Bonsai Flashcards
Bonsai history
According to Japanese legends, bonsais in front of the house ward off …………………
In the olden days, the bonsai making used to be called as “Punsai” which means the practice of growing ……………….in pots
The Chinese called this practice ………………
Bonsai making originated in China around 200 A.D
Was developed by Chinese healers as a means to transfer live plants/trees and maintain their potency
Exported to Japan in 800 A.D.
Japanese popularized the art of bonsai making
From Japan it spread to Europe and America
The Japanese focused on growing bonsai trees for landscaping purposes and this style of growing bonsai trees is what is prevalent even today
evil eye
f growing single specimen trees in pots
“Penjing”
What is Bonsai?
Bonsai’ is a combination of two Japanese words - bon' which means a container or a tray and sai’ that stands for a plant.
It involves deliberately stunting the growth of a tree to obtain a miniature version, purely for aesthetic purposes.
Bonsai making considerations
Plant species
Pots
Soils and feeds
Water
Sunlight
Repotting
Training and Pruning
Wiring
Bonsai designs
Tools
what are some characteristics of bonsai plants
Small leaves or needles.
* Short internodes, or distances
between leaves.
* Attractive bark or roots.
* Branching characteristics for
good twig forms.
Selecting plant species
Bonsais can be fruit bearing, flowering and even ornamental ones
Select plants that are hardy, such as evergreen varieties or a species of bamboo
Choose saplings with plenty of leaves and a sturdy trunk
Bonsai trees can be as tiny as 6 inches or up to 3 ft tall
Most bonsai plants are outdoor
Pinaceae family trees make good bonsai
They include Western Hemlock, cedars, firs, hemlocks, larches, pines, spruces
Pinaceae family trees make good bonsai
They include Western Hemlock, cedars, firs, hemlocks, larches, pines, spruces
Other species include: ficus, figs, elm, jade plant, trident maple, star magnolia, azaleas, wisteria, , cotton bougainvillea, adenium, etc
Grafted plants are also suitable for bonsai
Seeds, cuttings and potted plants can also be used to make a bonsai
Sources of bonsai plants include crevices of rocky mountains, old house wreck or places where plants remain dwarf
Bonsai pot
soil
Make enough holes in pots
Pot size will depend on the size of plant
Use the right pot size!!
Bonsai grows on rock or soil, but all bonsai plants need soil to live
soil
Bonsai trees on rocks without soil would require more frequent nourishment (by fertilization) and watering than usual
Soils for bonsais should hold extra water, but should not be soggy
Mix 3 parts of half-burnt clay, 3 parts of leaf mould and 2 parts of coarse sand ; also add one handful of vermicompost or organic compost
Bonsai plants also require Vit B complex;
Beer can be sprayed on leaves, but temperature must be around 85OF;
If sprayed over 85OF, the leaf stomas would close
Bonsais also need regular feed, but not excessive or less
A spoonful of 20-20-20 fertilizer twice a month in growing season
Don’t fertilize newly transplanted bonsais
Make liquid feed by mixing cow manure or mustard extract with water
Keep this mixture, at least for 7 days before feeding
With two liters of this liquid feed, mix 10 gms of super-phosphate and 5 gms of sulphate of potash. Do not give this feed in its resting period
Water
Watering depends on weather conditions, soil types and plant types
Depending upon the soil moisture conditions, water sparingly once a day
Over watering is just as bad as under watering
Use rain or deep well water as this is free from chlorine which is responsible for the white spots on the leaves once they get dry
If there is no option, but to use chlorinated water, then collect water and let it stay for about 24 hours before using. This way, chlorine evaporates or is degraded
Light
Bonsai needs sufficient sunlight throughout the day
Direct sunlight should be avoided
Also do not expose to heavy rain (though light drizzles are fine)
vSunlight helps in stunting the growth
Putting of nets over the bonsai plants must be avoided. But this does not apply to newly repotted bonsai, which must be put in a shaded area until it is established
Indoor bonsai should however, not be exposed to sunlight
Repotting
Most plants need new soil after 2-3 years, depending on species. Bougainville, Chinese holly and Camachile have to be repotted every 2 years and Balete after 3-4 years
Keep repotted plant under the shade for 1-2 weeks and gradually expose them to full sunlight when new leaves have begun to sprout
While re-potting, plant it little higher than before, so that, after some time roots will be visible , which will enhance the beauty
Repotting provides a good opportunity to prune the roots and shape the plant
Training of Bonsai
Training attains a desired shape
Involves pruning of branches and roots, cutting of leaf or removing totally, bending of branches, etc.
Decide first, which will be the front side of the bonsai
Do not allow any branches to grow in that direction (It will obstruct viewing)
Pruning of branches should be done immediately after repotting
After pruning bend it to your choice by twisting a wire over it
Pruning
Pruning is necessary to maintain (or refine growth to obtain) the right shape of a bonsai and encourage new growth
Bonsai requires regular pruning and trimming
Some plants naturally respond well to pruning, regardless of how intense, whilst other plants can find it hard to recover, especially when pruned at the wrong time of the year
Depending on the plant variety, some would need monthly or bimonthly “haircut
Prune when new shoots stick out wildly
Cut twigs and leaves that grow out of an imagined shape (outside of the triangular or broom pattern that has been assigned to the bonsai plant)
Prune the twig as close to the branch as possible, with just 1-3 leaves left above the affected twig. This will produce a zig-zag effect or snake-like pattern that stimulates aging
Generally, new growth is pruned during the growing season to maintain the shape of the bonsai, whilst pruning of hard wood (old season growth) is done in mid-autumn
Different pruning forms
bud pruning-By removing buds on branches at the top of the tree, than those lower down, a better structure can be developed in the lower branches
They will thicken, as will the trunk lower down the tree, giving a better trunk taper
Bud in deciduous trees are removed in early spring, prior to bud break
The strongest buds (a) should be pinched back hardest in order to strengthen the weaker buds (marked b). The weakest buds (c) will fail or only produce a single leaf and no new shoot, unless the strongest buds (marked a) are pinched back.
Branch pruning,-Pruning of branches is performed in spring
Much, but not all of the new growth is removed
Branches are selected early on as the only branches to be allowed to prosper, while the excess branches are thoroughly pruned off
finger pruning- Done mainly for junipers and cedars
Involves pinching of new growth, which does not come within the general shape of bonsai or is at the top of the bonsai .
To do this, take the growth between your thumb and forefinger whilst holding the branch with your other hand and remove it with a twisting movement
For deciduous trees, scissor tip pruning is best
When trimming outward or “overenthusiastic” growth, trim shoots back to just after the next series of leaves, but don’t cut the foliage as such
Leaf pruning,-Leaf pruning (also known as defoliation) is used for several deciduous and tropical plants to reduce leaf size, remove unsightly leaves and speed-up growth by causing two seasons’ growth in one
Done in mid summer, by cutting 60-90% of the leaves off the tree, only leaving a few to ensure that the tree keeps its energy.
Leaves should not be removed more than 3 times a year
Cut leaves from directly behind the leaf
This form of pruning is applicable to certain types of plants
Remove leaves after it reaches its full size. New leaves will arrive later which will be smaller in size
In case of bigger leaves, cut the outer halves. After some days, this old leaf will fall and smaller leaves will appear
Root pruning-Done during repotting
Root pruning helps to:
Promote a fibrous root system
Promote good surface roots
Produce a balanced system
Remover any deformed roots
Check for pests and diseases
Balance the ratio between foliage & roots
Root pruning is done when the tree is root-bound
Remove all soil from the roots
Remove small roots and roots that cross over each other
Wiring
Aluminum and copper wire more commonly used
Wiring is a method of bending trunks and branches using wires in order to achieve various impressive shapes
When the plant is still very young, the trunk should be bent into the basic shape of a tree. Later on, as the plant grows, bend the branches into a bonsai plant shape
Wire loosely around the tree where change needs to be made
That part of the tree should be then gently bent into its new form
Constantly monitor the tree and avoid any scars at may be formed when tree grows
Also avoid trying to bend parts of trees that are already hard as this may break the tree
once the tree has assumed its sform, remove the wires
Artistic techniques
Shape (or form) and balance are largely a combined function of manipulation techniques, notably wiring and trimming
In general, the form of most bonsai follows that of a triangle:
the apex represents heaven,
the lowest branch, earth, and
the middle, man
Its balance is asymmetrical triangle
The triangle is an overarching form in most of the bonsai styles known so far
Harmony
Bonsai specimen should exude harmony
Size, style and form of the plant, the stone on which it stands and the pot where it is planted should combine aesthetically and harmoniously
For instance, there must be color harmony between the pot and the plant
Light colored pots is preferred to brightly colored ones (red, violet, yellow, etc.) as the latter compete for and more likely succeed in getting attention among viewers
Also, the size of the pot and that of the plant should strike a happy balance
The plant (or the pot) should be proportional to the pot (or the plant)
Bonsai Designs or styles
Formal Upright Bonsai-Formal upright bonsai style – reproduces the development of a high and straight tree in constructive normal conditions. The stem of the tree stays vertical and standing to the ground. The stem stabs on decreasing in diameter from the bottom to the tip
Informal Upright Bonsai-Informal upright bonsai style has the bottom and top trunk in a line vertical to the soil, yet the growth in between is somewhat slanted
Full Cascade Bonsai
Full cascade bonsai style looks stylish and portrays the prospect of a plant developing on the rocky angles of a mountain. These plants while cultivating in nature tends to curve down because of the gravity. The tip goes under the roots height. In complete cascade bonsai, the top of the plant goes under the root level
Semi cascade bonsai style symbolizes a tree stalk growing parallel toward the water level by swampy areas. At this juncture the bonsai trunk lean downward yet the tip achieves just till the bottom of the pot.
Umbrella or Broom Bonsai
Umbrella or Broom bonsai style comes from the figure of an upturned Japanese broom. This style go with deciduous trees as well as works out great for lots of tropical plants in addition.
In broom bonsai style trees the bottom of the trunk is in a straight line and the branches cultivate in all directions from on the same point on the stem giving it the figure of an upturned broom.
Slanting Bonsai-
Slanting bonsai style is an extensively used style in which the plant bends to one side. The stem is leaning at an angle of approximately 45 degree to the encircling. The stem might be in a straight line or bent in this design of trees.
Slanting stem plants are pretty ordinary in temperament and they are required to get this form owing to particular survival needs of the plant (looking for light source)
Forest Bonsai-Forest bonsai style consists of a set of bonsai plants potted in the manner that provides the feeling of mini-forest
