If you live in an apartment and enjoy gardening, you must have definitely heard about Bonsai tree planting. Bonsai is an art of cultivating a tree into a desired shape and size. This art originated in China more than 2,000 years ago, before gaining popularity in Japan. The artform reflects Zen ideas of nature and elements, uniquely expressed on a small scale.
Learning this art takes patience but once perfected, it can help you transform your apartment into gardens of Shangri-La with beautiful miniature trees embellishing your home decor. Bonsai plants have long been a favourite indoor plant option because of good luck and positive vibes they are known to bring home as per Feng Shui. It is one of the unique indoor plants that creates a beautiful aura complemented by positivity. So, do you have a Bonsai plant? If not, it’s time you get one for your home.
Step 1: Selecting the right tree
The first step to successfully grow a bonsai tree is to figure out which tree species suits your needs, climate and circumstance. Growing the indoor plant Bonsai limits your options to subtropical trees that can survive indoors. Hence, choosing an indigenous tree for your space is the safest bet. One good option for Indian climate is the pipal tree.
Once you’ve identified the best tree species, there are several possible cultivation techniques. To start, you must first acquire seeds or pre-bonsai plant, tools for pruning the branches, thin wires and pots.
A less expensive but slow method is by cultivating your own tree using bonsai tree seeds or cuttings. It will normally take around 3-5 years before a young tree can be styled. So, you might want to do this as a side project and buy a pre-bonsai to get started with styling techniques sooner.
Step 2: Planting a Bonsai tree
For Pipal tree or any other tree you select, you can get a stem (cutting) of the tree and plant it in a small nursery pot and water it until the sapling grooms into a plant of 6-7 inch.
Once the sapling grooms, remove the Bonsai plant from its nursery container and cut off the bottom two-thirds of the root ball. Rake through the soil on the surface to expose some roots. Moisten all the roots using a spray bottle. Remove any dead roots and any large roots that interferes with the potting. Position the plant in the pot and work the soil in and around the roots. Top the soil with gravel or moss and water well. Once your tree has reached a desired length, remove dead and unwanted branches that distract from the vision you have for your tree. This process is called pruning.
Step 3: Shaping and styling techniques
Now that you have the tree, let’s get started with shaping and styling it. Pruning is a crucial practice used in shaping trees and keeping them miniature. The best time to prune your tree is the spring season. Ensure you buy a good pair of concave cutters to prune the thick branches.
Here’s when you need to prune the branches:
– Two branches of the same height on the tree trunk (cut one and keep the other)
– If you have a branch with unnatural twists and turns
– If you notice disproportionately thick branches on the top of the tree
Another important technique to shape Bonsai trees is by wiring. By carefully wrapping anodized aluminium or annealed copper around the branches, you can bend and shape them to your will, at least to a certain extent. Wiring can be applied throughout the year, but ensure you remove it promptly before it starts digging into the branches that grow thicker.
Step 4: Care and maintenance
Maintenance and care are crucial steps of growing a Bonsai tree. As Bonsai trees are planted in small pots, they tend to dry up fairly quickly. So, it’s important to water your Bonsai when necessary.
Most Bonsais need to be re-potted every 2 years so that the trees don’t become pot-bound, which makes it harder for them to soak and store water.
Fertilizing regularly during the growing season is key to ensure your tree(s) stays healthy and thrives.
Conclusion
Although Bonsai is a centuries-old living art form, getting started with this fascinating hobby is not a hassle. The goal is to create a Bonsai that accurately replicates a miniature version of a full-scale tree in its natural environment. With proper care and regular shaping, you can grow a beautiful tree within your apartment, be it pipal, mango or any other tropical tree. To reap maximum benefits, Feng Shui recommends the placement of bonsai trees in the south, east and south-east corners of any space.
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