Bonsai Plants: How to grow and care for them?

Bonsai is the art of growing and cultivating a plant to transform into a miniature form. Bonsai is an ancient oriental horticulture art form. The word ‘Bonsai’ means in both the Chinese and Japanese languages, a tree-in-a-pot or tray. Originally developed in the Orient, almost 2,000 years ago, today the art of Bonsai is practiced throughout the world. There is nothing more soothing and gratifying than seeing a Bonsai plant growing on a garden, balcony, or windowsill.

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What is Bonsai?

Bonsai is a type of living art and craft form, which includes techniques like shallow planting, defoliation, pruning, root reduction, and grafting along with wiring the branches and trunks into the desired shapes, all for creating a miniature tree that closely resembles a mature one. With proper technique and care, a bonsai can not only last for centuries but also give the illusion of great age despite being relatively young.

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How to make a Bonsai plant?

Bonsai is the art of dwarfing trees or plants to create visual harmony by growing and pruning plants in a container with other elements like a cascading waterfall, moss, and rock garden. Bonsai does not require dwarfed trees, but it is an art of growing small trees from regular stock and seeds. To grow a Bonsai, you need some knowledge of Bonsai gardening and skills (one can take training from a professional or learn using resources on internet or in books). Find other Bonsai lovers in your community to learn more tricks and tips.

The three main techniques to grow Bonsai plants are growing, pruning, and shaping.

Growing Bonsai plants

Most people, instead of growing a Bonsai tree from seeds, buy a Bonsai tree from their local nursery. Select the plant, which can be easily trimmed and shaped, and one with rough bark. Take a small ceramic shallow pot to plant the Bonsai. The size of a container should be in proportion to the size of the tree. A small tree looks good in an oversized pot. Place a plastic net at the base of the container for water to drain out. Then add garden soil, cow manure, tiny brick pieces, sand, and organic manure. Trim 1/2 to 1/3 of the existing roots of the plant and leave the thin white roots (known as feeder roots). Then, plant your Bonsai in soil.

Pruning Bonsai plants

By pruning the roots, branches, and trunk, your tree can get its miniature look, as well as the dwarfing of its foliage. Pruning of roots and branches helps in maintaining the quality and appearance of Bonsai trees. By pruning roots, you will ensure that there is a space for new roots to grow, which is critical for the health and growth of the Bonsai. Prune roots twice a year and change its soil when it’s done. Foliage pruning is vital for aesthetic purposes. Removing dead leaves helps in keeping it healthy and beautiful. Plant the Bonsai tree into a pot.

Shaping Bonsai plants

To get the desired shape, you can use a wire (aluminium copper wires are the best) to aid your Bonsai’s branches to grow as per your design. Ensure that the wire is of correct thickness and does not break the branches. Hold the branches you are wiring and wind it carefully around it. With wiring, the aim is to change the direction of the branches and shape of the run, so that they match with the design in your mind. It may take several months to create a beautiful Bonsai.

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Can a Bonsai tree be formed from any plant?

Almost all shrubs and trees can be transformed into a Bonsai. All you need to do is ensure that foliage and roots are pruned in a way that a plant stays dwarfed. Usually, Bonsai trees are created from perennial woody-stemmed shrubs or tree species that produce true branches and can be grown to stay small through root and crown pruning and pot confinement

Bonsai plant: Care tips

Maintenance and care are crucial parts of growing a Bonsai tree.

Bonsai plant: Sunlight requirements

For flower and fruit Bonsai, four to five hours of direct sunlight is essential. Bonsai needs direct sunlight to prepare its food. Lack of direct sunlight will damage them, causing weak foliage and other problems. To know the best location to display your Bonsai, you should know its type and whether it’s an indoor or outdoor plant. If you want to grow a Bonsai tree indoor, go for Schefflera Hawaiian Umbrella, Jade, Money tree Serissa, Gardenia, Camellia, Ficus, etc. Outdoor plants require more moisture and sunlight. Juniper, Cypress, Cedar, Maple, Birch, Beech, Chinese Mini Orange, Larch, Elm Tamarind, and Cypress trees are ideal for outdoor setting.

Bonsai plant: Soil and fertiliser requirements

Healthy Bonsai starts with healthy soil. Almost all Bonsai tree species prefer well-drain soil. It can avoid waterlogging, which leads to root decay and, ultimately its death. The ideal potting material for Bonsai can be cocopeat, river sand, fine gravel, pumice, and organic potting compost. It is imperative to add fertilizers to your soil during its growth season (which is typically early spring to mid-fall). The three main components of fertilizers are nitrogen, which takes care of the stem and leaf; phosphorus that promotes root growth, and potassium, responsible for flowering and bearing fruits. Additionally, you can mix organic manure, such as cow dung in soil.

Bonsai plant: Water requirements

To check whether the Bonsai plant requires water, put your finger into the soil. If it is dry, water it. Else just spray a light mist for humidity. Depending on the weather and temperature, indoor plants need watering every 3-4 days and outdoor plants once in two days. On an average, water the Bonsai plant approximately once in a week, or when the topsoil becomes dry. The soil should always be moist, but not over-saturated, as this can cause the roots to rot and decay. Pay special attention to the watering needs according to seasons and the location of the Bonsai (indoor, or outdoor).

Repotting Bonsai plant

Most Bonsai plants need to be re-potted once in every two years to make sure the trees don’t become pot-bound, which makes it harder to soak and store water. Repotting is a key factor in maintaining the health of your Bonsai tree. The purpose of repotting is to remove excess roots that can cause the tree to starve, or not receive enough nutrients from soil. Repotting also ensures that your tree can continue to thrive within a small pot. Bonsai trees should be re-potted once every two to five years, depending on how quickly your Bonsai tree grows.

Bonsai plant: Tools and equipment requirements

If you are planning to grow a Bonsai plant, you need specially designed pruning shears for cutting and delicate snipping jobs, Bonsai wire, and wire cutters.

Check our list of garden tools and equipment

Bonsai Plants: Pest and disease management

Since a large variety of plants can be used to create a Bonsai, there are a myriad of different diseases and pests that can affect them. The most effective way of identifying the problem affecting your Bonsai is by researching the particular bacteria, fungi, and insects attracted to the species of your plant. In general, make sure to always remove any leaves with blemishes or spots and watch out for any eggs or insects. 

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Bonsai styles

When shaping a Bonsai tree, the first step is to decide which style is the best for its natural design. Bonsai is usually classified into he following basic styles.

• The formal upright Bonsai tree style is known for its upright, straight, and tapering trunk. Each branch appears to be shorter than those below it, and the distance between the branches decreases near the apex.

• Informal upright branches and trunks have curves and bends, and never tilt towards the front. It is as appropriate for conifers as for deciduous trees.

• The slanting style mimics a tree that has been exposed to strong wind blowing in one direction. Slanting is also straight, but the trunk coming from the soil is bent at a certain angle. This type of Bonsai tree is usually created through wiring and creates an amazing style with different slants and bends of the trunk and branches.

• Cascade style has branches of the Bonsai tree spread sideways instead of upwards, usually leaning lower than the pot’s base. The Cascade style resembles a tree in natural surroundings that grows on a cliff and bent downward.

• Semi-cascade Bonsai has its head of foliage above the lower branches, representing a lower branch or tail of the tree. With this style, the trunk grows upward for a small distance and bends slightly downwards, almost sideways.

• The double trunk style has two tree trunks, growing from one root system. The point where the two trunks meet must be a sharp ‘V’ shape. The space between the trunks should be wider, and higher as the tree grows.

• The Literati style has a thin trunk and minimum branches. It is one of the most difficult styles to achieve. It takes many years of Bonsai experience and knowledge to successfully create a Literati Bonsai tree.

Bonsai plants: Best plants to grow

Apart from coconut and palm trees, you can make Bonsai from any Indian tree. Preferably, choose a small-leaf tree, as it enhances the miniature effect. A few examples include:

• Ficus varieties
• Jade
• Bamboo
• Pine Adenium
• Juniper
• Rain trees
• Ixora
• Chinese Elm
• Line
• Pipal
• Guava
• Gooseberry
• Bougainvillaea
• Lemon
• Pomegranate

Benefits of Bonsai plants

A Bonsai plant is a small wonder and can make homes vibrant by adding greenery. Bonsai plants help city dwellers to maintain a connection with nature. Bonsai trees can make your interiors look beautiful. Blooming Bonsais are a delight to behold. They bring so much zeal and peace with their presence.

A Bonsai plant can reduce indoor air pollutants, and purify air indoors (Ficus tree, a popular Bonsai Jade). Further, keeping Bonsai plants in living areas, or offices can reduce volatile organic compounds.

Besides, being an enjoyable hobby and de-stressing, growing Bonsai plants in one’s garden, balcony, or windowsill is a rewarding experience. You will be a lot more relaxed, patient, and positive in your life.

FAQ’s

Purnima Goswami Sharma

Purnima Goswami Sharma is a freelance writer based in Mumbai, who has been contributing to various newspapers, magazines and portals for the last two decades. Besides being a research writer for various TV shows, she has been a visiting faculty at SNDT for Communication Skills. She hold a master’s degree in English Literature from Mumbai University and a diploma in Communications and Journalism. She writes on diverse subjects like real estate, interiors, education, lifestyle, health, entertainment and environment.

Email: [email protected]

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