Bonsai
Table Of Contents
Introduction
Where do I start?
Plant selection
This section of the site is devoted to all things Bonsai. I will
constantly be adding things as I get the time so be sure to check back
often. Feel free to e-mail me with any
suggestions, etc, or just post them on the messageboard.
At first Bonsai can be rather intimidating for the novice,
but after learning a few basics even the uninitiated will begin to
gain more and more confidence quickly. Before a plant can be purchased
though there are a few things you will need to get started. Essential
items needed are as follows:
A good, solid pair of pruning scissors
Plastic mesh
Thin, flexible wire
Well draining potting soil
A stick
A pot with large drainage holes
Wire cutters
All tools should be sharp and comfortable to handle. The wire will be
used to tie the plant into the pot as well as fix the mesh in place so
will need to be of a flexible nature. The mesh should be plastic so it
doesn't rust and can consist of flyscreen sheeting or even something as
simple as shadecloth. The stick will mostly be used to tease free the
rootball of the plant as well as push soil into the root zone when
potting. Personally I use thin pieces of bamboo which are often used to
stake small nursery stock.
The pot is one of the most important aspects of bonsai and should be
a colour and style which will enhance the plant without detracting from
it. The drainage holes must be large to ensure the plant doesn't get
waterlogged and develop root rot. Soil is also one of the most important
items on this list to consider as it is the main source of food for the
plant and should be customised to suit the specific specimen housed
within it. Important factors to consider when choosing a soil is it's PH
level and nutrient content, these should be consistant with the plant's
needs. Soil should also be well draining.
The wire should be in several different sizes as it's uses are not of
a singular nature. Thin, extremely flexible wire is used to hold the
plant in the pot while thicker wire is used to train branches and
trunks. The sizes you need to obtain will differ depending on the
species of plant you choose as well as it's age and robustness and can
even differ depending on which part of the tree you are training. In
general, the thicker the branch or trunk, the thicker the wire and the
less you can manipulate the plant without causing damage. There are
exeptions to this rule though, depending on the species of plant
chosen.
Now that we have the materials needed to begin we can start thinking
about obtaining a plant. Before you rush out and buy the first plant you
lay eyes on however, there are a few important things to consider. Some
plants are much more suited to Bonsai than others and some species are
more suited to certain styles than others. Choosing a plant that easily
conforms to the style you are after will make life alot easier for the
novice. That is not to say it isn't possible to create a certain form
from a plant not generally used for that style, it's just something best
left until you advance a little more. The last thing you want to do
right now is become discouraged due to a poor choice of plant or style
for a beginner. Some great plants to consider when starting out are
listed below. These are generally fairly forgiving species, many of whom
are easily trained as well.
Chinese Elm -Ulmus Parvifolia
Japanese Maple - Acer Palmatum
Trident Maple - Acer Buergerianum
Juniper - Juniperus
Crab Apple - Malus
The plant you choose should be a healthy specimen with no signs
of disease or pests, if it looks sickly then avoid purchasing it. Before
buying a plant take a while to look at the specimen at eye level
from all sides. Choose the most asthetically pleasing angle of the plant
as this will be the front. Try to visualise how the plant would look in
different styles. If there is a stray branch here or there then put your
hand in front of them to make it easier to get a feel for what the plant
would look like if they were missing. If you have trouble visualising
how a plant would look in a certain style, or it isn't pleasing to your
eye then put it down and look at another.
You are looking for a tree that has the best balance of elements for
the style you want and choosing one that is below par means that you
will have to work much harder to get the tree where you want it. Some
basic things you want to look for are a tapered trunk, that is a trunk
that is thicker at the base than the top, small leaves and plenty of
branches that divide and branch out. There are exceptions to this of
course, such as with a literati style, the trunk shouldn't be too
tapered. These forms are generally best left until more skill has been
aquired though and aren't relevant to what we are doing right now.
In general, finding a suitable specimen may take a little time due to
the fact that alot of nurseries deal more with stock suited for the
general garden, barerooted monstrosities with little branches and way
too large to be of any use. Many have ugly grafting scars which take a
long time to heal as well. Don't be afraid to leave a nursery
empty-handed and visit a different one, patience is the key to every
aspect of Bonsai and choosing a plant is probably the most important
time to adhere to this. Considering your plant will most likely outlive
you and is something you will, in time, take pride in you want to
be as patient as possible to ensure the best possible choice.