Intentionally restricting a young tree causes it to dwarf as it matures. This is bonsai. Since bonsai trees are genetically identical to their life-sized counterparts, caring for these miniature versions can get a little complicated. Naturally, they want to grow much larger—so the bonsai caretaker must train them to grow small.
While there are numerous techniques to master both, a few key practices will keep you on the right track. While each tree has its own characteristics and needs, these three techniques will help you jump into the world of bonsai. Over time, you will gradually increase your knowledge and ability to train your tree to grow exactly the way you want it to.
Pruning your tree helps keep it short and encourages denser foliage—producing a miniature canopy effect. Maintenance pruning involves trimming small sticks and branches to maintain the shape of your tree. Because most new growth will concentrate at the top of the plant, pruning runaway pieces forces your tree to produce dense growth closer to the base of the plant. Instead, consider pinching the stem off with your fingers rather than shears.
The best time to maintenance prune is throughout the growing season. This period usually occurs from early spring to late fall. This method of pruning often intimidates new caretakers. Structural pruning keeps bonsai trees small by cutting off thicker branches. This also guides the appearance of your tree over time. All bonsai are different, but structural pruning should generally take place just before or right after the growing season i. Potting and root care are an essential part of keeping a bonsai tree small.
Essentially, the roots are the engine of the tree. The more fuel they can take up, the faster the tree can grow. Strategic potting and root cutting restrict growth beneath the soil and limit the nutrients and water your tree can absorb. A bonsai with a small trunk and branches will look comedic with life-size foliage. The following techniques will help your tree grow miniature leaves.
Your bonsai tree will have smaller leaves that will grow in compact clusters. If you live in an area where there is less sunlight or natural light in a day, you might want to use a growing light or lamp to get the best results. Lamps come in a variety of designs and wattage. Make sure to purchase a safe growing light with ample wattage to provide your growing bonsai good indoor lighting. If you have bonsai trees that lose their leaves on a regular seasonal basis like the Chinese Elm or Ficus then you can defoliate your plants during spring to get smaller leaf growth.
However, take this as the last resort. Defoliation is removing some of the leaves of the plants to allow it to recover and grow new leaves. It is very important to find out if the bonsai tree that you wish to grow can withstand defoliation. This is a good method for deciduous plants because these lose their leaves on a seasonal basis. Do not defoliate bonsai conifer trees because these will never be able to recover.
Take note that defoliation is shocking to a plant and therefore it should be done carefully and only to a healthy plant. Removing the first leaves of the spring season should be done early so it still has time to grow healthy new and healthy leaves. You can also partially defoliate which simply means you will only remove some of the leaves of the tree. This is a much safer route for people new to defoliating and growing bonsai. Over time, correctly and regularly defoliating your bonsai will result in the development of smaller leaves.
You will soon have leaves that will are two-thirds smaller than the leaves of full-sized regular leaves. When you combine these techniques with correct bonsai planting strategies and choosing the best specimen, you will soon be able to create the perfect bonsai with the best miniature leaf size that all bonsai lovers know and love.
Techniques to create smaller leaves may not hold true for all tree species so be sure to get to know the particular tree variety you want to grow before you start turning it into a bonsai tree. Follow us. How To. Wilbert Simson. This gives the appearance of a tiny tree. A Chinese Elm Bonsai tree is genetically exactly the same as a normal Chinese Elm tree, only the bonsai has been essentially trapped in a small pot, whereas the normal trees roots have been allowed to expand and grow out.
This was an art, practiced by the highest in society, to grow landscapes, then eventually trees, in containers, making them miniature. About years ago, miniature landscapes were brought from China across to Japan, where the art was further developed into the bonsai we know and love today, using huge influence from China.
Bonsai was then known to develop in the western world in the end of the 19th century. The way classification is done is by looking at the amount of hands needed to move the bonsai, as odd as that sounds. The mame typically describes a bonsai of inches, whilst the komono covers the inch bonsai trees.
The Katade-mochi is the classification given to a bonsai that is inches, which encompasses a lot of beginner starter kit trees. Click here to check out this Baby Jade bonsai. It would make a great gift or even an addition to your office space. Chumono — This classification is given to a bonsai that takes two hands to move, measuring 16 up to 35 inches. Click here to check out this Braided Money bonsai.
Historically, money trees have been said to be lucky and a token of good fortune. Omono — A bonsai that takes four hands to move and between 30 to 48 inches tall.
This is where we start moving into bonsai trees that are definitely less small. Hachi-uye — This is the classification for a bonsai that takes 6 hands to move! Whether the tree is 5 inches or 80 inches tall, if a tree is grown in the way that a bonsai is grown, in a small container, then it is a bonsai. There is a misconception that all small trees are bonsai trees and all large trees cannot be bonsai.
There are bonsai trees as big as people, that are definitely still classified as bonsai due to being grown in a shallow pot.
0コメント