open
close

What plant to grow bonsai from. How to grow a beautiful bonsai yourself? plant life span

Bonsai is the art of growing smaller copies of nature's creations of plant origin, which first conquered Japan and then the whole world. A skillful likeness of the selected representative of the flora is formed by oneself, so this requires a lot of patience, time and knowledge. In this article, we will tell you how to grow a bonsai tree at home, and what care is required for it.

Choosing a tree for bonsai

In order to grow a beautiful bonsai tree at home without much hassle, it is best to choose one of the plants listed below for this, about which gardeners have extremely positive reviews. Photos will help you see what such a green pet will look like.

  • Indoor types of citrus:, lemon,;
  • Ficus Benjamin;

  • Decorative varieties of apple trees;
  • Barberry;
  • Hawthorn;
  • Maple.

These are just some of the most popular options. Growing bonsai can be done from a variety of plants that are found everywhere: in parks, forests, gardens. You can also buy seedlings from nurseries. The price will depend on the chosen type of tree and its height.

Growing bonsai from seeds

There are two types of shrub and tree seeds suitable for exotic bonsai. One type of crop can be immediately used for germination, while the other part undergoes a hibernation period, during which the sprout must wait out the cold season. Stratification at home will serve as an imitation of winter.

  • For a period of 3-5 months, the seeds of the bonsai tree are placed in sphagnum moss or in wet sand, then the container is removed in the refrigerator. A positive temperature regime and a humid environment will help the seed prepare for growth. When put in a warm place, the sprout will quickly awaken;
  • You can grow bonsai from seeds from spring to the very beginning of the autumn season. For seedlings grown at the end of summer, it is necessary to apply illumination, which is indispensable in the autumn-winter period;
  • In order to successfully germinate seedlings and make it easier for them in the first months of life, you need to take peat tablets, soaked and absorbed moisture, or sandy-peat light substrate. Until the appearance of sprouts, the container is kept under a film in the dark. The air temperature depends on the type of tree grown;
  • The greenhouse must be ventilated so that rot and condensation do not appear. When the first shoots appear, the presence of fresh air in the room is necessary, then the seedlings are transferred to the light. If necessary, they are fertilized and watered with the help of a complex composition.

The bonsai plant is transplanted when it reaches 10-12 cm in height. In this case, the main root is shortened by 1/3 so that the green pet stops its vertical growth. The future trunk is immediately formed using copper wire.

Growing bonsai from cuttings

You can grow a bonsai with your own hands from a cutting. This method allows you to speed up the growth time compared to the previous option by almost a year. First you need to collect suitable cuttings. Do it better in the spring.

  • Choose semi-woody or green shoots 5-10 cm long and about 5 mm in diameter;
  • It is necessary to plant cuttings in sterile soil, additionally treated with hormonal powder (if possible).

A short master class on planting a cutting:

  • Fill the bottom layer of a deep pot with a diameter of 15 cm by about a quarter with a mixture of akadama and fine gravel in equal proportions;
  • We fill the remaining space of the container with a soil mixture suitable for the selected plant;
  • We remove all the branches at the bottom of the handle, we cut the thick branches obliquely;
  • Optionally, we process the cuttings with a special hormonal powder, which can be bought at plant stores;

  • We insert the seedlings into the soil, leaving a sufficient gap between them;
  • Carefully water the soil;
  • We remove the pot in a place inaccessible to direct sunlight so that the young leaves of the bonsai do not get burned;
  • Slightly moisten the soil, but do not flood;
  • It will take a few weeks before germination occurs. It will be possible to plant shoots in a year, and in a couple of years it will be possible to start forming a bonsai crown.

How to choose soil and pot for a bonsai tree

It is advisable to plant a home bonsai in a shallow and small container so that it does not grow huge. At the same time, it is necessary to form and cut off part of the roots.

The bonsai pot is chosen very carefully. This takes into account that from year to year the plant will become heavier, may become unstable, especially if it has a cascading, inclined or irregular shape. Consequently, for the "green friend", ranging in size from a few centimeters to a meter, ceramic bowls, containers or pots are made, usually massive, of various shapes and styles. Their bottom should have several drainage holes used to release excess moisture and to secure the future tree.

Scalding with boiling water or a hot solution of potassium permanganate is very suitable for processing the pot. So you protect the Japanese bonsai from the fungus of the root system.

The soil helps the tree to retain moisture and provides nutrition, and also thanks to the soil, the roots of the plant are fixed in a small pot. Therefore, in order to grow miniature copies of maples, oaks, lemons, lindens, etc., they resort to using a special substrate. This mixture, which is based on certain types of clay, is called akadama in Japan.

The granular substance is “flavored” with sand and fertile soil for good friability and nutritional value:

  • For growing flowering crops, three parts of sand, seven parts of earth with turf and a part of highly nutritious humus are taken, which are mixed together;
  • Deciduous species of bonsai trees grow well thanks to a substrate with three parts of washed coarse sand and seven parts of sod land;
  • Conifers love loose soil, consisting of two parts of washed sand and three parts of turf soil.

Before planting a bonsai, the soil must be sorted out and everything superfluous removed, which can damage the root system. And also the substrate is sterilized and sifted, drainage is made at the bottom of the container.

Bonsai crown formation

To give a miniature tree a beautiful bizarre shape, copper wire is usually used.

  • First, all branches from the lower part of the trunk and all the “dry land” are removed from the plant. Next, three main branches are selected on the crown, which visually form a triangle with equal sides, and all remaining branches between them are removed. You can also leave 2 or 4 branches - it all depends on your desire;
  • To make a trunk bend, the top soil layer is removed from the roots and the trunk is carefully tilted to the desired angle. One end of the soft wire is added dropwise and fixed in the ground at the stem base from the inside of the bend. The trunk must be tightly, but carefully wrapped with wire to the base of the branches left, so as not to damage or tear off the bark;

  • You can also create bends of bonsai branches using thin braided wire so as not to hurt delicate plant tissues;
  • It is necessary to remove the wire from the trunk of the formed tree after a couple of years, otherwise it may return to its original state. Twigs can be released after six months;
  • To maintain the aesthetic appearance of the bonsai, do not forget to regularly cut off long shoots that have crawled out of the crown perimeter and old foliage to allow new young leaves to grow.

Video: Bonsai pruning and crown formation

How to care for a tree at home

Your main goal is to successfully cope with watering a miniature crop. After all, a shallow pot filled with roots and a small amount of soil create certain difficulties. Drip irrigation or irrigation is best suited, which will allow dosed, without blurring, to moisten the substrate under the plant.

Only settled, melted or soft water is suitable for irrigation. During the growing season, green pets need a lot of moisture, and in the fall, watering is reduced and becomes less frequent.

Miniature plants are great for algae-based mineral supplements, which are carried out every 2-3 weeks. You need to take care of the trees carefully, do not leave them without "food", but most importantly - do not "overfeed":

  • In the spring season, with maximum growth, 2 times more nitrogen must be applied to the fertilizer than phosphorus and potassium;
  • In summer, the same proportions are used, but the concentration is reduced by 1/2;
  • At the end of August, especially for deciduous crops, the content of phosphorus and potassium is increased by 2 times, and nitrogen is reduced;
  • Fruiting and flowering shrubs and trees require more potassium, which goes to the formation of ovaries and buds.

In winter, the tree needs the following care:

  • In mild climates, plants are kept outdoors or on unheated terraces;
  • In a small pot, the roots may suffer first of all, so they are well covered, and the substrate is dried a little;
  • In spring, the bonsai flower awakens. Now it again needs to be watered, fed, formed a crown and roots.

The video below will help you see the process of growing miniature plants more clearly. If you do not want to wait a long time, then you can buy an already formed tree. But its cost will be estimated at several thousand rubles. If you do not have the time and opportunity to carefully care for such a green pet, then do it, which, according to its aesthetic data, will be no worse than a living one.

Video: How to care for a bonsai tree

A beautiful miniature garden tree in our house or greenhouse. Growing bonsai at home is easy if desired. The only thing is that it will take patience, especially when growing a large number of bonsai.

Among the types of bonsai, some of them have gained particular popularity. Most often, the following species are grown from seeds:

  • tropical: boxwoods, acacias, wisterias, leptospermums, ficuses;
  • broad-leaved: beech, birch, hornbeam, elm, maple;
  • conifers: cedars, spruces, pines, firs, cypresses.

In fact, the list of available woody plants is much longer. For example, seeds: spruce, euonymus, pine, beech, oak and fir can be planted at the time of collection.

Bonsai seeds can be found independently in parks, groves and so on. It's much more fun than shopping at the store. But you will need special knowledge, from searching to preparing and growing seedlings.

Amateur Gardener's Tips

An important point - in the period up to 3 months it is necessary to carry out the formation of seedlings.

If you have found seeds but want to plant them at another time, you will need to store the material properly. To do this, they must be put in a container or better in a special wooden cellar. Before this, the seeds should be dried. They should be stored in a cool room at a temperature of -5 to 0 degrees Celsius.

Growing method

The seeds themselves mainly differ in weight and type of seed coat. For a certain type of seed, one or another method of sowing is suitable. Compliance with the rules will allow you to grow truly beautiful and healthy seedlings. Trees such as: Japanese maple, hawthorn, juniper, hornbeam, quince require a preliminary freezing period. To do this, you need to place them in a cool room in wet sand. The rest period varies from six months to a year.

Seed pretreatment

In order for the seeds to germinate properly, they must be processed to avoid disease or death. Before planting, the seeds are placed in water for a couple of days. Or also peat moss is used for germination. To speed up the effect, you can break the hard shell of the seed. Then they are treated with Bordeaux liquid against diseases and the soil is disinfected.


Bonsai seeds can be ordered online

For example, thermal tillage with drainage is suitable for fir. Usually a linen tank is taken, in which two bricks are placed with the ribs down. A bucket is placed on top so that it is tightly closed with a lid. As boiling water is poured, the upper edges of the bricks should protrude three centimeters from the water. Before that, holes are made at the bottom of the bucket, and gauze is placed on top of the bottom. It takes about 2-3 hours to warm up the soil.

Ready set for growing Bonsai from seeds

There are other ways to sterilize soil − freezing. This is usually done in late autumn. The soil is poured into a bag and left in the yard or on the loggia until the onset of frost. After the soil is brought into the room for thawing for 10 days. Before that, it is advisable to pour it with melt water from fresh garden snow. Then for 6 - 7 days the earth is again exposed to the air. In this case, the temperature should be about -20 degrees. These processes of freezing and thawing of the soil must be done 2-3 times for the complete destruction of harmful microorganisms and weed seeds.

Planting bonsai, soil

The seed is planted in spring, late summer or autumn. Peat pots are ideal for planting, previously covered with a mixture of sand and peat in equal proportions. Or use soil for cacti and coarse sand. It is impossible to fill the soil mixture to the brim, it is necessary to leave three centimeters. Above is a centimeter layer of pre-prepared soil. Then the whole mixture should be lightly pressed down with a piece of wood, lay out the seeds and cover them with a layer of sand, no more than two diameters of the seed being planted. Again, press down with a piece of wood and pour a little water.


Mini greenhouse for Bonsai from the carriage for eggs

The container is covered with glass or plastic wrap to create a greenhouse effect. Then all the contents are exposed to a place protected from the sun with a temperature not exceeding 15 degrees. The soil should always be moderately moist, do not dry out.

Seedling care

After the appearance of the first sprouts, it is necessary to ensure the flow of air into the container. To do this, several holes are made in polyethylene, or you can put a chip under the edge of the glass. As the first leaves appear, the seedlings should be fully opened.


In the interval from one to three months, re-rooting is required. This is a cutting of the tap root - 2/3 of its length. Sometimes a special hormone is vaccinated to stimulate root formation.

Plants need to be fertilized, it is better to do this in early summer. Fertilizers should be added to the soil in small portions. When the seedling reaches a height of 10 centimeters, it is transplanted into a flower pot. The plant must begin to accustom to sunlight. Do not forget to do periodic formation. Depending on the type of bonsai, it is produced at the age of several years.


Using simple instructions and the tips suggested above, we can get a really beautiful and healthy tree of our dreams.

Many beginner gardeners want to know: "How to grow bonsai at home?". Since this is the same real art that not everyone can perform. To get the desired result, you need to have certain knowledge.

Choosing a plant for creating a bonsai

Initially, you need to decide from what planting material you will grow a tree. Often this process takes place in a greenhouse or nursery. In most cases, for or maple.

This will take a lot of time, but as a result, you will be able to grow a chic mini-tree. In addition, other breeds can be used, such as:

  • Birch;
  • cherry;
  • Apple tree;
  • larch and others.

You can also create bonsai from tropical species: boxwood,.

In fact, bonsai can be grown from virtually any plant, only for this you need to create normal conditions of detention and that it normally tolerates regular pruning.

Choosing a pot and soil

Once you have made your choice. You need to purchase a pot for planting. The capacity is desirable to choose a shallow, but large diameter.

Landing

Be sure not to forget about the drainage holes in the pot. Also, professionals advise to put a grid on the bottom of the tank, thanks to this there will be no washing out of the soil.

Before planting, the roots of the bonsai should initially be cut so that the tree fits into the tank. It is necessary to pour a thin layer of soil over the mesh. Then install the bonsai and fix the largest roots with wire through the drainage grooves to the flowerpot. Then fill the voids in the pot with soil and water the tree.

Planting is best done in early spring.

Care

The soil

How to grow bonsai? To create a beautiful tree, you need to organize competent care for it. The main thing to remember is the timely pruning of the crown and, when transplanting, follow the recommendations regarding the soil mixture. The earth must be porous. Good primer for bonsai from the following ingredients:

  • peat soil - 4;
  • loam - 4;
  • sand - 2.

Temperature regime

The plant feels great at a temperature of 18 degrees. In warm weather, the tree is allowed to be taken out into the street. If the plant loves the shade, then it should be placed in a shaded place. In early September, the tree needs to be placed indoors so that the plant does not experience stress due to sharp fluctuations in temperature conditions.

It does not matter what kind of bonsai you create, however, it must be protected from drafts and the container with the plant should be placed away from heating devices (radiators and batteries). The direct rays of the sun can also damage the tree, so avoid them.

Watering

How many times a week should you water? The plant needs to be watered abundantly, but only when the soil is dry about 2 times a week. Watering is recommended from a watering can.

You do not need to water the plant very often and make sure that the soil does not dry out too much. Watering bonsai is not worth cold water, as this can harm the plant.

To grow an excellent tree, constant pruning is necessary. This is very important, because if you do not do this, then there is a chance that you will not be able to create a graceful tree.

It is best to prune in the spring season, in accordance with the nature of the crown. In other words, it is necessary to reduce the young shoots and cut off the old, dried or weak branches and leaves.

Transfer

Bonsai transplantation is performed annually at the end of February. Shake off the roots from the soil and rinse with water. Before planting, the soil is taken fresh. The pot needs to be chosen a little more than the previous one, the depth should remain the same.

If you plant a tall plant in an old container, then you should definitely wash it. When you plant a tree, the roots should be placed in a horizontal position. After planting, the plant is watered.

Mineral fertilizers are used for bonsai. After 3 weeks, you need to feed the young plant. How much fertilizer should be applied. Experts recommend using mineral fertilizers and diluting them in a ratio of 1:10.

During this period of time, it is desirable to eliminate dry leaves and branches.

As you can see, bonsai care is quite simple. Just do not forget to perform timely pruning and transplant the plant.

Growing methods

Growing bonsai can be done in several ways:

  1. Seed Bonsai.
  2. cuttings.
  3. Air layers.

seed way

Seeds must be purchased at a specialized store. Although they can be found in parks and botanical gardens. To grow bonsai from seeds, you need to follow some recommendations.

If you use seeds of oak, spruce, pine, then they can be sown immediately. And if you plant seeds of other species such as: juniper, quince, hornbeam, then it is not recommended to sow them immediately after harvest.

In this case, the seeds must be placed in a cool room, having previously been placed in moistened sand. How long is the dormant period? Its duration can be from 6 months to one year.

seed processing

In order for the seeds to germinate well, they should be treated with special preparations before planting. Before the seeds dive into a container, they are placed in water for several days.

This is done so that they swell and the germination process starts. In addition, you can germinate seeds in vermiculite. In addition, it is useful to break the seed coat. This will help ensure the normal germination of seedlings.

Then it is necessary to treat the seeds with a fungicide to prevent diseases. This tool also needs to disinfect the soil.

planting

The best season for landing is the spring. But also seeds can be planted in the summer and autumn season. For planting, use small containers or peat cups pre-filled with the substrate.

It is permissible to buy a soil mixture at a flower shop; for this, soil for succulents is perfect, to which coarse sand is added. You can also prepare the soil yourself, you need to take the following components:

  • peat land - 1;
  • sand - 1.

If the tank is not completely filled, be sure to leave about 3 centimeters to the top. Then it is recommended to compact the earth a little and sow the seeds. Then crush the top with a thin layer of sand. Once again it is worth ramming. Next, the compressed soil must be watered.

The soil in the flowerpot should be regularly moistened. It is necessary to ensure that the earth is not very dry, but it is not necessary to flood the young plant. How long will a tree grow from seed? It all depends on what kind you choose, but it's still quite a long process.

How to properly care for seedlings

When the first shoots are formed from seeds, you need to ventilate a young tree. To do this, make several small holes in polyethylene. At the first leaves, the seedlings are fully opened.

It is required to complete the formation of seedlings when the plant is about 3 months old. When moving a seedling, you need to cut off the main root somewhere by 2/3. The plant may need to be rooted again. Under such circumstances, you need to use a special hormone.

Seedlings need to be fertilized. This is done in the summer, it is recommended to feed the earth in small doses. When the young tree is about 10 cm, it is transplanted into a simple flowerpot.

Bonsai need to be gradually accustomed to sunlight. To get a bonsai from seeds, you need to make a lot of work and effort. And when you do this, then the result will not keep you waiting.

Cutting method

Growing bonsai from cuttings, unlike seeds, the germination process will be faster by about 1 year. Initially, you need to cut the cuttings, choose healthy shoots, and root a special soil mixture or in wet sand.

Professionals advise coniferous species to be rooted in mid-spring or early autumn. If you grow deciduous bonsai, then this is best done in the summer (June).

It is very difficult to grow a tree from a coniferous tree, because the rooting process takes quite a long time. But it is much easier to get bonsai from deciduous trees, these breeds take root extremely well.

After the introduction of the cuttings, it is necessary to carry out competent care: the plant must be watered often, hardened. Fertilizers for bonsai can be omitted, because fresh soil already has the necessary nutrients.

Air layers

Growing a tree by air layering is done in order to correct the shape of the bonsai, in particular when the trunk is extremely long.

To obtain layering, it is worth making an incision around the trunk on a deciduous plant and removing a small rim of the bark. If you decide to choose conifers, in this case it is necessary to tie the process with a wire so that a wound forms on it.

Then it needs to be moistened in a growth stimulator. It is recommended to wrap such damage with wet sphangum filled with soil mixture and wrap it with a mosquito net. This is best done in early spring.

With the advent of autumn, the casing must be removed (coniferous breeds are opened in a year). In the cut areas, young roots should form. Then for some time it is recommended to wait until the root system gets stronger. During this period, the roots must be kept under cover.

When you notice that the roots are fully grown, then remove the casing, cut the plant a little below the layering. And then put it in a new container.

The most common ways to cleanse the intestines at home

Not only owners of private houses can admire beautiful trees, but also residents of the most ordinary apartments. Place in a small space or deciduous plants will allow the ancient art of bonsai. The first to grow shrubs and trees in small bowls were in ancient China, but the plants were selected not decorative, but suitable for food or necessary for the manufacture of medicines.

The Japanese have always appreciated beauty and knew how to contemplate. They borrowed the practice of growing trees, but deprived them of any practical use. Bonsai is real the art of growing miniature trees which anyone can master. What difficulties can a novice florist face? And how to properly form the crown of a tree?

Choosing a future bonsai style

To get an unusual and spectacular plant, you need to decide which style of bonsai appeals to you. Depending on the chosen direction, a specific type of plant is also selected. Beginners often make the mistake of acquiring unsuitable trees and trying to give them the required shape.

So, there are several generally accepted bonsai styles that are easy to distinguish from each other.

This style has two subtypes: classic and free. In the first case, the tree trunk must be perfectly straight, have an ideal conical shape. The lower branches are distinguished by a large volume; towards the top, the branches become thinner.

The free form implies the curvature of the tree trunk, which alternately “departs” either to the right or to the left. And yet the general direction of growth is upwards.

Any plants are suitable for the vertical style, but the free subspecies is recommended for conifers.

forked barrel

This interesting form can be obtained in one of two ways: by planting two different plants or from one root. It will be easier for beginners to get comfortable with two different plants, and they need to be selected so that there is a pronounced leader in the pair. A weaker tree, however, should not be sick.

The composition can be either strictly vertical or with a slight slope.

This style of bonsai requires special attention to the tree, as achieving perfect "equality" between all the branches is not easy. The apical shoot is pinched at a height of about a third of the total size of the tree. From this point, skeletal branches begin to grow. Necessary maintain equal proportions, the thickness of all branches should be equal. Thus, a beautiful and wide crown is formed.

Deciduous plants with spreading branches are suitable for this style, which in nature form a large crown.

Such a plant is rare, since several trunks at a distance from each other are formed from one tree. How to achieve such an unusual look? A seedling is selected, on one side of which the branches grow more actively than on the other. The "thick" part will become the basis for bonsai. Excess branches from the other side are cut off, cuts are made on this side, and the tree itself is placed horizontally in a container with soil. Roots will begin to grow in places of notches. Thus, the branches of one side will turn into trunks over time.

This style also has many stems coming from the same root. But the very shape of the tree can be almost anything: vertical, curved and even inclined.

Forest style bonsacs

But in this case, the number of trunks determines the number of plants. Several trees are planted at once (necessarily an odd number). The composition is formed quite compactly to emphasize the resemblance to a real forest. The central tree is usually taller than all the others, it is brought to the fore, placing two more tall trees on the sides. All excess branches are removed, leaving bare trunks, the crown is thinned out. But the background is represented by smaller trees with dense branches.

An interesting and unusual look of the plant is achieved by constant adjustments. The trunk of such a tree constantly bends. It is quite simple to consider all the slopes, since the trunk is completely bare, leaving only the top with young shoots. The combination of a thick old trunk and young branches is especially appreciated in this style.

Such trees are a little more common, because they look very impressive and immediately catch the eye. Cascading forms are typical for wildlife: rocky areas. A powerful root system is strengthened in the ground, and the plant itself hangs down along the rock.

Separately distinguished and semi-cascade form, which differs in the level of inclination. The lower branches of such a plant should be at the level of the base of the bowl.

inclined shaft

Another common shape that assumes a uniform slope to one side. The trunk can be either very thin or thick, but open roots must remain on the surface. This view gives the impression of a "tear", as if a powerful hurricane was trying to uproot a tree.

Both deciduous and coniferous trees are suitable for formation.

bent by the wind

The level of slope in this style of bonsai is close to critical. In nature, such forms are found on the coast, where the wind constantly blows from one side only. The barrel is formed in such difficult conditions and looks like it is constantly under pressure.

Cutting selection

Bonsai can be grown in many ways. If you want to choose the style of the tree yourself and can wait, then do not purchase young plants, but prefer cuttings or seeds. The last option is suitable for people who know how to wait.

The cutting is ideal for growing bonsai. It must be taken from a one year old (in some cases two year old) tree. The size of the shoot usually does not exceed 10 centimeters. In order for the root system to form quickly, special compounds are added to the soil that accelerate root formation.

Make sure the cutting is from a healthy plant. On the shoot should be no more than 6-8 leaves. The non-lignified part is removed before planting in a pot.

Choosing a Ceramic Bowl

A very important part of the preparation is choosing the right pot for growing your bonsai tree. The bowl should not only fit into the interior and be combined with the plant, but also meet many functional requirements. So, for example, pay attention to wide drainage holes. Excess moisture can cause the development of diseases, rotting of the roots and cause the death of the plant.

The size of the pot must also meet certain parameters. Experts recommend adhere to the following rules:

  • the depth of the bowl is equal to the diameter of the trunk at the base,
  • width - 2-3 centimeters less than the length of the branches,
  • and the length is not more than two-thirds of the width or height of the tree.

However, you should not rush to choose a suitable ceramic bowl, since the stalk is usually grown in a container, and it is transplanted into a beautiful pot only after a year or two.

Soil preparation before planting

Cuttings for the formation of shoots are planted in mixture of peat and sand. The recommended depth for a 10 cm shoot is 3 cm. After watering, the plant is covered with polyethylene to protect it from temperature changes, wind and sunlight.

Only after the tree gives the first shoots, it can be accustomed to the sun and fresh air (if it is planned to grow on a balcony or on the street).

To give the plant the desired appearance, it is necessary first of all slow down its growth. And the right soil will help with this. Soil characteristics, of course, depend on the specific type of tree. However, it is worth remembering that poor soil is the basis of bonsai. The composition usually includes peat, stones and sand, rotted leaves. The roots are cut, and the tree is transplanted into the prepared bowl.

The peculiarity of bonsai is that this art time given daily. A good owner knows all the features of his plants, can remember all the branches and constantly monitors the condition of the trees.

First of all, it is worth taking care of growth, or rather, of its slowdown. Even in poor and rocky soil, a fairly large tree can grow if you do not artificially restrain it. For this special wire cutters cut the trunk in several places. The juice will be used for healing wounds, not for rapid growth.

Pruning branches also slows down this process, but it is rarely worth resorting to this method. In addition, the branches must be clearly structured.

It is also necessary to ensure that the tree takes the chosen shape. For this the trunk and branches are fixed with bandages or rings, even wrapped with wire.

In order for a tree to please you with its appearance for many years, try to observe simple rules:

  • regular watering should be done not from above, but at the roots of the tree;
  • branches and leaves should be sprayed with water to nourish them and remove dust, but this procedure can only be done in the morning;
  • the bonsai bowl should not be in direct sunlight;
  • the plant should be protected from frost and protected from high temperatures;
  • regular pruning of branches and roots will form a tree of the desired size and shape.

How to grow bonsai at home: video

A smaller copy of a tree called bonsai will be a real highlight of your garden on the windowsill. But not a purchased miniature, but grown at home. And aerobatics is growing a tree with your own hands.

The birthplace of bonsai is Sunny Japan. The name translates as "tree in a pot" (you can use a bowl or tray for planting). The second translation option is “tree pruning”. Bonsai cultivation is a centuries-old art that until recently was available exclusively to Japanese monarchs. And today it is available even to a novice grower. To get started, prepare the following tool:
  • Nippers that have a concave shape for trimming a thin part of the trunk;
  • Scissors for thick branches and the formation of an even cut;
  • A small nail file, the blade of which is 15 cm;
  • Scissors with thin ends;
  • Scissors with blunt ends.

When choosing a plant, give preference to a specimen whose size is from 20 to 50 centimeters, with a healthy root system, which contributes to the rapid rooting of the plant and makes the bonsai more exotic. For cultivation, you can use coniferous, deciduous and fruit species. The first group includes Japanese cryptomeria, juniper, cedar, pine, larch, fir, thuja. Leafy - oak, beech, hornbeam, maple, ficus. Among fruit trees, apple, hawthorn, plum are suitable. Flowers such as rose, magnolia, narrow-leaved pyracantha can also be grown as bonsai.

In addition, you should decide in advance on the style of bonsai by first drawing on paper the shape that you want to get as a result of growing a tree. There are styles such as straight, which has a thickened to the root, even trunk; inclined, when the tree is at an angle to the ground; multi-stem (several trunks grow from one that lies on the ground); cascading, when the top slopes below the ground. For rooting, choose a deep container. Subsequently, a transplant is made into a bowl, which has low sides. You can also use a tray. It is better to take containers made of clay, porcelain, faience or ceramics. Make sure that the depth of the dishes is equal to the diameter of the trunk at the base. At the same time, a length of about two-thirds of the width of the tree is chosen. The width should be slightly less than the longest branch. After planting, water the plants well and tamp the ground, and also dig deeper into the trunk so that it thickens. Then send the pot to a dark place where it will take root and arrange a ten-day quarantine. In addition, it is very important to accustom a young tree to the open air, for this it is recommended to increase the stay of bonsai on the street. Form a bonsai 2-3 years after you planted a tree. To do this, it must be transplanted into a bowl. When doing this, make sure that the lower part of the tree, and at the same time the top of the root system with a large number of horizontal roots, is located above the ground. At the same time, diseased lashes and weak roots must be removed. To slow down growth, they use poor soil for transplantation, in which loam, rotted foliage, sand and stones are present, and they also practice reducing the flow of juices by applying several cuts to the trunk. In addition, it is necessary to prune the branches when the first buds appear on the tree. However, if the bonsai has buds or flowers, pruning should be discarded.