Ichiban Bonsai Kai

  

Bonsai is the propagation and training of trees in special trays. The word "bonsai" means just that: "bon" (tray) and "sai" (tree).

The art of miniature trees was adapted by the Japanese from the Chinese. Bonsai culture first appeared as a hobby in the United States following World War II. Soldiers returning from Japan after the war brought tiny trees with them as souvenirs; some of the trees survived to entice others into the practice of dwarf tree cultivation. Small collections of pre-World War II bonsai are being maintained at various major arboretums on both the east and west coasts of the United States.

 

BONSAI PRINCIPLES

An aged look is the most desirable characteristic in a bonsai. Age can be shown by a sturdy, robust trunk with mature bark; many branches and twigs; roots exposed on the surface of the soil; downward slanted branches; and a general appearance of maturity. Flowering or fruiting trees such as azaleas, bougainvillea, or apple are also admired for their color or fruit.

 

Evergreen trees such as pines and junipers are very desirable as bonsai; deciduous trees such as elms and maples are also used extensively. Trees from temperate climates (such as that of Japan) were the first bonsai, but tropical trees are now accepted as true bonsai; there are many major collections composed only of tropical trees.

 

Three factors prevent certain trees from being used as bonsai. First, leaves which are too large and do not dwarf readily is an unacceptable trait. Second, large flowers and fruit are out of proportion with the leaves and with the general appearance of the tree. Third, large ropey roots that cannot be reduced prevent a tree from being a good bonsai.

 

BONSAI CULTURE

Bonsai culture is based upon good horticultural practices, since trees must be kept alive if they are to be trained. Bonsai trees receive water and nutrients in the proper amounts to keep them in good health.

Daily watering during the growing season is crucial to the manufacture of new leaves and to the growth of the trees. Nutrients, usually organic fertilizers such as fish emulsion or bone meal, contribute to the general health of the tree by providing essential vitamins and minerals. Fertilization is usually performed every two weeks during the growing season and less frequently during other periods of the year.

 

PROCEDURES

Some of the procedures used to maintain the trees as miniature replicas of their giant forest cousins are:

 

Wiring – Wiring allows tree trunks, branches, and twigs to be bent and shaped to a desirable form.

Wrapping the correct size of either copper or aluminum wire firmly around the proper part of the tree allows that part to be bent / held at the desired shape until it becomes fixed in that position. The wire is then removed and the branch / twig remains in the desired form.

 

Trimming – “Twigginess” or “ramification” is one of the features contributing to the desired aged look of bonsai. Trimming done to shorten branches and twigs forces them to form even smaller twigs. There are several forms of trimming and some, or all of them, may be used to design a single tree.

The first and most popular is scissor trimming. Specially designed bonsai scissors are used to shorten branches or twigs that have grown too long. Fingertips are sometimes used to pinch new, soft foliage. This is especially effective on junipers but can be put to good effect on deciduous trees. Defoliation (or leaf stripping) may be done on deciduous trees after the spring growth has hardened off somewhat. This procedure is done by cutting or picking all leaves off by hand.

 

Potting – Repotting, and trimming the roots of a plant when repotting, helps it to maintain good health and ultimately assists in the reduction of leaf size. Small leaves are desirable because they should be in proportion to the rest of the tree. Keeping trees confined to pots or trays with a limited amount of space in which to grow assists in keeping them small.