Bonsai Supplies

by billerickson

Bonsai is a word of which ‘bon’ refers to ‘tray’ and ‘sai’ refers to ‘planting’. In simple terms, the word Bonsai means an art of planting dwarfed trees or plants in a pot or tray.

There are certain perceptions in the mind of people that Bonsai itself is the name of plant; Bonsai is a hereditary dwarf plant; or that Bonsai is a plant which is cruelly and rigidly kept small in size. But, these are myths that are miles away from the truth. Bonsai is a technique of planting trees in dwarfed form in an artistic and pleasing manner with lots of tender and nutrients. Proper attention is given to the plant to enhance its growth in a dwarfed form through regular trimming and cutting and by observing a prescribed manner stated for it.

Bonsai refers particularly to the working out of and application of creative visualization to a tree. This eventually results in providing the illusion of a naturally matured small-sized tree.

The art of growing and cultivating Bonsai plants incorporates the Japanese concept of shin-zen-bi which stands for truth, goodness and beauty.

In Japanese culture, Bonsai is related to many of the ideals on which their society is based. In Zen Buddhism – Bonsai is related with origin, past, man, nature, elements and change, which is knotted into this unique tree growing method. Bonsai reveals meditation and expression of oneself through nature and returns the same care nature has given to man. However in today’s world, Bonsai is looked upon as a hobby, which allows you to be close to nature and augment the beauty of your gardens.

What is Bonsai?

Bonsai can be termed as a tree or shrub developed in a woody form with following considerations:

1.

In simple terms, Bonsai is the tree in the pot.
2. Its trunk is the most important part of which the roots should be visible for determining whether the tree is a good and healthy one or not.
3. Bonsai should contain larger branches on the lower side, which decrease in size gradually when they get closer to the top of the tree. The distance between the branches decreases the nearer the top of the tree they are.
4. Bonsai should contain open areas in such a way that they distinguish it from a shrub; it should be easily determinable as a dwarfed tree and never convey the impression of being a shrub.
5. A Bonsai may have areas of dead wood made of jin and shari to give an impression of maturity.

The most popular species of Bonsai include junipers, pines, cedars and many other tropical ones. Among the more popular styles are slope, cascade, proper upright, informal upright, and others.

Bonsai trees are kept dwarfed and trained to be the same for future by trimming their branches and roots, frequent repotting, restricting new growth, and by wiring their branches and trunk in order to achieve desired shape.

Bonsai plants can be grown through seeds or cuttings from young trees and stunted plants removed to containers and pots. Generally, the size of a Bonsai plant can be anywhere between 5 centimeters and 100 centimeters.

Provided with good tender, a Bonsai can survive for decades. It can acquire impressive varieties from generation to generation and act as an admired and honored reminder of the people that took care of it.

Related Bonsai Care Articles

Proper bonsai tree care is important if your goal is to grow a beautiful healthy tree that can be enjoyed for a very long time. There are many aspects to maintaining the health and beauty of your bonsai tree. Obviously, proper watering and feeding is a priority and is an obvious choice in your bonsai tree care plan.

However, the soil you choose is also important. Like all living things, plants grow and stay healthy by taking in and processing nutrients. Simple enough right. But the obvious difference is that plants can’t go get them. The water and nutrients has to come to the plant via their root system. This is where the soil comes in. If you have the proper soil then the plant can get all of the water and nutrients it needs more easily. So as you can see your soil choice is essential to proper bonsai tree care.

The good news is that finding the proper soil is not too hard really.

You can buy soil mixes at gardening stores or nurseries or even chain stores like Wal-mart. Ready made mixes are perfect for the beginner bonsai artist. The downside to these mixes is that they tend to be a little more expensive.

Important things to consider when choosing your soil is that the soil must be able to retain water well. As to all living things water is essential to life in itself. Everything needs water in order to survive. With plants, however, water also acts as a vehicle to deliver nutrients through the roots. Now, you know that the soil needs to be able to retain the water properly, but it also needs to drain excess water too.

Too much water can be bad for your plant. There is a perfect balance that your soil will be able to maintain if you select the appropriate soil.

If you are a beginner it is usually best to purchase the ready made mixes to ensure that you are providing your plant proper bonsai tree care. As you become more experienced you will be able to move into making your own soil mixes.

So now you know just how important soil choice is to bonsai tree care. Solid choice is right up there with the appropriate water and feeding of your wonderful bonsai tree. Caring for your bonsai tree is not so difficult. Taking the few necessary steps and learning what you need to know are both necessary steps in growing a healthy tree.

by suttonhoo

Bonsai is a Japanese natural art form that has been around for over a thousand years.Bonsai has its roots in the spiritual path of Zen Buddhism. The goal is to create a miniature depicture of nature in its most perfect forms by using careful techniques of pruning and wiring.

The interesting thing about Bonsai is that these are not specially created dwarf plants. You can actually use any tree species to create Bonsai art.There are of course some species that are more popular for Bonsai such as fir maple, birch and cedar.

Caring For Bonsai Trees

Many people are put off taking up Bonsai because they think it’s going to be time consuming and difficult.In reality caring for Bonsai trees can be very easy. As long as you following some basic guidelines on fertilising, watering and positioning your Bonsai you should be able to achieve healthy, attractive growth.

Bonsai trees are quite delicate compared to other house plants so you will need to careful with them.Here are some tips for basic care:

Watering – this will depend very much on the species of tree, its size and also the climate. In most cases you will not have to water your Bonsai every day. Instead all you need to do it monitor the soil and water only when it gets slightly dry. Don’t let the soil dry out completely for the best Bonsai health.
Position – you will need to place your Bonsai in a position that offers it the best conditions for growth and health. Each species of tree will prefer different conditions so make sure you research this carefully.In general most Bonsai trees will prefer a bright spot with some sunlight and away from any cold drafts.
Fertilizer – because you will be growing your trees in pots fertilizer is very important.This will replace nutrients that have been used up in the soil and keep your trees healthy. You can buy specialist Bonsai fertilizers but also any garden fertilizer can be effective if you use the right quantities.
Pests and Diseases

Bonsai trees can be vulnerable to pests and diseases like any other plant. You will need to be vigilant for these problems so you can treat them quickly before they can damage your trees.

Common pests can include caterpillars, aphids, mites and slugs. You can treat these using special pesticides (follow the instructions carefully). These can be bought from garden centres and you can also order them online from Bonsai suppliers.

Common diseases include infections from fungus. This can cause problems such as a discoloured leaves and poor general health in trees. It is important to move the infected tree away from any other Bonsai or house plants to avoid the fungus spreading. You can then treat your Bonsai with fungicides and remove any infected or dead parts from the tree.

by wakingphotolife:

Well there are obvious elements to bonsai care which include watering and feeding. Those are pretty much no brainers when it comes with caring for your tree. Since the art of bonsai is a visual form of art there are some physical eye appealing elements that need to be considered as well.

A bonsai tree is an object of beauty in itself, ensuring that the physical attributes of your plant are implemented in your bonsai care is an important part of the art.

One item that can either add to your display or can make it an eyesore is the use of moss. Using moss can turn your design into a beautiful display that has that extra something that puts it over the top. However, on the other hand if you use it in a way that is distracting to your tree it can turn into a disaster. Using just the right amount of moss is the answer to this dillemia. After all you simply want the moss to add to your bonsai display, not distract from it. Simple rule of thumb to remember is that the moss is an accent to the tree. The bonsai tree is the main focus.

So as you enter into the art of bonsai remember that there are other elements that are included in bonsai care other than watering and providing nutrients to your tree. Bonsai is a visual art, therefor it is important to include physical elements when preparing your bonsai design and planning your bonsai care schedule.

As you can see bonsai care is not so complicated if you simply prepare and plan for your bonsai tree. Your bonsai tree is a living work of art that needs special care. So if you are thinking of jumping into the wonderful art of bonsai don’t hesitate. Plan your bonsai care guide and start creating.

Related Bonsai Care Articles

Introducing plants into your home can create an atmosphere that brings the outdoors into your indoor living space. Plants have many attributes; healthy plants look marvelous in a home, they purify the air and can be used to encourage the flow of chi with feng shui.

When using plants to enhance the feng shui of your home, you need to look at the type of plant, how healthy it is and also what its functions are. Here are some of the best plants any feng shui enthusiast can use in their home and will love.

1) The Peace Lily/Madonna Lily (Spathiphyllum Wallisii)

This is a beautiful plant that has rounded and lush leaves. The color of its leaves can differ from light green to a very dark green, depending on nutrients in the soil. It sprouts a lovely white flower, the lily, from amongst the leaves. This plant is used often in feng shui as it’s easy to maintain and the leaves are suitable for feng shui purposes. This plant also removes toxins from the air and purifies the home.

2) Areca Palm (Chrysalidocarpus Lutescens)

This plant is also great for a feng shui gift as it’s a plant that is easy to find. It has beautiful leaves and is easy to maintain and care for. Although this plant is a pal, the leaves are soft instead of harsh in other palms, and the tips are also not as sharp so they don’t cause poison arrows.

The Areca Palm also has the ability to clear the air of all toxins.

3) The Money Plant (Philodendron scandens)

As its name implies, this is the money plant very popular in feng shui. It has auspicious heart shaped leaves where the tips of the leaves are not pointed. The Money Plant is great for purifying the air of toxins and is very easy to care for.

4) Bonsai Tree

Bonsai represents harmony, prosperity and peace. So what better plant to give to the feng shui enthusiast in your life. If choosing the gift of a Bonsai make sure the person has a lot of patience and is practical with plants, as these can be difficult to maintain.

5) Lucky Bamboo (Dracaena)

Recently, shops have begun carrying lucky bamboo shoots. These are a great gift for feng shui enthusiasts as they come in so many shapes and sizes. Usually they are found planted in water in a glass vase, then they may also be found in colored jelly crystals or stones. You can get them with various numbers of shoots, but for feng shui enhancement you’d prefer to have them in groups of threes as this is a lucky number, nine being most auspicious. They also have spiraled leaves, or can come on pyramid and tower shapes for extra luck.

This is a list of some of the best plants to give a feng shui enthusiast as a gift. Remember that the plant should always be healthy with no dead or limp leaves. If a plant begins to lose color or the leaves droop, ensure you water and fertilize it to enhance its thriving and growing capabilities. Plants are great symbols to use for feng shui.

The practice of growing miniature trees is known better throughout the world as Bonsai. It is a misconception that the Japanese were the first to practice it because it originally came from the Chinese.

Taking care of a bonsai trees is considered to be a hobby. Those who want to learn should first buy the necessary tools from the store in order to begin.

The most important of course is the tree. These range from $20 to $30 a piece. There are different types for sale so the customer should probably look around the store or ask the sales clerk for help before choosing one.

In order for the tree to look great, pruning and cutting tools will be needed. Some examples of these are concave or spherical cutters, pruning saws, shears and scissors. The cheapest ones start at $15 but for those with quality, it wouldn’t hurt to invest in a model that is just under a hundred bucks.

Bonsai trees just like plants need to be placed in a pot. This allows it to absorb water and nutrients that is mixed together with the soil. After some time, the hobbyist will have to replace the container since the current one will run out of space for it to grow.

Mishandling the bonsai tree can kill it. This is the reason that various tools were invented such as the potting trowel, the soil scoop and the root hooks so such an incident doesn’t happen.

Some people think that it takes its shape naturally. The secret is the use of wires that gives it the artistic shape. There are thin and thick models to choose from which really depends on the type of tree at home.

The bonsai tree needs a lot of maintenance. Another tool that can be bought at the store is a brush. This will take away dust that will probably be found in the leaves or the branches when this is left outdoors.

Those who want to try taking care of a bonsai tree can take classes since some stores want to promote this hobby. Some advertise in the phone directory or in the newspaper inviting people to join for free in the hopes that this becomes part of one’s daily habit.

If the tree or the tools that the customer wants is out of stock, there is a chance that the hobbyist can also find these items online.

Akadama Japanese Bonsai Soil 1 Quart Small Grained

• Superior planting medium
• Provides optimal water and nutrient retention
• Best for bonsai plants
• Excellent for cactus and succulents

Double Red Line brand of akadama is the most well known brand. It is not as soft as some and is not fired like the hard types. Many people use it straight for deciduous and conifers. It can be mixed with, pumice, kanuma or other favorites.
Akadama is mined in Japan from ancient volcanic “soils”, then spread to dry, and sifted to separate the grain size. The characteristic of this “soil” includes it’s porosity, stability, it’s ability to store water and nutrients and release these to plant roots.

Price:

More Bonsai Soil Products

Bonsai Boy’s Bonsai Pro Fertilizer

Bonsai Pro concentrate fertilizer provides the right balance of nutrients for healthy growth. It does not cause undesirable salt buildup in your growing medium. It is a professional formulation containing all essential macro and micro nutrient minerals for healthy bonsai. All elements are in one simple solution. Just like nature, with bonsai pro you feed your bonsai with each watering. Use with all container plants.
Net weight 11 oz. (8 fl. oz.)

Price: $ 16.95

Miracle-Gro 100052 8-Ounce Liquid Houseplant Food

• Plant food
• Ready-to-use houseplant food
• No more forgetting when to feed
• Contains chelated iron
• 8-Ounce

Miracle-Gro, 8 OZ, 8-7-6, Ready To Use, Liquid House Plant Food, In Handy Dropper Bottle.

List Price: $ 7.99

Price: $ 2.02

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Bonsai Boy’s Slow Release Bonsai Fertilizer Pellets 20% Off Regular Price

• 3 oz. packs
• Easy to use

Just sprinkle 1/4 teaspoon of these slow release bonsai fertilizer pellets on top of the soil. Each time you water, the tree will receive nutrients. One application will last 3-6 months.
4oz.

Price: $ 6.36

Find More Bonsai Fertilizer Products

Bonsai Boy’s Slow Release Bonsai Fertilizer Pellets

• 3 oz. packs
• Easy to use

Just sprinkle 1/4 teaspoon of these slow release bonsai fertilizer pellets on top of the soil. Each time you water, the tree will receive nutrients. One application will last 3-6 months.
4oz.

Rating: (out of 1 reviews)

Price: $ 7.95