Bonsai Trees

Bonsai is not only a popular home décor and garden highlight but is also a good reason to get into a horticultural hobby. Since more and more people are engaged in the cultivation of bonsai, the need for bonsai suppliers has risen.

The Royal Bonsai Garden is paradise to bonsai enthusiasts. This nursery located in Stoughton, Massachusetts is proud of its extensive bonsai collection that came from all parts of the globe. At the Royal Bonsai Garden, you can find a wide array of bonsai, of which some are considered to be among the oldest and smallest in the Northeast.

Suthin (Su Tin) Sukosolvisit started being a bonsai artist in 1970. He runs the Royal Bonsai Garden, a full-service bonsai nursery. Suthin is a famous bonsai artist and has earned numerous awards as such.

The Royal Bonsai Garden makes bonsai growing more than just a hobby. It does not only offer you all the supplies involved in the cultivation of bonsai, but it also hosts workshops to provide bonsai pros and amateurs alike, with everything there is to know about bonsai.

Beginners will find all the things they need “under one roof” - from tree species, to pots, to tools, and more.

While bonsai abounds at the Royal Bonsai Garden, it is not the only thing that people can find. Those who are looking for fountains and bird baths will discover that this bonsai nursery offers the widest selection of these. The Royal Bonsai Garden also has vast nursery supplies for different types of trees and flowers.

Bonsai-growing is fast becoming a top hobby for a lot of people. It is not surprising to know that there are a lot of nurseries and gardens that sprung up in support for this worthwhile endeavor.

The Weyerhaeuser Bonsai Garden is a must-see for avid bonsai fans. It is home to the Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection which features 60 excellent bonsai from six of the nations on the Pacific Rim.

The Weyerhaeuser Bonsai Garden has its vast bonsai collection in some kind of a woodland setting. This incredible place will certainly awe even those who are not so fond of the miniature trees.

The Weyerhaeuser Company is among the world’s biggest companies which deal with forest products. The Weyerhaeuser Bonsai Garden is within the company’s territory. The various bonsai in the garden are “shaped’ by different bonsai artists to mimic the normal trees present in nature. Visitors will definitely enjoy each bonsai tree as they truly capture the natural appeal of the “regular” trees.

The outstanding bonsai collection at the Weyerhaeuser Bonsai Garden is composed of “dwarf” trees where one is uniquely different from the other. Some trees define solitude and deep serenity, while others portray real life drama where trees hang from mountainsides or rugged shores.

The Weyerhaeuser Bonsai Garden provides bonsai viewing opportunity for everyone the whole year round, closing only on the following days: Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, and Thanksgiving Day. The garden does not have admission charges. Moreover, it is handicapped accessible, and has guided tours available as well.

There are several guidelines to follow when visiting the Weyerhaeuser Bonsai Garden. One, smoking is strictly prohibited as the garden maintains a smoke-free environment. Electronic gadgets like cell phones and games are discouraged from being use while inside the garden premises.

Picnicking is not allowed within the Weyerhaeuser Bonsai Garden, but there are maps available that will guide you towards the nearby restaurants and parks. Also, service dogs are the only pets that are permitted to go inside the garden, for as long as they have their identifying blankets on.

When inside the Weyerhaeuser Bonsai Garden, you will undoubtedly be tempted to take home a few photos for souvenirs. After all, it’s not everyday that you get to see man and nature work together to create such masterpieces. And before long, you’ll be among the bonsai enthusiasts who dedicate a good deal of their time.

The Japanese style garden is so unlike the Western style. For one, most people would say that the Japanese gardens offers a more soothing and meditative ambiance. This style of gardening utilizes shrubs, trees, sand, ponds, artificial hills, flowing water, and rocks which allow it to artistically mimic nature.

Most people associate Japanese garden with bonsai trees. And surely, this art of “dwarfing” trees can be traced back as a part of Japanese culture. The cultivation of bonsai trees have now become more than just a horticultural trend. As a unique form of art, bonsai trees have captured the hearts of those who never even consider themselves as “green thumb”.

A Japanese bonsai garden should be the perfect sanctuary for your bonsai tree collection. Bonsai, like Zen, are two of the most distinguishing features of a Japanese garden. Thus, creating a Japanese bonsai garden shouldn’t be hard at all. Your miniature trees will give the kind of atmosphere required in a Japanese bonsai garden.

Before you can successfully make your own Japanese bonsai garden, you need to know a lot about bonsai first. Since these serve as the highlight of the place, it would be best if trees are healthy and they are cared for appropriately.

A nice bonsai tree is one that gets a balanced of the essentials. That is, it should have the right amount of water, plant food, light, and attention. Since this kind of tree requires more of your time than any other trees in nature, make sure that you can provide such time before you even attempt to “build” a Japanese bonsai garden. If you bought your bonsai trees pre-shaped, your collection may just go into permanent dormancy with lack of proper care.

People who have grown one or more bonsai trees may want to create a Japanese bonsai garden where they can display their trees in. Although some people may simply want to put trees in significant areas in the house, there are those who would want to place them in one special location.

A Japanese bonsai garden does not merely serve as a showcase of your artistry, but it can also serve as a place where you can unwind, meditate, and un-stress. It is not a surprise why Japanese gardens are always thought of to have something to do with Zen and bonsai trees. After all, these are the very characteristics which make them standout from all the other styles of garden.

Bonsai wire is used to hold the branches of a Bonsai tree in place in order to shape them. The bonsai wire remains wrapped around the trunks and branches until the tree is able to maintain the desired shape, during which the bonsai wire is removed.

Our aluminum wire has copper color anodized coating, and is designed for shaping and holding branches and small trunks inconspicuously. Re-usable and easy to apply, it is softer than copper wire and less likely to damage the tree. 2.0 mm dia wire in a 150 gm size coil.

You can get bonsai wire from any supplier of bonsai tools and accessories. The types that they will have are plain silver aluminum and a copper-colored anodized aluminum wire.

You can choose either bonsai wire. The advantage of a plain silver bonsai wire is it will be easier to see under developed branches than the anodized one when you need to check your wiring later. On the other hand, the copper or brown color of the anodized wire will blend well with the tree branches so they would be more pleasing to the eye.

If you cannot obtain bonsai wire, you can substitute a wire any type of wire that is easily bendable and removable. Bonsai wire comes in different sizes from 1 mm to 7mm, usually weighing 100 to 150 grams and can be over 100 feet long.

Choosing the right size of bonsai wire can be tricky. Some find it easier to buy coils in different sizes but still, you do not want to waste money buying wires that you will not be able to use. One way to determine the size of bonsai wire that you need is to find a wire that you can bend with the same effort as you would bending your tree’s trunk or branch.

If it is easier for you to bend the wire than the wood, then you would need a thicker bonsai wire. Alternatively, if you find that the wire you bought will not be strong enough to do job properly, then you can try double wrapping the wire by applying two wire pieces.

When you are growing a bonsai tree, you may have observed that the bottom does not grow as fast as the top, a “phenomenon” known as apical dominance. This makes pruning a bonsai a necessary process in order to enhance its growth and maintain its shape.

Not all plants respond well to pruning, especially when it is done at an inappropriate time. Pruning a bonsai properly entails knowing the type of plant it is and which time of the year is best to prune it. Usually though, pruning of new growth is done within the growing season, while pruning of old growth is carried out during mid-autumn.

A bonsai which is remained unpruned for sometime will eventually look like a typical tree, and creating a bonsai means starting the whole process all over again. Thus, to prevent this from happening, pruning a bonsai should be done habitually.

Pruning a bonsai can be done in two manners: finger pruning and leaf pruning. Finger pruning is pinching the new growth that sprouted at the top or does not complement the shape of the bonsai. Pinching is done by removing the growth using your forefinger and thumb. Your other hand should be holding the branch where the growth is attached to. This pruning method for coniferous bonsai is better than using scissors because it does not create an unnatural impression on the foliage.

Leaf pruning a bonsai is mostly done during the summer. Deciduous bonsai and tropical plants are pruned by cutting around 60% to 90% of their leaves using fine scissors. The remaining leaves should be enough to supply energy to the tree.

The previously discussed pruning techniques are those which can be done above the ground. Pruning a bonsai can also be accomplished by trimming below the ground. Root pruning becomes essential when the root has grown too much to be in the same pot. Thus, you need to thin it down to make it fit more comfortably inside the pot. However, when trimming the roots, make sure that you do not cut off more than what is necessary that you will deprive the tree of enough feeding roots. Watering should be done after this process.

Pruning a bonsai is basically like giving a person a nice haircut. There are various styles and methods of achieving a particular look to choose from.

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 re-potting 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.

An 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.

When 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.

To understand bonsai history better, it is necessary to have a clear definition of what a bonsai is. “Bonsai” is a Japanese word, which when translated literally means “planted in a pot or container”.

Bonsai refers to a set of methods and techniques in growing, shaping and caring for a tree with the intention of forming it into a miniaturized tree that bears a natural image of an ancient tree. Bonsai history shows that this horticultural practice has survived many centuries evolving into an art form.

While the word “bonsai” itself is Japanese, according to bonsai history China was the birthplace of this art and that bonsai was derived from the Chinese word “pun-sai”.

The Chinese started pun-sai around 1000 BC, utilizing unique methods to cultivate trees in containers. During these ancient times, only the upper class in the society practice pun-sai and the miniature trees were given as luxurious presents.

Some historians think that the Chinese got the technique of miniaturizing trees and planting them in containers from Chinese healers who used the practice to transport medicinal plants. The earliest bonsai styles displayed trunks shaped like animals and mystical figures.

In bonsai history, it was at the time of the Kamakura period when Japan was adopting many Chinese cultural practices that pun-sai was brought to Japan. The Japanese then developed this practice of growing of trees in containers extensively, which is why the art of bonsai is usually credited to them. It was during the Heian period that the art of Bonsai spread around Japan.

During the Tokugawa era, landscape gardening was very popular in Japan and held a status symbol. It was the elite’s pastime to grow plants such as azaleas and maple trees. Then, bonsai or the cultivation of dwarf trees and plants in containers became popular but these small plants are actually quite large when compared to the bonsai we know today.

Additionally, the Japanese did not refer to the miniature plants as “bonsai” until the late 1800s during the Meiji era. Before that, the Japanese called the dwarf trees in a pot “hachi-no-ki.”

The Japanese popularized bonsai and they were responsible for developing the techniques and styles that are still popular today. It was only during the 1900s that bonsai was introduced to the West.

Today, bonsai is a widely popular hobby and art form from Asia to the Western countries. There are shows, exhibits and auctions for bonsai. Aside from bonsai nurseries and bonsai specialty stores, there are also many bonsai internet resources where anyone interested can learn everything about bonsai from bonsai history to plant selection to styles, caring and many other topics. Indeed, this art form has never ceased to fascinate people all over the world and will continue to be passed on for more generations to come.

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 color 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.

Just imagine a tree being swept by a harsh wind and you’ll see the exact appearance of a windswept-styled bonsai. Yes, this form basically simulates the appearance of a tree being exposed to strong winds. So for this style, expect to see your bonsai with branches that appear swept to one particular angle and side.

Note that of the styles available for bonsai, this is the most difficult to portray, though several beginners have started developing it simply for one main reason - the windswept form is dramatic.

One important thing to note about this form is that the tree should be kept growing with all the branches facing at a particular angle. They should never be upright, but they may cascade.

Recommended Species: As claimed by most experts, almost all types of plant species can be appropriate for this form.

Recommended Techniques: Note that pruning, tapering, and wiring will help make your bonsai to imitate a windswept image.