can shape your tree as you please. A good tip is to remove the growth from the inside of branches and trunk this helps achieve the defined shape of the classic Japanese bonsai tree.

Your bonsai will need pruning during the growing season to remove new growth and buds etc that detract from the profile you are trying to achieve.

The shaping of bonsai trees is not a quick process and can take years from start to finish, a bonsai tree can be left to grow for ten years without the shaping even beginning. When it is shaped it will still need maintenance, however the rewards of having the perfect natural looking bonsai tree can be very satisfying.

Technorati Tags: bonsai tree pruning, japanese maple bonsai, shape bonsai tree

The one in the photo for this article is possibly not the best example.

However I agree with the philosophy on bonsai, that the tree can be any shape as long as [...]]]> Although I have no experience with them, in the article below from India, novices are advised to start with Banyans, they are easy to maintain.

The one in the photo for this article is possibly not the best example.

However I agree with the philosophy on bonsai, that the tree can be any shape as long as it brings you pleasure. This take on the art of sculpting bonsai trees will not please the purist or master of bonsai. But most bonsai owners probably started out wanting to bring nature that little bit closer. So as long as they can find pleasure in its form then what else matters.

The bonsai may come in different styles that don’t easily comply with the formal Japanese bonsai styles, but not everyone wants to win shows with their bonsai.

All you bonsai growers in India now have a new bonsai association, based in Chennai.

Take a look at the articel in full here.

Technorati Tags: Banyan Bonsai, bonsai tree

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