When the bonsai tree is usually discussed, people tend to think of China and Japan. In reality while both countries are famous for growing the bonsai plants, the tradition was started way back in ancient Egypt. Healers were believed to have pioneered the growing of miniature plants as an easy way to move trees that had healing powers from one location to the other. Over time however, it evolved into an art form and became a pastime for the rich and wealthy.
A bonsai tree is neither a genetically altered plant nor a hybrid tree. Different trees which exist naturally can be converted into bonsai trees and master growers are always looking for new specimens. A bonsai tree is usually kept miniaturized by pruning its roots and keeping it inside a small pot. The size is just a singular aspect to the bonsai tree. The shape and style go a long way in differentiating a real bonsai and an ordinary small potted tree. The trunk of a real bonsai is shaped over a number of years in order to arrive at the perfect style.
Though a huge number of different bonsai trees exist, the Juniper in a windswept style is the most common of the lot. This style is usually where the tree looks like one that is being blown by the wind. The limbs tend to be spread out from the trunk in a singular unsymmetrical direction. Bonsai’s are also popular in the cascade style where one branch flows down below the pot. Trees don’t grow that way by mere chance; years of patience as well as training and pruning are needed to arrive at this shape.
Most bonsai lovers aren’t just satisfied with one tree. A number of different trees may be grown together in a single pot. This practice is called the forest style. Certain other growers go a lot further and design intricate landscapes with their trees as either part of an indoor display or even a larger outdoor display. Regardless of the manner in which a bonsai is displayed, a great deal of care is required to keep a tree healthy and properly groomed.
Anyone who owns a bonsai knows how difficult it is to care for them. They require a precise amount of water. Too much water or too little can easily prove fatal. The best bet is usually to make use of a moisture meter when you are watering. A tree may also need to be repotted on a regular basis. You may use this period as a time to inspect and prune your tree’s root system as well. Getting root bound can kill a bonsai faster than a number of other things. Complete care must be given both above ground and below it.
If you haven’t got a bonsai tree but you’d love to have one, the best thing to do is to look for a nursery which specializes in bonsai trees. This is usually hard to do but if you make use of the Internet and look for one located in your area, you can easily talk to a bonsai master who will offer you lots of advice on how to care for your tree. He will also help select a tree which will be perfect for you. Relationships should be developed with bonsai masters the way they are developed with vet doctors and mechanics, especially if you want your tree to last very long.
