Bonsai - It's a Form of Art!
Bonsai is as Asian term for a tree in a pot. The art of bonsai originated in China but was later developed by the Japanese. Bonsai started as miniature trees that were dwarfed due to nature's elements.
When these trees became popular, the Japanese found a way to take a native tree and train it to be like the earlier "accidental" bonsais.
The art form comes in through the pruning, trimming and clipping of the roots and the limbs so that the tree has the same exotic look as the original naturally formed bonsais. Perfection was key in the Japanese culture, but when the art form reached America, bonsais were more for decorative purposes and the state of perfection became more relaxed.
The bonsai trees became more popular because people were amazed by the old look to the trees that were dwarfed in size. A tree in a miniature world fascinates bonsai enthusiasts because they appear to have the same proportions as a larger tree, but only in a tinier form.
The art of bonsai, or the trimming and training of these trees, has been seen as a stress reliever because it brings a sense of calm and relaxation while nurturing the tiny tree.
Your hard work can also be appreciated as you sit and enjoy the view of the dwarfed tree sitting inside your home as part of the décor, instead of outside where most trees are found.
Learn the Art of Bonsai in a Step-By-Step Fashion
The Secret Techniques of Bonsai: A Guide to Starting, Raising, and Shaping Bonsai
Amazon Price: $23.20 (as of 07/05/2009)
List Price: $29.00
"In short, my opinion is that this is an excellent book if you are serious about bonsai and would like to get started, or to complement your knowledge from other books."
Release Date: 12/31/1969
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Usually ships in 24 hours
Basic Bonsai Tree Styles
The Six Styles of Bonsai Trees
Bonsai Trees are truly an art form. Bonsai trees are plants that are grown in trays or containers and developed that they remain small. Using techniques such as cutting, pruning, and pinching, the plants are manipulated to grow in pre-set patterns and the result is a magnificent tree that is aesthetically pleasing to the eye.Basically there are 6 different patterns or styles of bonsai trees.
The beginning novice as well as the experienced Bonsai hobbyist will find that growing Bonsai trees requires time and patience, but the rewards are great.
Bonsai With Japanese Maples 
Bonsai with Japanese Maples
Choosing Your Bonsai
What Do You Pick For Your New Bonsai?
There are a huge range of bonsai to choose from, as in reality any plant with a trunk and some branches can become a bonsai plant,Many people go for the tropical Bonsai Plant because they are so beautiful and they can be grown indoors all year around. Examples of tropical bonsai plants are azalea, fig, bougainvillea, and fuchsia.
Although the tropical bonsai plants are extremely popular, there are many others, including trees and shrubs such as the elm, birch, apple, ginkgo, and spirea. These will lose their leaves in the winter once the days become shorter. They will also require cooler temperatures than the tropical bonsai, and must be kept well above freezing during the winter. Also during the time they have no leaves, they do not need any light.
When you are choosing a bonsai plant you will need to think about where abouts intend to grow it, as this could alter the type you buy. If you go for the tropical bonsai plant it can be grown in the window, but you will need to keep a close check on the temperature and ensure it does not get too cold. These bonsai will need lots of light. If it gets too cold by the window you could use a fluorescent light as a substitute for natural sunlight.
If you choose an evergreen bonsai, it can be placed in a window during the winter and outdoors once the temperature has risen. You cannot put this type of bonsai plant into direct sunlight, they need to go into a shady area plants cannot be placed directly in the sun, but must be put in a shady place, otherwise they may die from too much heat.
There are many different styles of bonsai plants, including the upright tree, the windswept bonsai plant, as well as the cascade and forest styles of Bonsai Plants. Before making your final decision on which style you would like to try and grow, it is a good idea to discover as much as you can about each type and how to care for them. This way you are more likely to have a beautiful bonsai plant that will be your pride for years to come.
Windswept Bonsai Sculpture
How about a permanent bonsai?
Windswept Bonsai Tree SculptureThis one-of-a-kind tree sculpture is created by prominent artist Sal Villano and is fashioned with wire gage sizes ranging from 32-18. The wire used is brown anodized aluminum wire which will retaine its color and strength for many years. The tree sculpture is bonded onto its base, which is a glazed ceramic bonsai container,using sea sand. Since the bond is made of a pourous material, a water soluable glue is used and, therefore, the sculpture should never be placed in water. Clean your tree sculpture with a damp, soft, lint-free cloth.
Potted in a 4.5" red/tan rectangle container as shown.
16" x 12" x 17".
Details of Windswept Bonsai Sculpture
Caring For Your Bonsai Tree - Indoors
Indoor Bonsai Tree Care
Whether your bonsai tree is being grown inside in a decorative container, or outside in your garden, the basic steps of Bonsai Tree care are similar.Just as important for a bonsai indoors is watering - if you allow the soil to dry out then your beautiful bonsai tree will die, it's as simple as that! So make sure to watch the state of the soil carefully and water generously before it gets too dry. You will probably find that you need to water your indoor bonsai every day.
Your indoor bonsai will also benefit from being put outside into the sunlight for at least parts of the day when the weather is warm.
However, it is pruning that really keeps a bonsai tree a bonsai. To ensure that you keep your bonsai in its miniature size you will need to trim your bonsai regularly - if you don't do this then the leaves will become too large.
The roots and the leaves of your bonsai are what grows quickest, and you need to keep on top of this task then before you know it, your bonsai tree - if you don't then you will no longer have an indoor bonsai at all.
There are many specialised, miniature, tools available to help you with trimming and pruning your bonsai, and for all other aspects of bonsai tree care.
Keep your indoor bonsai tree trimmed properly and you will be able to display it in the best light. Don't forget that even once your bonsai tree is fully grown, you will still need to maintain it regularly, otherwise it will lose its shape and not look good. Trimming your bonsai tree correctly is a very important part of its care - do this well and follow the other hints and tips on this lens and you will find yourself the proud owner of a beautiful bonsai tree.
Growing and nurturing an indoor bonsai tree is not too difficult, and there are many bonsai tree care tips to help you on the way.
Ficus Bonsai
What's Your Favorite Style of Bonsai Tree?
The Best Choices for Bonsais
Slow Growing Trees Are the Best Choices for Bonsais
Bonsai is basically dwarfing any tree from nature by limiting its growth with the pot and trimming the branches and leaves to train it in miniature form. Not all trees are really suitable for the art of Bonsai.Plants and trees that are slow growing are the best choices for bonsais. Some of those include juniper, azaleas, serisas, maple, crab apple, citrus and wisterias. Some of these plants and trees give the added effect of blooming flowers, while other trees give off a burst of the earth tones known for autumn colors.
The ones that won't work well with the art of bonsai are the large leaf plants or trees and the ones with larger root systems. These tend to grow at a faster rate and will be difficult to train to stay at a miniature size.
They also probably won't last as long because the bonsai trees need to be able to grow smaller roots within a smaller pot. The larger-rooted trees will only suffocate in the smaller pots. You can check with your local greenhouse to see if they carry plants to be used for bonsai purposes.
They can also help you get started in the hobby by giving you tips on the best trimming techniques for each type of tree. There are many great guides on the art of bonsai that can help you go from beginner to advanced hobbyist with a shorter learning curve.
Bonsai Tree Care
How to Grow Bonsai Trees : Avoiding Common Problems with Bonsai Trees
Runtime: 2:16
51816 views
10 Comments:
Tips on Trimming a Bonsai
How to Prune Your Bonzi
No-one can deny that bonsai is an art, so when you successfully achieve the shape and design you want you will feel a great deal of satisfaction - whether you are a bonsai beginner or an expert.If you treat your bonzi as any other plant or tree, then they will simply not turn out as they are suppossed to. To trim or prune your bonsai is an important part of growing that 'perfect' bonzai tree.
The best time to trim any new growth is while the tree is growing, as the new leaves and branches will often stop the tree from retaining the shape you require.
The first step to trimming your bonzi is to ensure you have a good reliable pair of pruners, as these are specially designed to give you a nice clean cut.
There are two methods of trimming your bonsai;
Finger Pruning for a coniferous bonsai, and Leaf Pruning for a deciduous bonsai.
Finger pruning is pinching the new growth that does not support the required shape of your bonzi. This is achieved by holding the host branch of the growth you want to remove with one hand, and pinch the growth between your thumb and forefinger of the other hand to remove. This method of pruning will give a more natural look to the foliage, rather than that obtained by using scissors.
Leaf pruning a bonsai is mostly carried out during the summer. Deciduous bonsai and tropical plants are pruned by cutting around 60% to 85% of their leaves using fine scissors. Always make sure you have enough leaves left on your bonsi to supply the necessary energy.
Pruning a bonsai is an essential step in achieving the shape you want to achieve.
Bonsai Pruning and Shaping Toolkit
14-pc Bonsai Tool Set Carbon Steel
Amazon Price: $86.99 (as of 07/05/2009)
List Price: $219.99
"This is a perfect set for those who are into bonsai but not into the price of many other sets of tools. The tools are very nice, sharp and should last as long as they are cared for."
Release Date: 12/31/1969
Avg. Customer Rating:
Usually ships in 24 hours
How to Care for Your Bonsai Tree
Some Basic Tips for Bonsai Care
Bonsai trees are no different than any other plant you would have in your care. The bonsai trees need to be taken care of as well.Here are some care tips to keep in mind when you're starting off your role as a bonsai hobbyist:
The art of bonsai is rooted in the act of pruning trees to make a miniaturized version. So the trees will have to be trimmed and pruned on a regular basis. When you first get your bonsai tree, you'll need to determine the primary branches because these will be the ones that will stay in place and just be trimmed back to prevent maximum growth.
The subordinate branches are the ones that come off of the primary ones. These will be the ones to be sacrificed when pruning occurs. The bonsai tree roots will also need to be trimmed to keep the tree growing healthy and strong and to keep the tree from growing too far out of proportion to what a bonsai tree should be.
The bonsai tree will need to be repotted about every two years to keep the roots healthy and provide nutrients to the tree. You should add a water-soluble fertilizer to the soil for added nutrients for the tree.
Your bonsai tree will need to be watered as well, but this is something you have to be careful about so that you don't water it too much.
Follow the guides for watering the type of plant or tree that you're using for bonsai purposes. Each one will be different in the amount of water that should be given.
By providing proper care for the tree, you can grow a bonsai that will be around for many years to come.
Check Out These Bonsai Gardening For Sale Items!
Care of Indoor Bonsai Trees
Special Tips for Indoor Plants
Indoor bonsai trees have different needs than outdoor bonsais do. Since it's not outside, you'll need to be responsible for positioning it in a place within your home where there's plenty of sunlight. Don't leave the indoor bonsai tree in one position, but turn it from time to time to allow all sides the opportunity to soak up the sun. The pot that you plant your indoor bonsai tree in should be filed with rich fertilizer since the plant won't be able to thrive in an environment that provides natural nutrients in the ground. You can buy special bonsai food to add to the soil.Bonsai With Japanese Maples
Bonsai with Japanese Maples
Along with food, you'll want to make sure your indoor bonsai tree is well cared for in the water department when the soil feels dry. Don't use shockingly cold water - make sure it's room temperature. You may want to use a moisture meter to help you maintain a proper watering schedule.
Instead of pouring water into the planter, some bonsai enthusiasts prefer to place the planter inside a bowl filled with water and let the bonsai soak up the necessary amount to help it thrive. After about 15 minutes, they take the bonsai out of the water, dry the planter, and return it to its place in the sun.
Pruning your indoor bonsai tree is a round the clock requirement. In the summer, it may grow more than in the winter, fall, or spring seasons. As you prune the indoor bonsai, clip the newly sprouted shoots once they're approximately three-quarters of an inch long.
As the indoor bonsai tree's roots expand to fill the current planter, you'll want to repot the tree to one that can sustain a little more growth. Not only will you be pruning the shoots, but you'll also be pruning the roots back as well.
Great Bonsai From Amazon
Bonsai Tree Care
How To Take Care of A Bonsai Tree
Bonsai Tree Care
As with any plantlife, watering is absolutely fundamental to your bonsai tree care - no water and it will quite simply die! Watering is especially important as you will be using a small container for your bonsai tree - a bonsai tree in a container could die of thirst in as little time as 48 hrs.When you begin taking care of a bonsai tree, watering is the most common area of worry - more bonsai trees die through lack of or over watering than any other cause.
Okay, so when should you water your bonsai? Well the simple answer is only when the bonsai actually needs it! So really the question should perhaps be, how do I know when I should water my bonsai? To answer then, the easiest way is to scratch the soil just below the surface. If this is dry then you must thoroughly water, if it is wet then your bonsai will not need water, if it is damp then you can water.
As you get more used to caring for your bonsai tree this will become easier as you will be able to judge by looking at the soil surface. If you do not feel confident after a few weeks, then try to stop using the scratch below the surface method (as this may well compact the roots). Instead you can insert a wooden stick into the soil towards the edge of your pot, so that it goes right to the floor of the pot, and just leave it there. When you want to check whether your bonsai needs watering all you need to do is to remove the stick and see how damp the end is - this will give you a good indication of whether you need to water your bonsai tree or not.
So now you have established how to know when your bonsai needs to be watered, you may well want further information on how to take care of a bonsai tree. There are many great guides for taking care of a bonsai tree on the market, just have a good look around and take a look at What you need to know about Bonsai gardening or Bonsai Gardening Secrets
The Origination of Bonsai
Category: File - :Aa tatton bonsai.jpg|thumb|200px|Bonsai at garden show in Tatton Park (Cheshire)
Category: Image - :Acer Palmatum bonsai 2.JPG|thumb|200px|112 year old bonsai example, from the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.
'''' (lit. bon-planted) is the art of aesthetic miniaturization of trees, or of developing woody or semi-woody plants shaped as trees, by growing them in containers. Cultivation includes techniques for shaping, watering, and repotting in various styles of containers.
Bonsai' is a Japanese pronunciation of the earlier Chinese term penzai (??). A 'bon' is a tray-like pot typically used in bonsai culture. The word bonsai is used in the West as an umbrella term for all miniature trees in containers or pots.
Are You a Bonsai Tree Enthusiast?
Leave Your Comments About This Bonsai Tree Lens Below and Rate It At Page Top
Shelly wrote
Am lost in Squidooland and found your interesting lenses, usually I hang pretty close to my sister's (Tipi) lenses and visit her visitors from time to time. Guess I'm getting more adept at this. I love this. I've failed at keeping bonsai's aliv 3 times, perhaps with your encouragement hear I can meet with success. I've felt so guilty about killing them off that I decide not to try agaon but am so attracted to them--thank you!
Posted June 12, 2009
Kristijan_Senjkovic wrote...
Hi there,
Great info. Looking forward to more learnings from you.
Keep me updated :)
Review this http://www.squidoo.com/homeandgardening-bonsaiplants
Posted May 15, 2009
smootie wrote
I have my tree for over a year... we are doing fine...a real joy to share my space with my bonsai. thanks 4 tips
Posted April 04, 2009
Police wrote...
Dear Gary,
Very nice lens, i have learned a lot of information regarding bonsai and a lot more of how to do a very good lens.
Keep up the good work.
Geoff Border Patrol Exams
Posted January 28, 2009
George wrote
Hi Gary, I am new at this with my first tree, thank you for the information on watering and trimming.
Posted December 19, 2008
football_mom_tn wrote
in reply to writertiff hey i found my bonsai tree its drarf bonsai tree i found it at walgreens drug store.for 9.99
Posted November 26, 2008
dante wrote
bonsai's are some of the most beautiful plants in the world i love mine and i love trees theyre just grate i feel like it's growing with me like my green budy
Posted July 28, 2008
krisManuel wrote...
Hey Gary, great job on your lens. 5-stars! This makes me want to buy a Bonsai now :)
Posted November 15, 2007
Karendelac wrote...
Great lens. 5 stars.Congratulations on a well designed site.
This was most informative and I learned a whole new way of art!
Best wishes,
Karen at Karens
Kinkade Art Store
Posted September 08, 2007
Gee_Matthews wrote...
wow not only colorful but also useful lens, thanks thanks I love Bonsai! makes me your 15th star! keep up the good work
Posted August 22, 2007
Gee_Matthews wrote...
wow not only colorful but also useful lens, thanks thanks I love Bonsai! makes me your 15th star! keep up the good work
Posted August 22, 2007
marasco2001 wrote...
Nice lens! I love looking at bonsai but I am afraid to have one myself. A green thumb I am not! 5*s!
Posted August 21, 2007
mn3guy wrote...
You've got a great lens going here. Bonsai are awesome, and beautiful. Used to be an incredible bonsai exhibit at Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania. You should check it out. 5*
Meat and Three Restaurants
Phil (mn3guy)
Posted August 16, 2007
Well designed Lens. Thanks for your comments on Joes-CDs eBay Store
Posted August 11, 2007
USVIA wrote...
Great lens! Interesting and informative. The colored font works very well, along with appealing pictures. 5 stars.
Posted August 09, 2007
heretohelp wrote...
My passion is cacti but I'll try growing anything and always fancied a bonsai. Now I know where to come for more information.
Posted August 08, 2007
caribguy wrote...
Great lens! A bonsai is one of those things we'd all love to have. It's the perfect apartment tree :)
Posted August 07, 2007
writertiff wrote...
Hi Gary! I wanted a bonsai so bad for Christmas, but we couldn't find them anywhere locally. Any idea where the best online store would be? The only one I have is preserved :( Tiff
Posted August 07, 2007
Meloramus wrote...
I find Bonsai trees fascinating and I like the way you've made your lens. How do you manage to get several images in one box? I'd love to try that on my lenses. 5* from me!
Posted August 07, 2007
grandma_deal wrote...
Hello, Gary,
Welcome to Bonsai Forever Group. Great lens. Lots of good info. 5 Star.
Posted August 07, 2007
mybonsai wrote...
Hi Gary,
Great bonsai lens - 5 stars. I really liked the layout of different colors and the bonsai pictures.
Also thanks for reviewing my lens "Growing Bonsai Trees"
Posted August 07, 2007
by charlie_123
Welcome to the world of bonsai growing. Hope you learn enough here to try it on your own. Enjoy your visit!
(more)
