A bonsai plant or tree is great to have at home, whether indoor or outdoor. It does not occupy much space and you can even grow it in a small pot.
In Japan, the bonsai is an art form. It takes its name from bon which refers to a pot that resembles a tray. Traditionally, growing a bonsai is a continuous process of cultivating and shaping a small tree or shrub in a container. It paxil cr cost involves pruning, potting, defoliation, grafting and root reduction with the goal of mimicking the shape of a mature tree.
Growing a bonsai may sound complicated to some people but with a little patience and some materials, one can actually create such plant easily. There’s no need for some special skills.
Decide on Your Plant or Tree
To create your very first bonsai, you will need your favorite plant or tree, a small pot or any container of your choice, some wires, a small net and scissors. For the plant, you can choose from whatever you have at home or you can visit a nursery or bonsai shop and buy one that you like. Check the leaves to make sure it is healthy.
By this time, you should already have decided on the size of your bonsai and where you’re going to place it. The miniature ones are best indoors while the bigger ones can stay outside.
Use the Right Pot Size
For your pot, do ensure that it is large enough to accommodate the plant. Remember that your plant’s roots must be covered fully with soil to retain moisture. It must also have a hole to allow water to drain.
Prune the Plant
Make sure to prune your plant. Cut the extra branches so that by the time you’re done putting it in the pot, it will be easy for you to do the major cutting. Onwards, occasionally cut the crown part to enable light to reach the lower parts of the plant.
To prune means to maintain the bonsai’s shape and style. There are actually two types – maintenance pruning which refers to maintaining the plant’s shape to avoid overgrowing and style pruning which refers to the aesthetic aspect.
Use Coarse and Fine Soil
When putting soil, fill your pot with up to 80 percent of it. It’s also best to use both the coarse and fine type. The coarse soil should be put first in the bottom of the pot before putting the main soil.
The function of the coarse soil is to drain the water and prevent the main soil from going down the hole.
Water the Plant
Despite its small size, any bonsai plant needs water to grow. During summertime, they have to be watered once a day while in the fall, they need to be watered less frequently. By the winter season, they have to be kept inside and they need lesser water such as once in two weeks only.
It will help as well if the same person waters the plant as that individual knows the time of day the bonsai got its dose of water.