The Basics of The Bonsai Tree
We’ve all come across the miniature trees a few times in our lives, whether it’s at the local nursery or at a friend’s house. Growing and maintaining bonsai trees is a tremendously popular pastime that has enchanted people from all over the globe.
Learning to look after a bonsai is a pastime that requires plenty of patience, learning, and free time, but the end results are always worth it. From a small seed to a beautifully manicured mini-tree, bonsai growing and maintenance is a fulfilling and healthy activity that’s perfect for everyone, no matter their age, but especially for those that have the free time that retirement affords, and enjoy things that are precise and get results, much like horse racing betting.
How To Start
The first place to start with your bonsai journey is finding the perfect specimen. Most bonsai trees can be found in nurseries or ordered online, and there are plenty of places that sell a bonsai-growing kit, which usually comes with a little pot, some potting soil, a seed, and some instructions.
Once you’ve acquired the kit, you will need to place the seed in a bowl of boiling water and allow it to germinate overnight. The next day, take the potting soil, and plant the seed with plenty of water. After some time, a sprout will appear and begin its growth. Alternatively, you can purchase a tree that has already been grown somewhat, which allows you to learn about the next stage of the process: styling and shaping.
Styling Your Tree
This is the more difficult part of the process, but also the most creative and rewarding. Pruning is the most important part of the experience, and allows you to keep your tree in a more manageable state. Spring and summer tend to be the best season to start any serious pruning, but it can also depend on the kind of tree that you have. Here are some examples of when a branch of a bonsai needs to be removed:
- If there are two branches that are growing at the same height as the rest of the tree, remove one and keep the other
- If there are any branches with unnatural twists or growth, cut them off to make room for the healthier branches
- Any branches that are too thick at the top of the tree should be removed to allow for more growth of the others
Care and Maintenance
Although each bonsai has specific care guidelines that need to be followed, there are some basics that are worth following.
Watering a bonsai depends on a few different factors, including the species of the tree, the pot-size, the type of soil, and the climate. Too much water can result in the root rotting, while not enough can cause the plant to wither and die fairly quickly. Special bonsai food is also necessary, but this is very species-dependent, meaning that a little research will be required before buying any plant food.
