Outdoor Bonsai
Many different species of tree can be grown as bonsai and a large number are suitable for outdoor bonsai. These include familiar species such as pines, maples and juniper.
Twin trunk style Juniper
Trees are designed for the outdoors and thrive when they are exposed to seasonal changes of weather. The rain, wind and sun are all important to the tree as is the dormant winter period when the tree does not grow.
Depending on the severity of the conditions, the species of tree and the stage of development, outdoor bonsai may require some protection in winter.
What about styling outdoor bonsai? Since bonsai trees reflect the infinite variety of nature the possibilities are endless!
The 5 main styles – formal upright, informal upright, slanting, cascade and semi-cascade can all be used.
Some of the other styles that can be applied are twin trunk, root over rock, clasped to rock, group, broom, literati, windswept and exposed root.
You can also introduce variations on these styles – if you see a tree in nature that you would like to imitate go ahead and try it!
Outdoor bonsai are grown and shaped using the basic techniques of bonsai.
These include pruning the branches, leaves and roots; shaping the tree by wiring; using appropriate soil; re-potting; watering and feeding.
More advanced techniques are used to create the impression of age and maturity by creating jins on branches and sharis on the trunk.
Many species of trees are suitable for growing as outdoor bonsai. They include beech, apple blossom, crab apple, scots pine, black pine, oak, rowan, yew, Chinese elm, box and maple.
For those new to bonsai some species are especially recommended.
Juniper trees are suitable for many different bonsai styles. The wood is flexible and can be shaped quite easily. Larch is also a species that has flexible branches.
Cotoneaster is another favourite. The dark green glossy leaves contrast with the spring flowers and bright red, orange or yellow berries of the autumn. It can be trained into almost any style.
Bonsai Tree Care – Helping Others
A few weeks ago I wrote about how much we can learn about bonsai tree care from other enthusiasts. They are usually very willing to give advice and encouragement that will help us to make progress on our bonsai journey.
I was reminded about the importance of both accepting and giving advice by an experience I had this week.
Here in the U.K. we have had significant snowfall that has caused severe disruption to normal life. The other day I had listened to the forecast and snow was promised overnight. So I thought it would be safe to call on some friends and then get back home before the snow started.
As it happened the snow came early and I was surprised by the amount of snow that had fallen in a short time. But I wasn’t worried as it’s less than a five minute journey home.
Lessons for bonsai tree care from the snow!
There was already a long queue of traffic so my plan was to turn up a side street to avoid it. I got about 50 metres up the road and the traffic was at a standstill. I realised that the cars in front of me were in trouble – their tyres were simply spinning on the same spot and could not get any traction.
And then the same thing happened to me. So I decided to get out to work out what to do and discovered that the road was like sheet ice!
I knew I was in trouble and in need of some help.
Then these two guys who were walking past stopped because they could see all the drivers were struggling (and not just the female ones!).
They were just so helpful and offered advice and encouragement to us all. I have to say I was a bit sceptical at one stage when one of them, after suggesting a route, offered to push me if there was a problem – how can one guy push a car up a steep hill I thought to myself?!
Anyway his advice worked and I eventually made it home in one piece.
And the moral of the story? People who you’ve never met before are more than happy to put themselves out to help strangers. And believe me, when you’re in need of help both the advice and friendly encouragement to keep going make all the difference!
And this principle applies whether we’re struggling with the snow and ice or with our bonsai trees!
Bonsai from Seed
There are many different methods of growing bonsai trees. These include buying a ready-made mature bonsai, creating your own from garden centre stock, taking cuttings and air layering. However, if you have the patience it is possible to grow a bonsai from seed.
It can be a very rewarding experience to create a bonsai tree from a tiny seed. Remember it will take many years for the tree to develop to the stage where it can be styled as a bonsai.
To grow from seed you will need to follow basic horticultural practice. Firstly, do some research to ensure that you choose seeds from species that are suitable for bonsai. Buy your seed from reputable seed merchants.
Clean the seeds and plant them in fine compost, well spaced out. Over-layer with compost but don’t apply any pressure as this will prevent the seeds from breathing. Hard seeds should be cracked to help them germinate. Water with a spray, cover and leave outdoors with the ventilation holes open.
It is possible to germinate seeds indoors but if you do this with hardy varieties you should place them in the refrigerator. This will mimic the cold effect of winter which is important for germination of hardy species.
Hopefully the seeds will germinate and the seedlings will grow and develop leaves. At that stage gently lift them out of the seed tray – but be careful not to damage the young growth.
It takes many years to grow bonsai from seed
You will now need to start training the roots – a key element in bonsai. Cut off the tap root – use sterile equipment to prevent infection. Then plant the seedling in a growing pot with the roots spreading in all directions. Gently place some bonsai soil over the roots, water and provide shelter for the seedlings as they are left to grow.
The next few years will be devoted to growing the tree, firstly in containers, then in open ground before transferring to a training pot and eventually to a bonsai pot. The aim of this process is to develop a thick mature trunk, plenty of strong branches and well spread roots.
Your patience will then be rewarded and you can develop and style your bonsai tree.
Bonzai Trees
We live in an age where language and grammar are changing rapidly. The text message has had a big impact on spelling. Differences across continents are also common. So it might be that your location determines whether you think I’ve mis-spelt the heading – bonzai trees!
Traditionally ’s’ takes precedence over ‘z’ in bonsai tree. A quick look on my bookshelf shows 100% of the books using bonsai with an ’s’. The same applies to the DVDs.
But what about the internet? If you put ‘bonzai trees’ in a search engine you will get plenty of results. But you do get the question ‘Did you mean bonsai trees?’
Bonzai Tree
Where does the word ‘bonsai’ or ‘bonzai’ originate? It is a Japanese expression and is derived from two words – Bon which means shallow tray and Sai which means plant.
But the original art form is Chinese – landscapes of trees, rocks and moss (penjing) were created in China as early as 200 BC. They then developed the concept of a single tree in a pot called pun-sai.
Pun-sai is the Chinese root of the Japanese bonsai. So both the Chinese and the Japanese origins of bonsai / bonzai use the letter ’s’.
But of course language is constantly evolving and geographical location has a big impact. If you live in the United States you are far more likely to use ‘z’ in words like organize, realize and analyze than those living in the United Kingdom.
So is it important whether we say ‘bonsai trees’ or ‘bonzai trees’?
I guess that depends on your attitude to language. If you’re a fan of Eats Shoots and Leaves by Lynne Truss ( a stickler for punctuation) you may well think it’s very important!
But for many the spelling is secondary to the personal enjoyment and fulfilment of working with nature to create a beautiful tree. Whether that work of art is called a bonsai tree or bonzai tree is not the issue.
Growing Bonsai Trees in India
For most people the art of bonsai is associated with Japan and its culture. Many would be surprised to hear of the popularity of growing bonsai trees in India.
But there are bonsai enthusiasts in many areas of India who create space on their balconies and terraces to grow bonsai trees.
Some have started on a very small scale by growing a few bonsai on tiny balconies in the heart of Mumbai. Then, when their interest blossomed, they have relocated from the city to the outskirts where they had more land to devote to bonsai.
This was the story of Jyoti and Nikunj Parekh who have been involved with bonsai since 1970 following a visit to Japan. They have travelled all over the world conducting workshops and training with renowned bonsai experts. Some 30 years ago they founded the Bonsai Study Group of the Indo-Japanese Association.
If you want to see the largest tropical and bonsai plant collection in India then Ssurup Bonsai Village is the place to go. In three and a half acres you will find over 500 varieties of bonsai trees, many of them rare species. Ruppa and Sujay Shah have created an idyllic setting more reminiscent of Asia than India.
Bonsai enthusiasts in Hyderabad, the capital of Andhra Pradesh, responded to the challenge to set up a bonsai display in the NTR memorial park. Bonsai Wonder houses more than 100 bonsai in a 3000 sq ft area.
Ficus Bonsai Tree
The display includes local tropical varieties, many fruit bearing species e.g mango, pomegranate, oranges and guava and colourful flowering species. All are beautifully displayed using logs of dried coconut palm as bonsai stands and background screens made from bamboo sticks.
Some areas of India have climates that make growing bonsai a huge challenge. Summertime temperatures in central India reach 45 to 48oC and as a result most bonsai enthusiasts choose to grow species that can withstand these temperatures. Examples include fig (Ficus), bougainvillea and purslane tree.
Bonsai Tree Care in Snow
Currently many countries in the world are experiencing extreme winter weather conditions. From China to the United Kingdom to the United States severe snow is disrupting normal life. But what effect does all this snow have on bonsai tree care?
The answer depends on the type of bonsai tree. Tropical bonsai should be kept indoors during the winter months and should not therefore be affected by snow. Temperate and hardy bonsai trees are designed to be kept outdoors. However, there are different approaches to their care in very cold conditions.
Temperate bonsai can either be brought indoors where they will continue growing or be left outside in a dormant condition. Hardy trees should not be brought into the indoor warmth.
It may be necessary to give some protection to your bonsai trees when they are outdoors during very cold periods.
Blanket of snow over soil
Last winter I know some bonsai enthusiasts lost some of their specimens because of the very cold conditions. The risk varies with the species and the stage of development.
Many established bonsai can survive several weeks under a blanket of snow. One of the reasons is that the soil is kept at an even temperature and thus the snow offers a blanket of protection.
Remember that it is possible for the soil in the bonsai pot to freeze and if this happens don’t water or the pot could crack (no joke if you’ve paid a lot of money for it!). The roots could also be damaged.
If you’re currently affected by the cold snap and are concerned about some of your bonsai trees you could take some precautions. Either move your trees into an unheated garage or cold room/area or cover the pot and tree with fleece.
This will protect your bonsai trees whilst still keeping them in the winter dormant state. Remember prevention is better than cure!
And if you’re in the southern hemisphere enjoy the sunshine and warmth!
Advice about growing a bonsai tree
Today I received an email from someone who wanted some advice about growing a bonsai tree. She had just bought her first bonsai tree and had various questions.
The reality is that everyone has lots of questions when they take up bonsai as a hobby. There’s so much to learn – and not just at the beginning! So if you are new to bonsai keep on asking those questions and gather as much information as you can.
Here are a few tips about growing a bonsai tree.
Bonsai Tree - note trunkline, branch structure and foliage
The first thing you need to develop is the trunk. By following a cycle of allowing the tree to grow and then cutting back, the trunk will thicken and develop taper (being narrower at the apex than the base). This gives the appearance of age which is so important with bonsai.
Once the trunk is established you can then concentrate on developing the branches. Decide which bonsai style you want to adopt and then encourage branch growth by cutting and pruning.
The next step is reducing the foliage. As the leaves are the food factories for the tree it is important not to reduce the foliage too early. The sugars produced by photosynthesis are necessary to develop the trunk and branch structure. Cutting and trimming the tree will also have the effect of reducing the leaf size.
One of the pitfalls for the bonsai novice is the ready availability of so called ‘bonsai trees’ for sale in supermarkets, malls and on the internet. These are often not bonsai trees at all and will turn out to be a waste of money.
There are several ways of acquiring bonsai trees but for the novice I suggest that finding a good nursery or garden centre is an excellent place to start. Take advice about the different species and what conditions they need e.g outdoor / indoor varieties.
Learn as much as you can and then start to practice. If you buy relatively inexpensive specimens you won’t need to worry about making mistakes!
Growing a Bonsai Tree – Cotoneaster
Cotoneaster is a firm favourite with bonsai growers. This popular garden shrub is an ideal specimen for those new to growing a bonsai tree. It is easy to grow and can be shaped into many bonsai styles e.g. informal upright, cascade and root over rock.
Cotoneaster red berries and autumn leaves
Its leaves are small and glossy and contrast with the brightly coloured berries which can be red, orange or yellow in colour. These colourful berries can stay on the tree all through the winter to brighten up your garden. In spring tiny flowers, which can range from white to pink to red, cover the tree.
Cotoneaster is a hardy plant and should be kept outdoors throughout the year. It thrives in full sun but can also be kept in semi-shade. It is tolerant of wind but should be protected from frost.
During the summer regular watering is required – usually daily. Watering can be less frequent during the winter but it is important to keep the soil moist at all times.
Cotoneaster should be given fertiliser during the growing season, but not during the flowering and fruiting period. Repot every one or two years in spring.
Pruning of new shoots should be carried out regularly during the growing season. This will encourage dense growth. Since wound healing is a slow process in cotoneasters it is best to cut back old growth during the spring. Branches can also be shaped by wiring at this time.
Those new to growing bonsai trees should be re-assured by the fact that cotoneasters can put up with heavy pruning! They are also very easy to propagate. So if you buy one cotoneaster from a nursery you can then take cuttings to create several more plants over time and experiment with different styles of bonsai.
Take some time to choose a good specimen – one with a thick interesting trunk and lots of branches. Examples of two good varieties for bonsai are Cotoneaster microphyllus and Cotoneaster horizontalis.
Caring for Bonsai Trees – Feeding
An important element in caring for bonsai trees is the feeding regime. Unless bonsai are given the right nutrients at the right time they will not thrive. Therefore feeding, along with watering, are essential aspects of caring for bonsai trees.
The reason why it is important to feed regularly is that the porous soil used in bonsai pots cannot hold onto nutrients. The nutrients therefore need to be replenished on a regular basis during the growing season.
There are three methods of applying fertiliser to your bonsai trees.
1. Watering into the soil.
2. Using fertiliser pellets in the soil.
3. Spraying onto the leaves.
It is a matter of personal preference as to which method you adopt.
Bonsai fertiliser
It is possible to buy specialist fertilisers specifically for bonsai. However, general fertilisers work just as well provided you understand some basic principles.
Three letters (N, P, K) appear on the packaging of all good fertilisers. They represent the three main nutrients – nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. The numbers that you see e.g. N P K 15 30 15 represent the ratios of each nutrient. Higher numbers denote higher strength of nutrients.
The three main nutrients have different functions and it is important to understand this as different ratios are required at different times of the year.
For example, nitrogen promotes the growth of leaves and stems and should be increased when you want to encourage rapid growth. Conversely, no nitrogen should be applied in the autumn as the tree prepares for the dormant winter period.
Different species of bonsai require different ratios of nutrients at different times of the year. So it is important to research this aspect in order to give the appropriate care for you bonsai trees.
If you want to encourage rapid growth of young trees so that the trunks thicken quickly you can introduce a super feeding regime. This works on the principle of using a variety of feeds in small amounts very frequently.
How to care for your bonsai tree in winter
Newcomers to bonsai often have lots of questions about how to care for bonsai trees. The type of care required varies with the season.
During the winter months trees enter the dormant period and need far less attention than during the spring and summer seasons.
Winter dormancy
In fact serious bonsai enthusiasts often take their holidays during the winter months as they are freed from the daily routine of watering!
Hardy varieties of bonsai trees are designed to be kept outdoors throughout the year. Examples include maple and pine. They will not require daily watering during the winter but it is important that the soil is kept moist.
Large bonsai trees are not harmed by snow but you should beware of rapid thaws as the roots could be exposed to too much water in a short period of time.
Smaller bonsai trees and certain varieties may need to be protected from the more severe winter conditions. As the trees are dormant and cold they are not growing and so do not require any light. They can therefore be placed in a dark garage or storage room.
Alternatively, temporary shelters can be created outdoors using heavy duty polythene.
However, do not subscribe to ‘out of sight, out of mind’ – remember to check that the soil is moist.
Another problem to avoid is waterlogging so if there is a prolonged period of heavy rain consider providing shelter for the trees.
It is also a good idea to make regular checks for pests during the winter months as they are still active and can cause serious damage to some species.
A final tip for the winter season is to use the extra time you have to stock up on soil and fertilisers, clean your equipment, sharpen your tools and develop your knowledge of caring for bonsai trees.
