Bonsai Supplies

by Visualist Images

The history of bonsai is long and storied. Bonsai first appeared in China over a thousand years ago on a very basic scale, known aspun-sai. Pun-sai was the practice of growing single specimen trees in pots. These early specimens displayed little foliage and rugged, gnarled trunks which often looked like animals, dragons and birds. There are a great number of myths and legends surrounding Chinese bonsai. The grotesque or animal-like trunks and root formations are still highly prized today.

With Japan’s adoption of many cultural trademarks of China – bonsai was also taken up, introduced to Japan during the Kamakura period (1185 – 1333) by means of Zen Buddhism – which at this time was rapidly spreading around Asia. The exact time is debatable, although it is possible that it had arrived in AD 1195 as there appears to be a reference to it in a Japanese scroll attributed to that period.

Once bonsai was introduced into Japan, the art was refined to an extent not yet approached in China.

Over time, the simple trees were not just confined to the Buddhist monks and their monasteries, but also later were introduced to be representative of the aristocracy – a symbol of prestige and honor. The ideals and philosophy of bonsai were greatly changed over the years. For the Japanese, bonsai represents a fusion of strong ancient beliefs with the Eastern philosophies of the harmony between man, the soul and nature.

In an ancient Japanese scroll written in Japan around the Kamakura period, it is translated to say:”To appreciate and find pleasure in curiously curved potted trees is to love deformity”.

Whether this was intended as a positive or negative statement, it leaves us to believe that growing dwarfed and twisted trees in containers was an accepted practice among the upper class of Japan by the Kamakura period.

By the fourteenth century bonsai was indeed viewed as a highly refined art form, meaning that it must have been an established practice many years before that time.

Bonsai were brought indoors for display at special times by the ‘Japanese elite’ and became an important part of Japanese life by being displayed on specially designed shelves. These complex plants were no longer permanently reserved for outdoor display, although the practices of training and pruning did not develop until later – the small trees at this time still being taken from the wild.

In the 17th and 18th century, the Japanese arts reached their peak and were regarded very highly. Bonsai again evolved to a much higher understanding and refinement of nature – although the containers used seemed to be slightly deeper than those used today. The main factor in maintaining bonsai was now the removal of all but the most important parts of the plant. The reduction of everything just to the essential elements and ultimate refinement was very symbolic of the Japanese philosophy of this time.

At around this time, bonsai also became commonplace to the general Japanese public – which greatly increased demand for the small trees collected from the wild and firmly established the art form within the culture and traditions of the country.

Over time, bonsai began to take on different styles, each which varied immensely from one another. Bonsai artists gradually looked into introducing other culturally important elements in their bonsai plantings such as rocks, accent plants, and even small buildings and people which is known as the art ofbon-kei. They also looked at reproducing miniature landscapes in nature – known assai-keiwhich further investigated the diverse range of artistic possibilities for bonsai.

Finally, in the mid-19th century, after more than 230 years of global isolation, Japan opened itself up to the rest of the world. Word soon spread from travelers who visited Japan of the miniature trees in ceramiccontainers which mimicked aged, mature, tall trees in nature. Further exhibitions in London, Vienna and Paris in the latter part of the century – especially the Paris World Exhibition in 1900 opened the world’s eyes up to bonsai.

Due to this phenomenal upsurge in the demand for bonsai, the now widely expanding industry and lack of naturally-forming, stunted plants led to the commercial production of bonsai by artists through training young plants to grow to look like bonsai. Several basic styles were adopted, and artists made use of wire, bamboo skewers and growing techniques to do this – allowing the art to evolve even further. The Japanese learned to capitalize on the interest in this art form very quickly – opening up nurseries dedicated solely to grow, train and then export bonsai trees.

Different plants were now being used to cater for worldwide climates and to produce neater foliage and more suitable growth habits. Bonsai techniques such as raising trees from seed or cuttings and the styling and grafting of unusual, different or tender material onto hardy root stock were further developed.

Bonsai has now evolved to reflect changing tastes and times – with a great variety of countries, cultures and conditions in which it is now practiced.

In Japan today, bonsai are highly regarded as a symbol of their culture and ideals. The New Year is not complete unless thetokonoma- the special niche in every Japanese home used for the display of ornaments and prized possessions – is filled with a blossoming apricot or plum tree. Bonsai is no longer reserved for the upper-class, but is a joy shared by executive and factory worker alike.

The Japanese tend to focus on using native species for their bonsai – namely pines, azaleas and maples (regarded as the traditional bonsai plants). In other countries however, people are more open to other opinions.

The evolution of bonsai over the past two centuries is truly amazing. Perhaps it is symbolic of how small the world is getting as people from Europe to the United States and even in Greenland are exploring bonsai as a hobby.

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by Keith Williamson

A number of us love to grow distinct kinds of plants in our yard or home because of the bright colors and beauty that they can offer to it. Those who want more of a challenge with the plants that they are tending to must think about owning a Bonsai. This is a type of method that is used to grow distinct types of trees.

One of the hardest things about growing a Bonsai is finding the proper way in which to shape it. The way in which you shape the tree will greatly count on the type of tree you are wanting to produce and what you have the ability to do. There are certain popular ways in which you may shape them and acknowledging them will help you to choose the correct one.

Cascade

This is one of the more tricky ones that is utilized on trees that have one tree branch that is superior over any the others. This branch will need to be level with the rim of the planting pot and might be either subtle or very drastic.

Formal Upright

This is a well-known shape that is more commonly used and is also considered to be the greatest one to use when you are new to this.

It makes the tree look virtually ancient and might be used on trees that have both tall and short trunks. The shape is straight with a top that stands tall all over the trunk and roots.

Informal Upright

This is simply like the formal upright – but it is able to curve to the trunk. The top of the tree is tall and also straight over the base of the trunk. This is more or less more tricky to do – but is more different.

Weeping

This is another familiar Bonsai shape that we are used to looking at – but this is ordinarily on weeping willow trees. This is not able to be used on all trees though so make sure with your local florist that you have the ability to utilize it on the tree you bought before you try it.

by 330mate.com

Brief Item Description

Is your mom a bonsai lover? If so, then you can consider getting her this Brussel’s Fukien Tea Bonsai as a Mother’s day gift for her.

This particular Fukien Tea Bonsai Tree is about 6 years old and is about 11 inches tall. It is an indoor bonsai and will certainly make your home look more elegant.

The bonsai tree has excellent trunk movement and produces small white blooms that are followed by red berries. It is imported from Southern China where it was grown in a nursery under controlled conditions.

Something to note is that bonsai tree needs sufficient light, soil, temperature, water, and humidity so it is best to have such an environment indoors for it to thrive.

Customers’ Feedback About The Brussels Fukien Tea Bonsai

Most of us, when we read about this particular product, would be that whether or not it will be in the same perfect condition (as seen in the photograph) when it is being delivered.

We have conducted a thorough research to find out what other customers have to say about the Brussel’s Fukien Tea Bonsai after purchasing it and, this product received quite a number of positive comments Where most of them said Brussels did a great job when it comes to packaging and shipping their trees, and it arrived at their doorstep in a perfect condition.

The leaves, when it arrived, were all very green and healthy, and the soil was still moist upon arrival.

And finally, when it comes to taking care of this particular bonsai, many customers said it requires minimal care All they did was to just water the bonsai every 2 to 3 days and keep in a sunny place.

Final Verdict

This Brussel’s Fukien Tea Bonsai would definitely be a great choice for a Mother’s Day gift especially if your mom loves bonsai trees or plants.

This Fukien Tea indoor bonsai looks really beautiful with its green leaves and will definitely be a great addition to the home. It will be a centre of attention when placed in any room. And we are very sure that your mom will certainly be delighted to receive indoor bonsai. It will be a great pastime for her to care for the bonsai tree.

Furthermore, by trimming and growing the branches in different directions, she will be able to get a bonsai tree of a unique shape. It will be like creating a piece of art and will be something she can be proud of.

www.easybonsaigarden.com Download Your FREE Bonsai Care Guide Here. Easy Bonsai care tips show how to grow stunning healthy Bonsai using Bonsai master secrets.

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After the Bonsai culture had started widely spread around the world, the miniature bonsai culture was developed. This is not a different practice from the conventional bonsai principles; its just that this in this case the bonsais are so small in size that they can even fit into your pocket! These trees follow the same principles of pruning, repotting and training, and then taking this concept further to achieve the smallest possible size of bonsai tree. The other thing is that the bonsai pot in this case is also miniature in size.

The mini bonsai culture is increasingly attracting many enthusiasts around the world. It is probably because it is pretty fascinating to have an authentic living tree that small in size looking delicate yet so strong. Contrary to popular belief, it is not a herculean task to maintain these micro trees, you may just need to spice up your bonsai skills and or attend miniature bonsai training classes. These micro trees are so beautiful they just compensate all the effort you put in to successfully train them.

With Miniature Bonsai trees you have to be extra careful about their relationship with the environment. The sun is especially a sensitive factor. Keeping the tree indoors too long just depending on the suns rays through the window may not provide enough light. On the other hand, the suns rays while outdoors may quickly dry up the moisture of the soil in the pot. Through close examination of the stems you can determine whether the correct amount of light is reaching your tree. While indoors, moisture is another crucial factor hence we have to regulate humidity at the right levels to avoid drying or water-logging the soil.

Pests are a major enemy to miniature bonsai trees and this is doesnt matter if the tree is indoors or by the patio. Should there be an attack then moderate use of insecticide is advised. This is because insecticides contain alcohol which may dehydrate the tree. The affected tree should also be isolated from other bonsais if any. It is possible to come back from a serious pest attack by pruning the tree and providing liquid potassium fertilizer to boost its growth. By regulating the plants indoor and outdoor stay, we can be able avoid pests substantially. Mini bonsai trees are very sensitive to repotting and as such this should be done with much care to avoid any shocks to the plant.

People successful in tending to miniature bonsai trees have a tendency of getting their bonsai skills improved with time thus making conventional bonsai training a piece of cake.

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by USDAgov

Discovered in China, Bonsai was initially named pun-sai, a term used to define the process of cultivating single specimen trees in pots. These dwarfed trees or plants acquired many imaginary shapes including beasts, landscapes and many more. Each of these shapes was generally related to some religious myth in the minds of people. Gradually, with the beginning of the 12th century, these plants spread across the world with many new myths added to already existing ones.

Bonsai mainly developed in regions like China, Japan, Vietnam, Korea and Thailand of which Japan played a very important role in enhancing the quality and technology that is Bonsai. It turned Bonsai into a symbol of esteem and tribute. With these attributes, Bonsai soon turned into an indoor plant, developed and nurtured inside dwellings for decorative demonstrations.

During the fourteenth century, Bonsai was looked upon as a greatly developed art form.

This in itself indicates the length of time Bonsai and the practice of developing this particular tree form has been around.

The 19th century saw major developments in the technology of Bonsai plant growing. Japanese expertise led to enhancement in growing styles so that every plant developed was unique in shape, patterns and all other details. Each Bonsai plant grown was a masterpiece with reference to its style, shape and nutrients. Elements such as rocks, accent plants, buildings and many more were added to bonsai plants, which further enhanced their worth and beauty.

A good example of this is found in an ancient Japanese message written during the Kamakura period, which when translated says, “To appreciate and find pleasure in curiously curved potted trees is to love deformity”

From Japan, the plants quickly spread to the Western hemisphere, with exhibitions in different parts of the world.

Among these, the Paris World Exhibitions during 1909 paved the way for its global spread and development.

With the Second World War, the popularity of Bonsai plants increased in the western parts of the world. Following their victory over Japan, US soldiers brought back a bonsai plant with them when they returned to America. While the plant did not survive for long, it created a permanent place in the hearts of people there and led them to learning about planting and maintaining a Bonsai.

The spread of Bonsai across the world was thus slow and spread over several centuries. But once it was introduced to a country, its commendable qualities in terms of its species, miniature size, and pleasing appearance, and the serenity and mental peace it conveyed led to its becoming welcomed at homes as a symbol of good luck and fortune.

Currently, the oldest known Bonsai tree is a five-needle pine in the Tokyo Imperial Palace. It has been declared the “National Treasure of Japan” and has been around for more than 500 years. It was originally tendered by Tokugawa Iemitsu, and even today, is considered to be a major achievement.

Owing to their marvelous characteristics, Bonsai plants are today globally considered to be masterworks for decoration of residence and office alike. People today specially learn the art of growing, tendering and treating a Bonsai so that they can enjoy its growth at every level and achieve peace of mind and soul through it.

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by The Advocacy Project

Creating bonsai trees is a captivating hobby and can be enjoyed by anybody with an interest in plants. It is more than simple decoration and still different from a traditional artistic expression. Bonsai has a quality of cultivating one’s spirit by enabling a person to find the patience to understand the life and discovering the peace that flows from nature. The art of bonsai is often described as making a living sculpture. If you learn to cultivate these kinds of tree-like shrubs carefully, you may want to have more than one.

Bonsai is actually all about deception. We attempt to trick our eyes and brain into thinking that the one or two foot tree we’re looking at is actually a 30 or 40 foot tree viewed from a distance. Bonsai is rooted in the act of pruning trees in order to make a miniaturized version. Thus the trees will have to be trimmed and pruned on a regular basis.

The art of bonsai is said to have begun with the Chinese some 1,700 years ago, but the word is of Japanese origin. Bon translates as “tray” in Japanese and sai means “to plant.” Therefore the word bonsai means to plant in a tray.

Bonsai trees are created when the pruning of the plant is combined with the growing of the plant in a small container in a way that would create a pleasing shape to the admirer. The bonsai can be a small bush with two or three pom-poms grown on the ends of the branches to a highly advanced 30 centimeter specimen that appears to look like an ancient tree that should be over 20 meters high.

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by USDAgov

Because a bonsai is considered by many enthusiasts as an art form, and because of its beauty, there are a lot of people that wish to grow one as well. If you are one of those people then you should know how to grow bonzai the right way. There is no need for you to have a big yard or garden to care for bonsai. What you will need is patience, dedication and the eagerness to learn.

Click Here For Easy Bonsai Garden Instant Access Now!

If you think you posses all those qualities, then you are quite ready on how to grow bonzai. The first thing to do is to decide whether you want an indoor or an outdoor tree. Jade trees, maple, ficus, and Chinese elms are examples of traditional outside bonsai. While weeping fig, Natal plum, and schefflera can be grown indoors.

Now you must choose the shape of the bonsai that you want. Refer to bonsai books or take a look at some pictures on line. You can make it upright, elongated, cascading, slanting or weeping shape.

Shaping your bonsai can be done by wrapping wire around branches and the trunk. Be gentle in bending branches into your desired shape as they might get broken. Wire coils must be close together but loose enough so your tree has room to grow. Another method of training your bonsai is by using a garden string to put weights on branches or to tie it down. The use of weights however is much slower than anchoring the string into the pot.

Like all other plants, the care and maintenance of your bonsai is vital. Activities like pruning, fertilizing, repotting, watering and protection of the plant against pests and extremities of weather should not be taken lightly.

These about sums up what you need know as to how to grow bonzai. You could start growing one yourself with this information. Waste no more time and grow your very own bonsai now.

Click Here For Easy Bonsai Garden Instant Access Now!

by USDAgov

A well grown bonsai tree is a symbol of utmost care and attention. It conveys a message that giving due attention to the so called small aspects of life can generate a whole load of good. This is what makes bonsai trees a perfect gift idea for most if not all occasions. A bonsai gift speaks volumes of the relationship between the persons giving and receiving the gift. Anytime that you feel youve run out of gift ideas just remember the gift bonsai idea and it will show the person receiving the gift that you took time to think about and it is not just a last minute thought.

There are a several different types of bonsai so you cannot possibly miss a gift bonsai that will impress both the person to receive it and yourself. The bonsai tree can be kept indoors in the study room or living room where it can always be seen and bring back cherished memories. The act of taking care of the bonsai gift is known to elicit an increased feeling of responsibility and care and therefore the person who received it as a gift can actually start changing into a better person.

Bonsai trees are grown in pots which exude a lot of oriental influence. Overall, oriental pots are beautiful craft pieces that further really accentuate the already beautiful bonsai tree. As such, should you be in a dilemma about choosing one Bonsai Gift over another, the pot may help you choose between them. There are different sizes and ages of bonsai trees in the market. Though older bonsai trees may cost a fortune, they can make for the perfect gift especially if you are looking for a wedding anniversary gift and you find a gift bonsai tree that is the same age as your marriage.

You can choose a bonsai tree from the different varieties in the market including, Shimpaku, Chinese Elm, Juniper Procumbens, Ficus Golden Gate, Podocarpus, Trident Maple among many others. The different varieties each exude their own feeling and ambience so through careful selection you can easily come up with the perfect bonsai gift that will satisfy both your loved ones and yourself. On the other hand, the gift bonsai is mostly perfect for a person who loves plants. Though these plants may change someone into a plants loving person, this does not necessarily work for everybody and the bonsai could go down as waste.

In the search for the perfect bonsai gift, the internet has really saved us the inconvenience of running around town looking for the perfect gift bonsai tree as we can do this from home or the office. We just have to make sure we are dealing with a legitimate store to avoid disappointments.

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by wallygrom

The juniper bonsai tree is very beautiful if taken care of properly. These japanese tree is becoming more and more popular with gardeners all over the world. Just looking at it you would assume it is very simple to care for. The fact is that juniper bonsai tree care is just as time consuming as caring for a household pet.

You need to know exactly how to water your new plant. If you water it too much or too little you put a big risk of causing great damage to your plant. You need to give it clean water bottled water or even filtered. They tend to not like tap water and sometimes can die. Try not to irrigate the leaves more than needed as it will cause them drastic damage. You also need to make sure that you keep them in the sun. The juniper really likes the sun and your plan may not be has healthy if you keep it away from it.

Learn more about crucial guaranteed juniper bonsai care tips Here

You need to pay special attention to frequent pruning to make sure it remains its dwarf size.

If you neglect your pruning then your bonsai will simply just turn into a regular juniper tree. Be very careful with using scissors to prune your plant. You can usually just pinch off new growth with your nails and they are not as damaging. There are a few more steps involved that are important to make sure that you raise a healthy plant. Following all the steps involved will ensure your plant lives a long healthy life.

Learn more about crucial guaranteed juniper bonsai care tips Here

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by TTVo

I had my first bonsai tree a couple of years ago and now, it is still here with me together with my other bonsai trees. I love these trees. I provide them with proper bonsai care to make them grow beautifully. If you are planning to buy bonsai trees but still don’t know what type to get or which bonsai tree to start with, this article will help you find your very first tree.

I want a bonsai tree and I want to place it indoors, at a table perhaps. Or maybe I want to place it outside so everyone can see it. Bonsai plants can survive in both indoors and outdoors. It just depends on what type of tree you get. If you are planning to buy bonsai trees and put it indoors, trees of the genus Ficus or the family of Fig trees are one of the trees of choice. Other plants such as the Dragon plant, Jade tree, Hawaiian umbrella tree and the holiday cactus could also be chosen.

These kinds of plants can thrive and survive indoor conditions. Other tree types on the other hand could not, and so they must be placed outside in its natural environment.

When you have already determined where to put in and what type of tree to get, you can now consider what type of style you want for your bonsai tree. From the simple formal upright style to the more complex growing-in-a-rock style, bonsai trees have many different but each beautiful style.

After you buy bonsai trees of your choice, don’t forget to give it bonsai care. Provide them with adequate nutrition, enough water and sunlight. Give them full attention and be sensitive to their needs so that your bonsai will grow and flourish for many more years to come.

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