Temperature

Why is temperature important for bonsai?

During winter months it is vital that you keep your new indoor bonsai warm — Not hot — but warm, somewhere between 50 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Where your bonsai falls on this guideline depends on where your bonsai is from “originally” and by this I mean where in the world your bonsai is indigenous… the warmer the native climate, the warmer the area in your home it should be located.

How can temperature be monitored?

The thermostat on the wall is a good place to start. However, a small thermometer can better monitor the actual temperature of the location where the bonsai tree is located in. Most garden centres will have small thermometers available for a reasonable price and purchasing a couple is a worthwhile investment, especially if your indoor bonsai are located in a couple different areas of your home.

What is helpful to avoid temperature fluctuation?

Doors, windows, fans, heating systems and draughty hallways will all affect the actual temperature of a particular area. It is important for the health of your bonsai to be maintained at stable temperature. A sudden drop in temperature, as well as, a sudden spike in temperature can injure your indoor bonsai trees. Indoor bonsai should not be kept near a door that is frequently opened during winter months to avoid harmful cold drafts. It is important that you read the care guide that comes with your bonsai to help establish the best environment to maintain a healthy and thriving bonsai.

Air Circulation

Why is air circulation important for a bonsai?

A location with adequate air circulation is very important for the long-term health of your new bonsai. The life sustaining process of photosynthesis requires an unrestricted exchange of fresh air and stagnate environmental conditions could compromise your bonsai’s ability to continue its photosynthetic processes, by clogging the pores or stomata, located on the bottom of leaves, which bonsai trees use for this vital air exchange, through dust and debris accumulation.

What else is air circulation responsible for?

A closed or confined space is the perfect environment for pests and disease, two of the most terrible enemies of bonsai trees. The regular movement of fresh air helps prevent pests, like spider mites, from establishing their webs and infesting and damaging your bonsai trees. Air circulation also assists your trees in the transportation of essential fluids from the roots to the leaves, by osmosis, which is a vital process. Air also prevents possible root rot conditions, from soil saturation, by assisting in water evaporation.

How can air circulation be improved for a bonsai?

If your bonsai is kept indoors or inside a greenhouse, you might consider leaving a door open, or cracked, and a fan, or fans, running. Spraying and misting your bonsai off regularly will help to remove all dust and debris from the bottoms and tops of leaves, allowing your bonsai to “breathe” freely and to continue its photosynthetic processes.

Pests and Disease

How can I prevent pests & disease?

When working to prevent the possible injury or death of your beloved bonsai, the best defence is a strong offence.  Put simply – do the obvious – keep your bonsai clean, dust and debris free and cleared of fallen leaves and flowers.  Ensure there is sufficient lighting as well as good ventilation and lots of fresh air. A healthy bonsai tree is without a doubt the most important preventative of pests and disease.

How can I treat pests & disease?

Unfortunately, even the best cared for bonsai can come across some type of pests or disease over the months and years.  The first thing to try to change is your bonsai’s current environment. This technique is the simplest and safest. Quite often a change of location can help an struggling bonsai tree and if it does not, at the very least, you know that your bonsai’s problem is probably not environmental.

The second incremental step would be to try, if possible, to introduce biological controls such as ladybugs. Ladybugs are of no danger to your bonsai and they will eat nearly all pests that are. Of course, this technique is limited to outdoor locations.

The third incremental step would be to use chemicals, also in levels of increasing toxicity. To start, you can try spraying a very mild solution of warm water and liquid dish soap on your trees. This technique is an excellent way to prevent a wide variety of diseases and helps in discouraging many types of pests. Multiple applications may be required to achieve and maintain a healthy bonsai, but the rewards will far out-weigh the efforts.

The fourth incremental step would be to try using a mild insecticidal soap. This multi-purpose soap derivative offers effective control over most pests. This type of insecticide is one of the mildest and safest, for humans, animals and bonsai – something of a vital importance, especially if you have children and pets.

The incremental step of “last resort” would be to use an actual “chemical” spray – i.e. an insecticide. It should be handled carefully and used as per manufacturer’s instructions.

The leaves are small, firm, and glossy, and when provided with adequate light, will develop red highlights. The tree produces puffy white flowers. And following the flowers, beautiful berries. By the time the it reaches age 10, it stands about 14 inches tall, ideal for a bonsai.

The Dwarf Eugenia is an indoor plant which means it likes warm weather and plenty of natural sunlight although low levels of light are also tolerable. When growing this plant in extremely hot regions, provide it with some partial shade. In the wintertime, the It can handle temperatures between 46 and 68 degrees but again it prefers warmer climates.

During the hotter summer months, you want to make sure your Dwarf Eugenia bonsai gets adequate water, less in the cooler winter months. The key is to keep the soil slightly moist as this tree does not like variations in water. Most bonsai growers suggest the soil be soaked and then dried out but you will need to experiment a little to determine the watering schedule your tree prefers. Use a humidity tray to keep the humidity up, and occasionally try a little misting.

The Dwarf Eugenia should be fertilized every two weeks during the peak growing season and then every four to five months during the winter. The soil should be a little on the acidic side. Since this is a fast grower, it can tolerate hard pruning.

New shoots should be cut back in pairs of six to eight leaves with just one to two pairs remaining. You can also wire it during the active growing season but most often, pruning produces better results. You should take care in pruning since branches tend to scar. Do the pruning in the summer.

Repot every two years, anytime from early to mid spring. You can also aggressively prune the roots since this tree can easily handle as much as two-thirds loss of root. The Dwarf Eugenia looks great with any style so be creative when shaping it. I started out saying it can be an example of a straight tree, but it can be formed in other styles as well.

Finally, while this shrub has little problem with disease, it is prone to insects such as aphids, red spider mites, meal bugs, and scales. Therefore check your Dwarf Eugenia several times a week and if you notice something, use an organic insecticide or pesticide.

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David and his wife Gina love to spend their time developing their bonsai skills and knowledge as much as possible. The beautiful world of bonsai awaits you at Gina’s bonsai For more information on the different types of bonsai as well as ideas for gifts for all occasions visit Gina’s Bonsai

Proper watering regimen is essential for growing bonsai. So, before you take on this endeavor, you should learn the preferences of any particular species of trees or plants, you grow, as your bonsai. Acacia does not like the abundance in watering.

It can grow in pretty dry climate zone and it grows better, when the soil dries up a bit between two watering times. If the summer is hot, you may water your acacia two times a day: in the mornings and in the evenings. In the colder seasons of the year one watering a day or per two days would be enough.

Another key element of succeeding in bonsai art is providing your plant with enough sun. Acacia can grow in partial shade. This makes acacia perfect for bonsai, as it can well endure little sun in the winter season, when the plant is taken indoors.

Finally we come to pruning. Acacia tends to grow fast and shows intense growth of the top branches. This can unbalance the whole acacia bonsai and kill lower branches. So, these top branches demand constant pruning. Do not hesitate to cut them off time after time.

Hopefully, these three acacia bonsai tips would help you to make the most of your new experience with growing and pruning your small trees.

First of all, you should understand that bonsai is alive. It is a living thing and as with any living thing there is no set of rules, that works equally well with anything that is alive. Your bonsai is alive and ever changing. It responds t o all environment conditions; even the ones, you are not sensitive to.

The next starting bonsai tip is to select the right kind of plant, when you buy your first bonsai. There are two major kinds of them: outdoor bonsai and indoor bonsai. And the truth is that outdoor bonsai cannot survive indoors. No, they will not wither over the night. They will die slowly, over the months, but eventually all your efforts and money, put towards growing it would go vain.

So, the last starting bonsai tip is on where to buy your bonsai. The best place to get your bonsai is from reputable sellers. You can never be sure, what plant you get in your retail store or online. Check out the references of any bonsai seller.

Reputable ones won’t sell you an outdoor bonsai as an indoor one. They would not risk their reputation. These three starting bonsai tips would help you to avoid much frustration in your new hobby.

But, this is not a silly idea anymore as a Juniper bonsai tree can turn your dream of having greenery around the rooms true. However, if you are fond of undergrowth and tiny shrubs that grow like shamrock over the stones, then you can choose Juniper Procumbens nana.

Extremely beautiful to look at, both the plants make excellent additions in living rooms, bed rooms and balconies. You can either place them on your bedside table or beside the windows or in hanging plant pots in the veranda, they simply lighten up the ambience with their presence.

A Juniper bonsai tree is a living miniature model of huge and old trees that have been surviving for years. They fit comfortably in small plant tubs and yield fruits and flowers like a regular Juniper tree, only in smaller size. You can however, do a bit of decoration with the Juniper Procumbens nana by letting them sprawl around the stones and pebbles placed in the tub.

These beautiful floras are indeed very rare to see in homes and are highly appreciated by the visitors. Besides beautifying the rooms, they also purify the air of the room by generating fresh oxygen. As claimed by the scientists, a Juniper bonsai tree and a Juniper Procumbens nana are capable of filtering the pollution in the air and reduce the mal components in the air. Growing bonsai trees is a classic art that requires dedication, perseverance and love for green plants. The Procumbens nana shrubs are fresh green in color and look extremely fresh, hence, good for the eyes.

Normally, these bonsai plants do not demand too much of a maintenance job. They are to be watered once daily that can vary depending upon the type and requirment of the concerned plant. Those exposed to sunlight regularly do not require a lot of water.

A maximum of 6 hours of sun exposure is enough for the plants to survive. However, you should check the soil of your Juniper bonsai tree to ensure that it has enough moisture for the plant. You should not let it go dry by watering religiously.

Watering should be done in a way by sprinkling water from the top of the leaves without disturbing its soil base. The requirement of a Juniper tree and Juniper Procumbens nana differ, so you need to adjust accordingly.

However, bonsai trees can be grown outdoor as well. But, keeping them indoor keeps them aloof from the natural perils like worms, rain, snow, storm, heat, etc. that can harm the trees potentially. This species of trees is particularly very sensitive and needs protection from the harsh elements.

Looking for Juniper bonsai tree for indoor gardening? We are an online retailer selling Juniper Procumbens nana and other bonsai trees at reasonable rates.

Bonsai Trees are not cultivated with the intention of food production or for medicinal value or for creating gardens, but they are meant to be viewed and admired for their beauty.

Planting Bonsai can be a relaxing hobby that brings in a peace of mind and harmony in bringing them up. The joy of bringing up Bonsai Trees extends up to many other things too.

They say, “When you bring up a plant with love, you can learn through it a number of things.” The kind of pleasure Bonsai lovers experience while watching Bonsai Tree’s branches become stronger and bear some fruits and blossom with flowers, is endless.

Thus, cultivation of Bonsai Trees brings humans close to Mother Nature.

Bonsai Trees may be created using specimen extracted from various sources like seedling, cutting or from small trees, whose species would be suitable for the development of a Bonsai. Bonsai can be cultivated using techniques like pruning, potting, defoliation, root reduction and grafting to produce miniature trees replicating the same shape and size as the fully matured tree.

They can be grown from any woody-stemmed tree growing perennially and also from shrubs. But the basic condition is that these species should be capable of producing true branches. You can identify certain popular Bonsai species with characteristics like small leaves or needles.

So, can bonsai trees be grown together?

Many Bonsai Trees can be planted together in a container. But while selecting the species to be grown together, you should consider several factors like the geographic location, weather conditions, temperature, etc. that may be suitable for both.

Yose-ue Bonsai depicts a group of plants emerging from different species grown on a flat surface or a shallow container symbolizing a forest setting or a grove. Yose-ue Bonsai gives a realistic impression of viewing a Natural forest or a copse of Bonsai trees. If you have grown two or more Bonsai Trees in a single container, it will give you the effect of looking at a Mangrove.

Seeing a bunch of Bonsai Trees and seeing a solitary Bonsai, is altogether a different perception. To add charm to your group of Bonsai Trees, you can carefully place some moss and amaze your viewers with your marvelous landscape. To create a masterpiece, Bonsai enthusiasts may grow separate trees and then intertwine them together beautifully.

The only hindrance in growing different Bonsai Trees together is the tedious work involved in pruning and cleaning up these trees. You should provide both the trees with same nourishment and not enhance one tree better than the other, so that people looking at it will appreciate it on the whole and not individually.

There are many individuals who take care of and manicure bonsai trees in order to relax. This hobby is starting to become more fashionable, even in the western world.

I hope you will find these pointers beneficial and that they are going to assist you to take excellent care of your bonsai tree. Just remember, each tree has its own particular needs, so keep an eye on how your bonsai is doing with how it really is developing. This will give you additional information than any piece of writing could.

Make sure you salvage the tree in the correct environment, this is very important and will have a big affect on the development of the tree, it requirements to have sunlight but not too much, water but again not also much and a few additional things, you principally need to know what it requirements before you can actually grant it what it needs so do some reading and get familiar with what your tree requirements to grow.

Take regular care of it, it is really not enough to just plant the tree, leave it there and hope it turns out the way you want it to, you need to regularly deal with it, make sure it is really getting what it preferences and that there are no problems with it, otherwise you may come back to find that it is just getting worse and worse, check on it regularly and have everything in order.

Watering of the plants is also more easily controlled inside. You can easily water your plant when it’s needed, without the fear of over watering. The soil may be monitored to be sure it is kept at the moisture level the bonsai likes.

The bonsai’s growth is moderated by pruning, root reduction, potting, defoliation, and grafting in order to shape the bonsai into a form resembling that of a full mature tree. The beauty of a bonsai tree is that even regular seed species could be used and transformed into miniature works of art.

Caring for your plants is much easier when you monitor your plants on a daily basis. you will be ready to immediately view and correct any trouble that happens. By keeping your bonsai plants inside you can also eliminate a lot of of the pest issues that can happens with cultivating bonsai outdoors.

Another technique is called layering, in which an existing branch is cultivated to produce roots, thereby producing a candidate for the trunk of a new tree.

Wire and pruning may be used to encourage your bonsai to raise into the desired, artistic shape. I did not find out all this information before it was as well late to save my first bonsai. however I now have the right knowledge to ensure my replacement tree does not suffer the same fate.

By: Monica Demarco

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For everybody who wants to obtain added information concerning bonsai tree stores, just visit the Bonsai Tree Store website where you can discover related posts in relation to this unique issue.

Bonsai tree growing is when the bonsai is almost the same genetically as any other tree and is not breed to be smaller. Instead of this, the owners can control the environment and restrict the control and size of its shape. There are many techniques by which they can do this.

Some of the most popular ones are wiring, defoliation, grafting, clamping, wiring and other means. These techniques are not very easy to learn, you can take years and years to master them. However, it is also said that it produces a calming effect on your life, if you learn these techniques.

This is done through the techniques of wiring, pruning, clamping, defoliation, root reduction, grafting and by other means. You will find many holy men that too mainly from Asian countries that practice bonsai tree growing.

This is said because everyday life is fast paced and hectic but the growing bonsai tree is a slow process and thus it gives you an entirely different prospect to look at things. Also, the rewards to watch your tree grow can be really very rewarding.

When you start to grow a bonsai tree, you can start the process by choosing a seedling. You can easily get it from any nursery or a gardening store along with a pot of soil and some tools to start off with. You can also take a cutting from an existing tree, which has slowly grown into a separate tree.

Either of these methods requires some time and devotion for a beginner and thus the new owner might have to pick a small, young premade bonsai that is ready to be styled in the near future.

Majority of the people think these trees as indoor plans. Actually it’s not that way, these can also be grown outdoors although some species are there which require inside care. This perception about bonsai tree being grown indoors is that usually they are displayed indoors during the competitions and exhibitions. However, the truth is bonsai trees are grown outdoors as long as the climatic conditions are well suited for the environment.

You will find different types of bonsai tree in the nurseries. Since there are many differences between different species of trees, thus you need to take great care of them and choose the correct species for your climate. Due to lack of information, these trees are often badly cared which results in their death.

All you need to do is to follow some simple steps and you will not face any problem in growing a bonsai tree. Do check out more information on bonsai tree care online. There are many websites and articles online which will give you access to plethora of information.

By: bradley B

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With their finely textured foliage and rugged bark, a Juniper will convey the perfect impression of the wilderness in miniature.

Buy One or Make One?

If you are a beginner in bonsai, there are advantages to both strategies. If you buy a Juniper bonsai which is well styled, it can serve as a three dimensional model for you to learn how to style your other trees. However, there is some expense involved in purchasing an established bonsai, particularly one which is well styled. For a fraction of the cost, you can create your own. You will still need to buy a bonsai pot, though.

If you decide to create your own bonsai, you will need to go to a garden center, landscape nursery, or the garden department of your local “big box” store in order to purchase the raw material. There are several varieties of juniper available in nurseries, but the easiest one for beginners to work with is Juniperus Procumbens Nana, also called the Japanese Ground Juniper, Japanese Garden Juniper, or the “Green Mound” juniper.

These Junipers are usually sold as ground cover in temperate climates, and are usually available in one gallon and five gallon sizes. Try to find one that has a thick trunk, and some strong upper branching that you can use to create the top of the tree.

Creating the Juniper Bonsai

(Skip this part if you purchased one already made). Once you have your raw material home, you will need to prune and shape it. Remove it from the nursery pot, or cut away the rim of the nursery put so you can access the lower part of the tree’s trunk. Most nursery plants are too deep in the soil, so scrape away the surface soil to see what the root spread looks like.

Prune away the undergrowth, and prune out enough inner growth so you can see what the branching is like. Find a strong central branch to act as the upper trunk or leader, and wire or stake it into an upright position (if you are styling an upright tree – skip this if you are doing a windswept or a cascade).

Select your side, front and back branches and prune away unwanted growth. You should have back branches starting above the first side branch and continuing to the top, and front branches on the top half or third of the tree. Front and back branches give the tree three dimensional reality.

Potting the Juniper Bonsai

Clean the old soil from the roots with a root hook, chopstick, or wash it off with a hose. Prune the roots to fit the bonsai pot. Your first bonsai pot for the juniper should be half as high and twice as wide as the nursery pot. Fit some drainage screens to the holes in the bonsai pot, and put a layer of bonsai soil in the pot.

Position the tree and wire it in place if necessary. Fill in around the roots with bonsai soil, and work the soil in with a chopstick. Water the tree until water runs out the bottom of the pot.

Where to Keep Your Bonsai:

Junipers are outdoor trees. Period. Do not attempt to keep one indoors. While Junipers ordinarily prefer full sun, the small soil volume of a bonsai container will dry out rapidly if you keep one in full sun. The best place for a Juniper bonsai is on a covered patio or porch that faces south, east or west, so it will receive some sun but be sheltered in the hottest part of the day. Junipers are winter hardy, and will not need winter protection except in the most severe climates.

Watering:

Most good bonsai soils are designed to drain well, and your Juniper bonsai will need to be watered at least once every other day, and possibly every day. You should never leave it waterlogged, and never let it dry out completely. If your Juniper is waterlogged a day after being watered, then your soil does not drain well enough and needs to be changed.

Pests and Diseases:

Junipers tend to be relatively pest and disease free. The commonest problems are red spider mites, particularly in hot weather if you do not water enough, and Juniper weevils, which are small beetles that eat the new growth.

Maintenance:

Prune your Juniper bonsai by pinching out new growth with your fingers every two weeks or so to preserve its shape.

Enjoy:

Enjoy your new Juniper bonsai and your new hobby. Your little tree will bring you great beauty and contentment for many years to come.

By: Charles M

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Charles M is a bonsai artist with 20 years’ experience. His website is Kuromatsu Bonsai. For more information on juniper bonsai, please visit Juniper Bonsai For information on Azalea bonsai, please visit Azalea bonsai

Legend has it that an emperor of this dynasty wanted to view his entire kingdom from his window, hence a garden was created, complete with hills, valleys, rivers, lakes and trees.

However, some historians believe it was during the Tang dynasty some 200 years later, the art of bonsai was cultivated. It was during the Heian period (794 – 1191 A.D.) that Buddhist monks brought bonsai from China to Japan, where the Japanese perfected and refined this art, much of what we see, understand about the art of making bonsai can be safely credited to the Japanese.

It was in the 19th century, bonsai came upon the western shores, and from then on bonsai art has dominated the landscaping scene. There are many bonsai trees types one can choose from, an amateur can also learn this art with relative ease by practicing and applying some tried and tested techniques.

Bonsai Styles
Bonsai are basically trees grown in pots, containers and trays, yet are very different than plants and trees planted in containers. Bonsai is not be confused with dwarf trees, they are full sized trees that are grown using basic bonsai techniques: root reduction, potting, pruning, wiring, defoliation, etc. The bonsai trees are basically miniatures of the large sized trees, and not dwarfs. Bonsai is not meant for production of food and medicine, but strictly meant for landscaping and home decor.

A bonsai may be shaped in various formal or informal styles; slant, cascade, windswept, etc. Bonsai tree pots could be simple or unusually shaped trays made of plastic, wood, stone or ceramic. A bonsai tree pot has drainage holes in the bottom to allow excess water drainage, for covering holes with mesh to prevent soil from falling out, and for wiring the roots until the tree can bear down its sown weight.

Bonsai Trees Types
There are a number of different types of Bonsai trees one can cultivate. Before you decide upon a tree, it is advisable to learn as much as one can about the tree’s basic requirements and amendments required to grow them as a bonsai. Following is a list of few bonsai trees types:

Azalea Bonsai: Azalea Bonsai is the most common form of bonsai known, and best for an amateur. The azalea has pretty flowers that accentuate the bonsai’s beauty. It should never be placed in full sun, and must be fed with suitable fertilizer before blooming starts.

Japanese Maple Bonsai: A shade loving bonsai, the Japanese maple bonsai tree is popular for its delicate foliage that turns a startling shade of red, orange or yellow. It is easy to shape in any desired style, however all pruning and styling should be done in spring.

Fukien Tea Bonsai: Fukien Tea bonsai tree is a very small genus of tropical trees that should be placed in direct sunlight for not more than an hour. As the leaves on the shoots are quite tiny, one can wire new shoots to shape the tree. It should be re-potted every 2-3 years, in early spring.

Pomegranate Bonsai: One of the favored deciduous bonsai trees, the pomegranate can be quite a colorful addition to your bonsai collection, with its bright green tiny leaves, red trumpet shaped flowers, and tiny round orange-ish red ornamental fruit.

Magnolia: A Magnolia is primarily a very slow growing shrub, that can be cultivated as a bonsai. This one requires patience, for it will be a good 25-30 years before it begins to bear flowers. The flowers are star shaped and white. With no leaves on the Mongolia, the flowers look extremely dramatic on the bonsai.

Flowering Crabapple: Any apple species would look great as a bonsai, but the flowering crabapple beats them all when it comes to absolute beauty. One can try different styles on crabapples too, although the upright formal type is more favored. The tree bears white, pink or red flowers and tiny green-red sour apples. They too are a great choice for beginners.

Bougainvillea Bonsai: This versatile tree or shrub, with its varied colored flowers and bright green foliage is one of the most abundantly found bonsai in most plant nurseries. They are easy to take care of and will grow real fast. They can very well be styled in a cascading manner, and are one of the few ones that enjoy full sun.

Other bonsai trees types include Jade bonsai, Dwarf Juniper, Chinese Elm, Bamboo, Cheery trees, Ginkgo, Cypress, White pine, Boxwood, etc. As you can see the list is endless, so one can create new beauties ever year, and keep adding on to your bonsai collection.

By Loveleena Rajeev