What is Bonsai ?

What is Bonsai ? :

                              

 Bonsai 

Bonsai in Japanese means "dwarf plant". It is a Japanese art or technique to give small size but attractive appearance to woody plants. These miniaturized plants can be grown in pots. This art consists of giving beautiful shape to plants, specific method of watering and methods of removing them from one pot to another pot. By keeping these dwarf plants in groups, the house can be made a green garden. Bonsai plants are grown in pottery in such a way that they maintain their natural form but remain dwarf in shape. Bonsai can be placed anywhere throughout the house.

The word 'bonsai' is the Japanese pronunciation of the original Chinese word penjai (盆栽). 'Bone' is the character in which these plants are often grown. It is tray shaped.

Bonsai Making:
                         

What is Bonsai

First the plant suitable for bonsai is grown in pot. Then its exterior is trimmed in such a way that it can be given a predetermined shape according to the desired style. The roots are pruned and planted. Plants prepared from seeds are good for Bonsai.

Tree selection:

At the time of selection of trees special care is taken of the beauty of their flowers, the appearance of buds and leaves etc.

Evergreen tree: Pomegranate, Mango, Amlatash, Guava, Akashnim, Amla, Banyan, Botbrush, Orange, Semal, Sycamore, Gulmohar, Peepal, Zakrenda, Lychee, Pine, Neem, Lemon, Cassia species etc. Autumn trees: Oak, plum, birch, cedar, fur, pears, semal, jasmine, boganvellia etc.

Selection of pots:

Shallow pots are used for bonsai. The soil around their roots is less. Square, rectangular, circular, elliptical, octagonal and shallow pots are suitable for these plants. The drainage area in the pots should be large.

Flowerpot change:

Slow growing plants should change the flowerpot after three to four years in hot and humid climate and after four to six years in dry climate. Changing the flowerpot means planting the plant again.

Truncation:

The work of pruning is done as the summer begins. Pruning of evergreen plants should be done before winter starts. Prepare a mixture by mixing equal amounts of garden soil, leaf manure and sand sand in the pots. Remove the plant from the pot with soil and dust the roots with the help of wood. But one third of the soil should remain at the roots. The roots of young plants should be lightened and pruned to darker and older plants.

Shaping plants:

The main purpose of pruning is to give shape to the plant. Bonsai should not support wood etc. Thin branches are provided with fixed directions using copper or aluminum wires. The wires are removed when the branches are strong.

Irrigation:

Light irrigation should be done daily. Pour water on plants with fountains. Irrigate till it leaks from the pot or under pot. Do not irrigate when soil is wet.

Bonsai Styles:
                            

Bonsai Styles

 According to Bonsai experts from Japan, Bonsai can be grown in about thirteen ways.

1. Straight tree: In this, the stems grow straight upwards with slender, branches around the main stem making an angle of 90 degrees from the stem. This style is suitable for pine, silver oak, fur etc.

2. Two-stem tree: In plants, only two trunks are allowed per tree from the soil surface. The height of the stems varies. It is called Sokan in Japanese.

3. Multiple stem trees: 6 or more trunks are allowed to grow directly above one root.

4. Sinus: Many stems are allowed to develop.

5. Slant Bonsai: The main stem grows upright at a 45 degree angle from the ground.

6. Broome: The other branches originating from the middle stem on the stem straight are allowed to grow only in two opposite directions. This makes the tree look like a fan.

7. Trees with open roots: The stem grows upwards from the ground surface at an angle of 90 ° or 45 °, with roots also seen growing above the soil. While planting the plant in this style, do not put the roots of the plant inside the soil and keep the top open and keep the sand around.

8. Cascade: The main stem is half bent. It is tilted from the bottom of the pot to the bottom.

9. Ikada tree: The main stem is tilted to the soil surface and branches are allowed to grow at two to three places.

10. Wind swept: The tree forms a 90 degree angle from the ground surface and at the same time the branches coming out of the main stem are allowed to grow in the same direction so that the branches appear to have been affected by the wind blow.

11. Tree group: Many trees are grown in a pot. For this, flat, shallow and big pots are used.

12. Wavy Bonsai: One or two main branches protruding from the soil surface of the pot.

13. Rocky Bonsai: Old stones or pieces of rock are placed on the surface of pottery soil to spread the roots of the tree on them.