The Art of Bonsai and How To Take Proper Care 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

The Formal Upright style is the basic form of Bonsai and the most recommended for people beginning Bonsai tree care. The Formal Upright will result in a successful Bonsai tree in little time. This style is rounded in nature and produces a tree that has nice balance. The lower two branches extend further creating a nice horizontal base for the tree. The remaining branches descend from the top to the bottom extending a little further with each row.

The Informal Upright style is very similar to the Formal Upright with the exception that the top branch doesn't extend vertically, as with the Formal Upright, but instead it bends a little bit to the front. The slant gives the tree a look as if it is in motion.

In the Slant style, the tree slants in one direction while the lowest branch reaches out in the opposite direction.

The Cascade style of tree creates a sloping effect. The trunk of the tree is trained to grow vertically, and then turn, allowing the branches to extend below the surface of the pot in a cascading effect. It is a good idea to select a species of plant or tree that typically grows close to the ground. This provides better results then trying to force a tree from growing in its vertical form to a cascade.

The Semi Cascade Style, like the Cascade, extends over the edge of the pot, but the trunk of the plant extends vertically then slopes gradually.

The Windswept Bonsai style has a look that appears as if the tree has been blown by the wind.

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 Tree Sculpture

This 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

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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