Introduction  to Bonsai

The word bonsai is pronounced as follows: "BON" and "SAY-EE". The word literally means a plant (usually a tree or shrub) grown in a tray or shallow pot. Its size is not that critical and can be upto six feet tall, as long as it is in a pot and has been trained it can be classed as a bonsai.

No one knows the exact origin of this art but the first records were found in China in the Han Dynasty in 200 BC. Bonsai as we now know it today was perfected in Japan. The original bonsai trees were usually collected, already dwarfed by nature. In many locations, the permission of the landowner must be sort before any trees are removed. One common misconception is that a bonsai is a specific type of tree. Yes, some trees are more frequently bonsaied than others, but bonsai can be made from almost any woody stemmed tree or bush species. They are not dwarfed be restricting the roots to the pot but by systematically pruning and shaping. As they are natural trees the they are kept out of doors all of the time, only being brought in for display purposes. In winter they should be protected from severe frost and particularly snow falls which if left on branches can break them.

The pot in which the tree is planted must compliment it and not overpower it by size or colour. The pot is usually as wide as the tree is tall with some trees suited to round or square shapes. The tree can be planted off centre in the pot with the foliage hanging over but within the confines of the base of the pot.

Watering - A tree cannot live without water!

This is the most important thing to consider when caring for Bonsai. In the trees natural environment the tree will produce long roots and draw up the available water supply from deep underground. With Bonsai the natural watering process has been removed, so this must be done artificially by keeping the tree moist but not over watered. Creating the right balance can be a tricky thing. I have seen my prize trees suddenly wilt following a recent dry spell and they have to be soaked in buckets for hours to drench the soil. Keeping the soil too wet will increase the possibility of root rot or just make the root system idle and produce less roots. It can be beneficial to let the tree dry out for a day or so as this increases the trees root growth.