BONSAI
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BONSAI |
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"Tree in a pot" is what the Japanese word 'Bonsai' means to us. These are plants that are miniaturised and shaped through careful pruning and maintenance methods. Looking into its origin, it goes to China. 2000 years ago, it was brought to Japan by Buddhists monks. There are two types of bonsai plants- Indoor and Outdoor plants.
| CARE FOR INDOOR BONSAI PLANTS |
WATER is the most important factor of Bonsai. Since the Bonsai plant system is confined to a small area, the soil can dry out very quickly. A very brief time of dryness can bring damage to the Bonsai plant. To avoid such condition, the Bonsai plant needs to be checked now and then, in a day and if necessary, sufficient amount of water should be supplied.The best means of watering the plant is to submerge the pot ina water container for about 5 -10 minutes.
TO TEST THE MOISTURE CONTENT: when the soil feels slightly damp, water should be supplied.
LOCATION of your Bonsai should be in a warm, well-lighted area. Generally, Indoor plants are intolerant of outdoor conditions.
FERTILIZE the plant, once in evrey four months. Most fertilizers contain Nitrogen(N), Phosphorous(P) and Potassium(K). Nitrogen enhances the growth of leaves and stem. Phosphorous and Potassium are added for the multiplication of cells and for healthy root growth and for new buds, flowers and fruits. They also fights against plant diseases. Use a balanced fertilizer with a fairly low Nitrogen content year round and as little or no Nitrogen through the winter, so the tree can retain its energy. Feed your Bonsai from early spring to late summer. "Osmocote", is one of the fertilizers that is recommended by Bonsai enthusiasts.
PRUNING AND REPOTTING are the important aspects of a Bonsai plant. It's always good to have a specific shape in mind before pruning. Try to imitate the natural curves in plants. Hard wood plants need to be trimmed by sharp pruning shears. Soft woods deserves, finger pinching. Wires can be used to achieve the desired shape. It can be wrapped around the branch in a spiral form, but not very tightly. Carefully and gently, remove the wire with shears, before it cuts or pierce the trunk.It's best to keep the plant without watering a day before wiring. Wire the branch first and then worry for bending it. Keep the plant in shade for about two weeks after wiring.Check the plant every few weeks, to avoid wire cutting on the barks. Aluminium wire is recommended for wiring. For pencil-thick sized branches a gauge 3.5mm aluminium wire can be used. The lowest gauge to use is 2.0mm.
REPOTTING should be done in every 2-3 years. If water takes long time to drain or if root starts crowded and peeks out through the drainage holes, repottong is necessary. A careful pruning would be necessary, if the root system appears to be packed tightly, so that there will be enough room for root expansion. Root pruning is another important factor to retrain the dwarf form. For better growth, remove 1/3 of the soil and cut the roots at 45 downward slant, then its good to transplant the Bonsai into a larger pot.
DISEASES AND PESTS are another very important aspect to be noticed, since, Bonsai's can easily catch disease. Remove all dead leaves and weeds from the soil surface.
