Bonsai Supplies

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.

Related Bonsai Care Articles

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.

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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.

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by oinomra

Azalea bonsai are great plants to cultivate. Here are some tips on their care. Satsuki azaleas are especially suitable for bonsai.

Repotting is best done just after flowering-late May to early June in temperate regions. It is also sometimes done in spring, before the buds burst. Autumn repotting is not so good. It is not necessary to repot every year, but only when the plants are found to be pot-bound.

The fertilizers used mostly are soy bean cake, rape cake, and dried fish (herring cake, etc.). These are pulverized and placed on the surface of the soil in the container, a small quantity once or twice every month. These fertilizers should be mixed in varying proportions according to the age of the plants and the season in which they are applied. Liquid fertilizers are simplest.

Water is given to young plants three or four times a day in spring, summer, and autumn; to old plants, twice a day, in the morning and in the evening.

In warm weather it is good to syringe the plants.

Exposure. A sunny and well ventilated place is the best for growing Satsuki azaleas, but in the height of summer they should be in partial shade; I place them under a marsh-reed screen.

The more they are exposed to the sun, the better they grow and the thicker the trunk and branches become; therefore to the extent that one can afford the time and effort, they should be watered liberally in order that they may thrive even under the hottest sun. With the approach of freezing weather (in November most generally), keep them in a sunny place and prepare the frost cover.

Propagation. Satsuki azalea bonsai are propagated by cuttings. When the young shoots attain a length of 2 to 4 inches and are somewhat hardened (that is in May or June), the shoots are cut off, a few leaves at the bases removed, and the bases recut on a slant and placed in water for two or three hours. These should then be inserted 1 to 2 inches apart and an inch or so deep into a good rooting medium in a cutting box. Water, let drain, and wrap box in polyethylene film. Place in full light (no sun) where they should root in 30 to 40 days.

After remaining for fifteen to twenty more days in the cutting boxes or pans, they should be transplanted into soil prepared as described above for young plants. Two weeks or so after this, fertilizer is placed on the soil to encourage growth. If liquid fertilizer is preferred, it must be very dilute, otherwise the fibrous roots often become damaged and may decay.

Application of Liquid Fertilizer
Use fish emulsion fertilizer or other commercial liquid fertilizer, diluted according to manufacturer’s directions. Do NOT over-fertilize. Liquid fertilizers should be applied three to six times a year, starting as the buds burst in spring, and every three to four weeks thereafter until mid or late summer.

How much. Use the diluted liquid fertilizer as though you were watering. Do not sprinkle the foliage with fertilizer-only the soil.

With this care, you should produce beautiful azalea bonsai.

More Bonsai Care Articles

Joshua Roth 1515 Japanese Hori Hori Garden Landscaping Digging Tool With Carbon Steel Blade & Sheath

• Perfect tool for scooping soil and other materials
• For cutting and scraping soil, weeds, vegetables, and woody plants.
• Comes with a sturdy vinyl sheath and belt loop to ensure your Hori-Hori will always be on hand when you need it.
• Lets you dig, pry, and cut with ease, while serrated teeth along one edge provide a convenient saw for the more difficult tasks.
• 3-year limited manufacturer’s warranty.

The Joshua Roth Hori-Hori digging tool has a stainless steel blade that is very sharp and concave shaped, making it a perfect tool for scooping soil and other materials. The tool was originally designed for excavating aged plantings high in the mountains of Japan, where enthusiasts still find prized specimens for bonsai. This tool is especially valuable in the garden. such as for cutting and scraping soil, weeds, vegetables, and woody plants. The quality carbon steel construction will let you di

List Price: $ 24.99

Price: $ 23.88

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There are many myths which are associated with bonsai. This not only confuses budding enthusiasts, but also gives the pastime a bad name. A bonsai is not a genetically dwarfed plant and is not kept small by cruelty in any way. The techniques of Bonsai are no crueler than that of any other horticultural endeavor. In fact, given an adequate supply of water, air, light and nutrients, a properly maintained bonsai should outlive a full size tree of the same species. It is a common belief that bonsai are only a few centimeters tall. This is not entirely true, although bonsai are small in comparison to their huge life-sized brothers; most are over 20 centimeters tall and up to 1 to 1.2 meter in height.

How to develop a Bonsai There are different ways to develop a Bonsai. Bonsai can be developed from seeds or cuttings, from young trees or from naturally occurring stunted trees transplanted into containers. Most bonsai range in height from 5 centimeters to 1 meter. Bonsai are kept small and trained by pruning branches and roots, by periodic repotting, by pinching off new growth, and by wiring the branches and trunk so that they grow into the desired shape.

Bonsai are ordinary trees or plants, not special hybrid dwarfs. Small leafed varieties are most suitable, but essentially any plant can be used, regardless of the size it grows to in the wild. The bonsai may suggest many things, but in all cases must look natural and never show the intervention of human hands, with the exception of Chinese bonsai which in many cases depicts images of dragons and other influential symbols of the culture at the time of origination. Grown in special containers, bonsai are primarily kept outdoors (with the exception of some plants suited, trained and grown indoors), although they are often displayed on special occasions indoors.

The bonsai with its container and soil is physically independent of the earth since its roots are not planted in it, is a separate entity, complete in itself, yet part of nature. A bonsai tree should always be positioned off-center in its container, for not only is asymmetry vital to the visual effect, but the center point is symbolically where heaven and earth meet, and nothing should occupy this place.

Prized possession Given proper care, bonsai can live for hundreds of years, with prized specimens being passed from generation to generation, admired for their age, and revered as a reminder of those who have cared for them over the centuries. Although these bonsai are extremely beautiful – meticulously cared for over the years and containing such a wealth of knowledge, age is not essential. It is more important that the tree produce the artistic effect desired, that it be in proper proportion to the appropriate container, and that it be in good health.

Overall, bonsai are something that are quite personalized and there are no strict rules to abide by if you undertake it merely as a hobby which to gain enjoyment out of. It does not have to be an expensive commitment, but it is a commitment that requires a great amount of time, patience, skill and endurance. Although things may not go to plan, don’t give up.

Mini-Jade (Portulacaria afra) Bonsai Guide

Also known as the small leaf jade, portulacaria afra, are excellent bonsai for beginners and their ability to conform to most bonsai styles make them popular with enthusiasts as well. They are great for beginners because they grow very quickly, can be kept indoors, and can go a long time without needing water. This is because succulents store water in their stems and leaves. They also give clear signs when they need water which is helpful to those just starting out with bonsai growing.

Mini-Jade Characteristics

Young shoots of the portulacaria afra start out as green and may turn red depending on sun exposure. Later mature branches will develop a gray color with rough texture. The shape of the leaves can best be described as a circle crossed with a teardrop. They grow perpendicular to the branch.

Watering

One needs to be really careful about overwatering jade. I find they can get root rot, especially in winter, very easy if overwatered. Often times this will first manifest itself in leaf or entire branch drop. One of the good things about them is they give you clear signs about when they actually need to be watered. Their leaves will begin to flatten and then wrinkle. I’ve found that when growing indoors waiting for the signs of this are safest to prevent these kind of issues. If you plant your mini-jade in a very fast draining bonsai soil mix in a good amount of sun or indoors on a bright windowsill this is less of a problem.

Light Requirements

Portulacaria afra can be grown both indoors and outdoors. If grown indoors they like being close to a natural light source. Placement near an open window usually works best. If this is not possible then keeping them in a room that has bright fluorescent lights usually works as well. One just needs to be concerned with overwatering more in those situations. When kept outdoors they tend to grow very fast in full sun.

Temperature

As they are a tropical succulent, mini-jade do best in USDA zones 10-11, but will also grow in most areas where they won’t be exposed to temperatures below 50 degrees F.

Training

It is very hard to train a small leaf jade by wiring branches. Their branches tend to be very brittle and might snap under the pressure. Pruning in the direction of preferred growth and pinching is more effective. Do not prune immediately after watering. Cuts flat with the bark are reported to heal with less scarring than concave, but I’ve not noticed any horrible scars when using a concave pruner myself.

The branches will naturally droop from the weight of the water they store in there leaves. Many people take advantage of this characteristic by training them into cascade styles.

Jades can be propagated by cuttings from pruned branches.

Soil

Jade will do well in most bonsai soil mixes, but prefer those that are very well draining. Your soil mix should have less organic materials and no peat. Their roots will rot easily if left wet for long periods of time.

Portulacaria afra Pests and Problems

Scale will wreak havoc on a jade. Root rot can also develop when the tree is watered too frequently with not enough light. The tree will show stress from both scale and root rot by dropping leaves and branches.

Learn more at http://www.mellobonsai.com/care/Mini-jade-bonsai.aspx