Growing bonsai trees from scratch
You might think that growing bonsai trees is hard work, and yes - it is. But at least history shows us that people have been doing it for many years, so if anything, that proves its popular! It was originally Chinese, and the Japanese perfected the art many centuries ago. Bonsai means “tree in a pot”, and the process involves trimming and pruning so that it remains small.
This means that you have to shape the tree at a young age both below and above ground. The art, of course, is to maintain proportions. The smallest you can get is around two inches in height at full growth, while some can grow up to two feet tall.
Getting started
Choose your species. Always consult the garden centre experts first as they are employed to know a thing or two! Choose a variety with naturally small leaves - Bottlebrush is a good one that I have used many times.
Take a shallow pot and ensure that you have draining holes. This is very important as the bonsai tree likes dry soil. Also, look for glazing on the outside but not on the inside - if it is on the inside, you will find the tree has trouble breathing.
Put the tree first of all into a large pot so that it gains strength, and when it has matured enough, you can put it into the shallow pot.
The soil is especially important for bonsai trees - you need special bonsai soil that can be bought from any good garden centre, and you need to buy feed that includes nitrogen and phosphoric acid for the autumn. If your garden centre cannot supply this, go online and search for it.
You should also consider humidity. Placing the pot in a humid area is sometimes not enough - you could do your own work by placing it in a shallow tray full of water, allowing that water to evaporate. Or just put it in the kitchen! It’s your choice.
In the end, though, the bonsai is your creation - however you choose to decorate it and however you choose to prune it, it is a reflection of the hard work that you have (or have not) put in. While buying bonsai trees can prove expensive, growing your own can prove a rewarding and inexpensive hobby.
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