Copyright 2006 Michael Saville

Bonsai is Japanese for 'tray gardening' . trees are miniature trees; they keep their small shape and size because of being grown in a small pot or tray and through very careful pruning. The art of pruning a tree can take a very short time to learn but many people can go an entire lifetime without actually mastering the art.

History of Bonsai

Bonsai trees have been documented to exist up to 4,000 years ago everywhere from parts of Asia to Africa. The trees were originally grown in China, but then caravans started to export the trees elsewhere such as Egypt where healers would use them to produce medicines. Some were even buried in tombs with royalty.

The original art of is thought to have started in China, where it was referred to as 'penzai' before being adapted by the Japanese. Only royalty and nobility first enjoyed trees, but then in the Edo period the art form was opened up to people of all social classes.

The Art of Bonsai

Pruning trees is very difficult and takes many years of practice to perfect. Not only does a gardener have to grow the tree properly but they must also know how to prune the branches and roots to keep the trees small and healthy. This care is part of the philosophy behind trees in that they bring together three forces: Truth, essence and beauty, or, in Japanese, 'shin-zen-bi'.

When pruning trees, the Japanese ideal is to prune them in a way that does not show any kind of intervention from outside forces. The tree must always look as though it grew completely naturally with no help. On the other hand, Chinese pruning tends to be much more artistic, as gardeners grow their trees and cut them into intricate shapes and designs such as into Chinese characters or even images of animals and dragons.

Common Kinds of Bonsai

Bonsai trees come in many different forms and varieties. The formal upright tree is one of the most common, distinguished by its balanced branches and a trunk that tapers. The sister variety is one which bends and curves, leading to more variety in how it can be displayed as pleasing to the eye.

These trees can be found all over now, with growers in every corner of the globe and collections and gardens to visit in many countries including Australia, Belgium, Montréal, Canada, China, Germany and many more places in the United States and Asia. If you are interested in learning the fine art of trees, visit one of these gardens and see the kind of large-scale beauty that can come from such a small creation.

Bonsai Tree Care

Today, care has become a very popular hobby for some who maintain the spiritual connection with nature. If that

sounds like you, here are there are five basic techniques in providing care.

Water and Bonsai

Bonsai trees are planted in limited amounts of unique soil. This combination necessitates that care include a frequency in the number of times watered. There are two methods that can be used to determine the dampness of the soil; one method uses a water meter that will indicate the dampness of the soil and will help to determine whether water needs to be added.

Or, by simply inserting your finger into the soil, up to the first joint, you can feel if the soil is moist or dry. If the soil is dry, add enough water to cause the water to escape from the drainage hole of the pot. care also requires an increase in watering during the summer months and less watering during the winter months. It is also important to remember to keep the roots of the tree dry.

Soil Nutrients and Fertilizing

Bonsai care includes the nurturing of the soil in the spring and fall season. This nurturing should include the introduction of nitrogen, potash, and phosphoric acid into the soil. The health of your indoor tree is also dependent upon fertilization. care should include scheduled fertilization twice a month during the spring months. Additionally, fertilization should happen once a month in later fall and through winter.

Sunlight and Bonsai

Depending on the needs of your specific tree, care requires that the tree receive some direct sunlight. If this is not possible your choice of tree should be based on the limited availability of light, or, alternatively, the tree can be placed outdoors to receive its daily dose of Vitamin D. One cautionary note regarding sunlight: limit exposure if your tree has been recently placed into new soil or has been trimmed substantially.

Article Source: http://www.upublish.info

About the Author:
Michael Saville
For more information and tips on tree care visit www.bonsai-tree.biz