Bonsai Supplies
Bonsai Seeds
How many people know that bonsai can be grown from seeds? Although there are no magic bonsai seeds which can turn into the perfect-looking bonsai tree after being planted, the bonsai seeds can still grow into the “dwarfed trees” that we have all come to love. That is, with certain growing procedures and every bit of your patience.
Most people will probably tell you that growing a bonsai tree from bonsai seeds is a clear waste of your time. But even if this is known to be the most time-consuming among all methods, this is also the one that will give you the most rewarding experience.
The Japanese has a term to define the cultivation of bonsai from bonsai seeds – misho. This process may take a lot of time, but it allows one total control of the tree’s growth right from the start.
Initially, you need to gather the “right” kinds of seeds according to the type of bonsai tree that you like to grow. Various horticultural shops have plenty of these available.
Once you have gathered the bonsai seeds, it is necessary to place them in water for the night in order to differentiate which seeds are potentially viable and which ones are not. Those that will float are not usable, but the ones that will sink are those that you will be working with.
Before sowing your bonsai seeds, make sure that you have chosen a pot that is about has a depth of 15 cm or 6″ and features a drainage hole. The lowest portion of the pot, or a quarter of the pot’s total volume should contain an earth mix, a mixture of akadama and fine gravel in equal proportions.
On top of that layer, you need to put a mixture of fine akadama, potting compost, and fine gravel in ½, 1/4, and ¼ ratios respectively. This particular layer should be about 1″ below the pot’s rim. Place the bonsai seeds on top of this layer, making sure that they are about 1″ to 2″ inch apart from.
Finally, put in the last layer which is composed of a mixture of potting compost and akadama in equal ratios. Spray water on top of the seedbed using a nozzle with fine spray.
It may take years before you can finally see a nice bonsai tree. However, what can be more fulfilling than knowing that you grew it from “scratch” yourself?
Bonsai Soil
Using the right bonsai soil mix can be very beneficial for a bonsai tree. There are a lot of enthusiasts who use ready-mix bonsai soil from nurseries and garden shops but it is quite expensive. Because of frequent repotting during spring, most bonsai hobbyists or gardeners learn mixing soils on their own.
There is a wide variety of soil ingredients to use. For starters, choosing which type of soil to use can be very difficult. It is important that the bonsai soil can hold moisture and nutrients needed by the plant because the health and beauty of the bonsai tree heavily depends on the quality of soil.
The soil should have good hold of water but excess water should also be drained quickly to avoid build up of salts. Good air intake of the soil is also vital. The soil mix should have small-sized gaps so that the roots can have enough air. A well-mixed inorganic soil allows air to continually flow into the soil while a packed down organic soil can hinder water and air flow that can cause damage to the roots.
Organic bonsai soil is comprised of dead plant substances like peat, dead leaves and barks. An inorganic bonsai soil is composed of fired clays and volcanic lava. This type of soil can be found in garden centers and nurseries.
Although most bonsai plants require soils good for water retention and draining excess water, there are species that have their own requirements for intake of nutrients and water. For example, Pine trees and Juniper trees need lesser water intake meaning they require less-water-retention type of soil. However, flowering and fruit-bearing species require soil mixes with high level of water retention.
In mixing your own bonsai potting soil, the percentage of water-holding material should depend on the specie of the tree that will be planted. For a free-draining soil, high ration of grit should be added making the soil drain all excess water while increasing the quantity of water-holding material, which also increases the retention of water in the soil.
Proper knowledge on what soil to use is very essential for a healthy and beautiful bonsai tree. It is fine for starters to use a ready-mixed bonsai soil from a nursery or garden center for the first few times. However, the use of inorganic soil is the most recommended.
Bonsai Pots
There are a lot of different bonsai pots to choose from. The shapes, sizes, and colors are so varied that choosing a particular pot can be very challenging. Although aesthetics is important, it should not be overly so as the bonsai plant deserves more attention than its pot.
But finding the right kind of pot is not that easy. A bad choice of pot can actually lessen the tree’s impact. However, a pot that is chosen well will also work to emphasize the beauty of the bonsai plant and will allow it to achieve its maximum potential as such.
There are several factors to consider in order to end up with the right bonsai pots. First, the pots’ sizes are a major consideration. The appropriate dimensions are determined by using some guidelines based on the dimensions of the bonsai plant itself. Generally, the depth of the pot should be the same as the diameter of the bonsai’s trunk above the soil level.
The style and shape of the bonsai pots should match your bonsai plants. Thus, you have to take a good look at your plants and assess their characteristics. There is such thing as masculine plant and feminine plant, or a plant that is a mixture of both but where one characteristic is more dominant. However, such assessment is fairly subjective. But then you should keep in mind that a very masculine plant will not look nice in a feminine pot, and vice versa. But the owner of the plant should be capable of making a good assessment.
Bonsai pots have a widely varied selection of colors. The plant’s distinctive feature may be used as basis for pot c olor selection. Thus, the bonsai plant and the color of its pot will be able to blend well together. The plant’s feature which may serve as guideline is its bark. For flower-bearing plants, the color of the chosen pot should complement that of the flowers’.
There are numerous textures of bonsai pots to choose from, and each is supposed to enhance the plant. For example, feminine plants are better off when they’re placed in pots with smooth finishes. Pots with heavier textures will complement masculine plants more. 
While choosing from among the different bonsai pots can be confusing, it can still be learned nevertheless. But with ample knowledge and experience with bonsai, and with a good sense of personal taste, picking out the right one should be a piece of cake.
Bonsai Plant Food – To Keep Your Bonsai Healthy And Alive
Or better know as fertilizer
Living things need more than just water to grow and live – plants included. Bonsai, regardless if they are merely the “dwarf” versions of normal trees still require some sort of food to keep them healthy and alive.
Fertilizer is considered as the plant food. And since bonsai does not differ much from other plants, they need fertilizer as well. As with any plant specie, natural bonsai plant food include sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water. These are converted into sugar and carbohydrate and will serve as food for the plants.
Fertilizer is a bonsai plant food that is capable of providing the bonsai trees with necessary vitamins and minerals. For example, in order to help with the various enzyme processes and cell division, the fertilizer supplies three elements: potassium, nitrogen, and phosphorous.
Nitrogen is an important element in the bonsai plant food. It is responsible for the tree’s green color and the elongation of its leaves. It is known to assist in the bonsai’s growth, is proven to influence internodes growth, and is vital for the production of protein.
Phosphorous is likewise necessary for the division of cells. But on top of that, this element is also required for fatty substances, DNA, and RNA, and contributes to giving the leaves a darker shade of green. Potassium works to develop cell enzymes and is responsible for making cell activities healthy.
Fertilizer is taken in by the tree through absorption via the roots. This process called osmosis points out that the bonsai plant food being absorbed has less concentration. The resulting solution consists of water and fertilizer which has the ability to move farther within the plant. Although fertilizer can be absorbed via the foliage as well, it is a given fact that major absorption happens through the plant’s roots.
Due to this fact, it is recommended that bonsai plant food be in liquid form as it is easier to absorb, and is proven to provide direct results. If you intend to use fertilizer often, diluting the solution will benefit the plant more as this lessens the salt content.
You now know that the three elements in bonsai plant food are necessary for its optimum health. So, don’t just buy the first fertilizer you see on the shelf. Before you make a purchase, ensure that it contains potassium, phosphorous, and nitrogen. Otherwise, the chosen bonsai plant food will not be of much use to the plant.
