The Great Bonzai Tree

By Author: Thomas Te
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The Bonzai Plant is one of the most unique and visually stimulating plants in existence. For hundreds of years, the Bonzai Plant has been an art form in the Orient. The word Bonzai, or Bonsai, has its roots in the Japanese language and literally means potted plant and is the art of cultivating miniature trees.
The art of Bonzai originated in China during the Han Dynasty, approximately 4000 years ago. Over the years the Bonzai Tree has been used to decorate the homes and gardens of people living in Japan, China, Korea, as well as Vietnam.
The Bonzai Tree is not simply a dwarf tree, as in their natural state they would grow as large as their counterparts. These tiny trees are actually cultivated in a certain way to limit their grown; therefore ensuring that they remain small.
There is a technique to growing the plants that involves pruning the foliage, as well as the roots, but there is a secret to doing this correctly. For example, you must know when the tree is in its dormant stage, because they are pruned improperly during this time, it can easily kill the tree.
In addition to knowing when to prune ...
... the Bonzai, there is another technique that is important to ensuring a healthy tree. During the first growing season it is imperative to use wire to hold the branches in place until they have turned to wood. This usually takes at least one growing season. There are a few Bonzai Trees that either, do not turn to strong wood, or they may be too stiff to shape with wire; in this case, the shaping is done by way of pruning.
For those who are experienced in growing the Bonzai, there are also techniques you can use to simulate a more aged and advanced tree. These techniques are often referred to as Jin and Shari. This is the practice of removing the bark from one or two branches to create the illusion of deadwood.
Watering the tree correctly is imperative to successfully growing these types of trees. To do this you will need to know how much you should water your particular species of tree. While some trees will do better in a more arid environment, others will need to remain moist nearly all the time. For each type of Bonzai you are growing, ensure that you know how much, and how often it will need to be watered.
When you plant or repot your tree, you will need good soil, with lots of organic fertilizer, but be sure that the fertilizer is not too strong or it may burn the roots of your tree. Repotting the plant should be done during its doormat season. Remember, the bigger the pot, the larger the tree will grow.
The Bonzai Tree is a great hobby, and once you get the hang of it, growing these trees are really easy.