How to grow bonsai at home?

According to legend, the Chinese emperor decided to observe his country with his own eyes, for which the craftsmen of the Celestial Empire had to create tiny copies of houses, people and, of course, trees. Bonsai, a tree in miniature, first conquered Japan almost fifteen centuries ago, and today this amazing art has conquered the whole world.

Like many centuries ago, the goal of the bonsai grower is to reproduce the creations of nature itself. Reduced copies of oaks, maples, pines, sakura or ficuses have realistic proportions, they live according to the routine established by nature. If a deciduous tree is grown in a pot, it blooms, becomes foliated and goes into winter rest.

Since the artfully shaped resemblance to a real tree is hand-formed, growing and caring for a bonsai is laborious, time-consuming, requiring knowledge, patience and understanding the needs of your green pet.

And yet more and more newcomers are enthusiastically undertaking the difficult, but very exciting job. How to grow bonsai at home and care for a small copy of a real tree?

Among the uninitiated in the intricacies of ancient agricultural technology, there is an opinion that Japanese bonsai trees are plants obtained from special seeds. This is not true. Experienced flower growers know very well that miniature spruces, pines, apple trees or wisterias appeared from ordinary seeds, and only human hands could make them slow down and change their shape.

How to grow bonsai at home: common ways

If a grower is just beginning to be interested in bonsai, the easiest way is to purchase a plant already formed, for example, from a ficus or citrus. It will help you master all the techniques of getting away from regular watering to pruning and adjusting the shape of the trunk and branches. The accumulated experience will allow you to move on to more complex tasks.

There are several ways to grow bonsai at home:

• through sowing the seeds of the culture you like and the subsequent "upbringing" of the seedling;
• using a rooted cutting;
• the formation of a seedling from a nursery or wildlife;
• transferring to a pot and correcting an already adult cultivated or wild-growing specimen.

The fastest of these methods is the formation of the crown and root system of a one- or two-year-old seedling. Such a plant already has developed roots, while its ground part gives room for imagination and can be modified according to the plans of the grower.

Enthusiasts who are interested in how to grow bonsai from seeds should know that this path is the longest, but also rewarding. Here, a person has control over the plant literally from the moment the seed spits, and it is easier to change the shape of shoots and roots because of their flexibility.

You don't have to choose an exotic tree or shrub. The main thing is that the plant has small leaves and a small annual growth, otherwise it will be much more difficult to "tame" the future bonsai tree.

Choosing the right tree for bonsai

What types of plants are suitable for bonsai, a Japanese-style tree? To get an attractive tree quickly enough, you can pay attention:

The selection of trees suitable for bonsai is incredibly large, and many of them are indigenous to Russia and are found in gardens, parks, city squares and forests. Magnificent compositions are obtained from barberry and irgi, hawthorn, acacia and birch, elder and linden, euonymus and oak.

Before growing a bonsai, based on the type of plant, its future height and style are determined.

How to grow bonsai from seeds?

The seeds of trees and shrubs suitable for bonsai are divided into two types. Some of the crops are immediately ready for germination, but evolution has included a hibernation period in the “program” of many species, when the sprout waits out the cold season. At home, stratification will help simulate winter.

The seeds of trees for Japanese bonsai are placed in wet sand or sphagnum moss for 3-5 months, after which the container is placed in the refrigerator. At a slight positive temperature in a humid environment, the seed prepares for growth. When it is transferred to warmth, the sprout quickly awakens. For evergreen species and plants with seeds that have a particularly strong shell, heat or temperature contrast is used to awaken.

Sowing seeds is carried out from spring to early autumn. Seedlings obtained in the second half of summer already need illumination, which is simply irreplaceable in autumn and winter.

For germination and the first months of life of seedlings, a light sandy-peat substrate or soaked peat tablets that have gained moisture are used. Until a sprout appears on the surface, the container should be in the dark under the film. The air temperature is selected depending on the bonsai tree being grown.

To avoid the formation of condensation and rot, the greenhouse is ventilated. When seedlings appear, they provide a small access of fresh air inside and transfer the seedlings to the light. As necessary, seedlings are watered and fertilized with complex compounds. When the plant reaches a height of 10–12 cm, it is transplanted.

At this stage, the main root is shortened by a third to slow down the vertical growth of the tree. They immediately begin to form the future trunk, for which they use copper wire.

Choosing a pot and soil for bonsai

The bonsai tree is called tray-grown for a reason. To limit the growth of the pet, it is planted in a deliberately small and shallow container, simultaneously forming and cutting off part of the root system.

When choosing a pot for bonsai, it must be borne in mind that over the years the tree becomes heavy and, especially with an irregular, inclined or cascading shape, can lose stability. Therefore, for bonsai with sizes from a few centimeters to 9 meters, massive, often ceramic pots, bowls or containers of various shapes and styles are traditionally made.

There should be more than one drain hole at the bottom of the container. They are used not only for draining water, but also for fixing the plant.

To protect the plant and protect it from fungal infection of the root system, treating the bonsai pot with a hot solution of potassium permanganate or scalding with boiling water will help.

Bonsai soil is not only designed to provide the plant with nutrition and retain moisture, it should help the roots to anchor in a relatively small volume of the pot. Therefore, a special substrate is used for miniature copies of real oaks, lindens, lemons, maples and other trees.

In Japan, for many centuries, such a mixture based on certain types of clay has been called akadama. For greater nutritional value and looseness, fertile soil and sand are added to the granular substance:

1. For deciduous species of bonsai trees, a substrate is recommended with the inclusion of 7 parts of sod land and 3 parts of coarse washed sand.
2. Flowering crops are grown on a mixture of 7 parts of sod land, three parts of sand and 1 part of highly nutritious humus.
3. Conifers, the most popular among bonsai lovers, need particularly loose soil, for which they take 3 parts of sod soil and 2 parts of washed sand.

Before filling the pot, the bonsai soil is sorted out, removing foreign inclusions that can damage the roots, sifted and sterilized. A drainage layer is arranged at the bottom of the container to drain excess moisture.

Bonsai tree care at home

It is not enough to buy a miniature tree, get a young seedling or root a stalk of the breed you like. It is important to know how to care for a bonsai tree.

Constantly limiting growth, forming a crown and growing bonsai in a small pot, a person completely changes the life of a tree or shrub. Therefore, caring for such a crop is strikingly different from caring for other indoor plants.

The main task of the grower is to establish watering of the bonsai, which is not easy to cope with with a small volume of soil and a shallow pot filled with roots.

Previously, flower growers had only a special shape of a watering can at their disposal or the ability to immerse a bonsai pot in a bowl of water in order to wet the soil from below. Today, irrigation of plants or drip irrigation is actively used, which makes it possible to moisten the soil under the bonsai in a metered dose and without the risk of erosion.

For irrigation, take only soft, thawed or settled water. During the growing season, plants need more moisture, with the onset of autumn and the approach of the dormant period, watering is reduced and carried out less often, focusing on the state of the substrate.

Top dressing is carried out at intervals of 2-3 weeks, using their mixtures for different crops and seasons. For Japanese bonsai trees, there are algae-based mineral supplements.

Plants cannot be left without food, but it is equally important not to overfeed the bonsai. Therefore, when caring for bonsai trees at home, top dressing is applied very carefully:

• in the spring, at maximum growth intensity, include in fertilizer twice as much nitrogen as potassium and phosphorus;
• in summer, the proportions remain the same, but the concentration is halved;
• closer to autumn, especially for deciduous crops, the content of potassium and phosphorus is doubled, and nitrogen, on the contrary, is reduced.
• flowering and fruit-bearing trees and shrubs need more potassium to form buds and ovaries.

With the arrival of winter, nothing changes for exotic evergreens, but conifers and deciduous trees must prepare for wintering. How to care for a bonsai tree in winter? If the climate permits, they are left outside or brought onto unheated terraces. The root system in a small bonsai pot may be the first to suffer, so it is additionally covered, and the soil is slightly dried. With the onset of spring, the plant wakes up and again needs watering, fertilizing and the formation of a crown and roots, which is mandatory for bonsai.

How bonsai is grown - video

Bonsai Exhibition Video

Not everyone can properly grow bonsai at home, because this is a real art that requires creativity and special skill from a person.

As you know, bonsai is a copy of an ordinary tree, but only in smaller sizes. Such plants are very often used to create a unique and original interior in a home or office space. Before growing a bonsai, it will take a lot of time to study special literature on planting techniques and further care.

In order to create such a piece of art at home, you must take care of the following tools and working materials in advance:

• special ceramic bowl for bonsai;
• cutting of the future tree;
• expanded clay;
• granite chips of different colors;
• thick soft wire;
• sharp garden knife;
• secateurs;
• black soil;
• elements for decoration (beautiful stones, moss, etc.).

Bonsai: growing

Growing bonsai

In order to find out how to grow a bonsai on your own, consider the detailed instructions with which you can not only choose the right plant, but also create a unique work of art that will decorate your home for a long time.

Choosing a cutting

Bonsai stalk

To form a bonsai, it is necessary to acquire such a plant so that it has medium-sized, but beautiful foliage, a densely woody trunk, as well as rapidly blooming flowers. Some of the cheapest cuttings are trees such as orange and lemon. Of course, you are unlikely to succeed in getting fruits from them, but bonsai from them will turn out to be perfect.

Choosing a future style

Bonsai style

Decide in advance how you want to see the bonsai that you plan to grow on your own. Draw on a piece of paper the approximate shape of the crown and trunk, and also think about its future decoration. It is worth noting that you will have to keep this sketch for a long time, since growing a beautiful and stylish tree can take you more than one year.

Buying a ceramic bowl

Ceramic bowl

Choosing a container for bonsai is no less a responsible matter than buying the cutting itself. After all, this is also part of the composition, which plays a huge role in decorating the room. The bonsai must be in harmony with the chosen plant, it is also recommended to give preference to natural materials (clay, ceramics, etc.). In order for the tree to grow quickly and not hurt, it is necessary to choose a bowl with a large number of drainage holes.

Correct soil preparation

Bonsai soil preparation

In order to avoid accelerated growth of bonsai, it is not recommended to use fertile land when planting it. If you live in a city, then such raw materials can be easily found in flower shops. And in the case of living in rural areas, it is advisable to prepare a suitable soil mixture yourself. To do this, you need regular garden soil and some coarse river sand. The prepared raw materials should be thoroughly mixed, and only then proceed to planting the plant.

Sapling processing

Bonsai seedling processing

Before planting the cutting in a ceramic bowl with soil, you will need to grow it for a long time in a regular pot (about two years). In addition, thin branches should be removed frequently during this preparation process, leaving a sturdy trunk and strong shoots. This procedure is necessary in order for the plant to acquire a good root system, as well as the desired thickness and size. After the trunk of your tree gets stronger and acquires special hardness, you can safely start forming the crown.

Crown processing

Crown formation

In order to create a form of a house plant that would be no different from a real tree, you must selectively remove shoots that do not match your old drawing. To give the individual branches suitable lines, they should be secured in the desired position with a thick, but soft wire. This must be done carefully so as not to harm the entire plant. First, you need to process the lower shoots, and only then go up. Do not pull the wire too tightly, as it will easily stick into the trunk, and then form ugly scars on it. It is advisable to leave the fixing elements for several months, because the shaping is considered complete only after, having removed the wire, you note the safety of the necessary lines.

Transplanting a Bonsai into a Ceramic Bowl

Bonsai transplant

For such a transplant, you should remove the plant from the container, and then clean the roots from the soil and remove unnecessary elements. Lay a dense netting at the bottom of the bonsai tree so that the soil does not wash out with the water during irrigation. Next, you should pour expanded clay, and then a little prepared soil. After that, it is necessary to place the plant evenly, straightening all its roots, and fill up the soil, securing the trunk well. The soil must be thoroughly watered, and, if desired, decorate it with decorative stones, ceramic chips, live moss, etc.

Video

To learn more about the art of growing bonsai at home, watch the following video:

Not only owners of private houses, but also residents of the most ordinary apartments can admire the beautiful trees. The ancient art of bonsai will allow you to place coniferous or deciduous plants in a small room. The first to grow shrubs and trees in small bowls were in ancient China, but the plants were selected not decorative, but suitable for food or necessary for the manufacture of medicines.

The Japanese, on the other hand, have always appreciated beauty and have been able to contemplate. They borrowed the practice of growing trees, but deprived them of any practical use. Bonsai is real the art of growing miniature treesthat everyone can master. What difficulties can a beginner florist face? And how to properly form the crown of a tree?

Choosing a future bonsai style

To get an unusual and spectacular plant, you need to decide what style of bonsai you are attracted to. Depending on the chosen direction, a specific type of plant is also selected. Beginners often make the mistake of acquiring the wrong trees and trying to give them the required shape.

So, there are several generally accepted bonsai styles that are easy to distinguish from each other.

Bonsai vertical style

This style has two sub-types: classic and free... In the first case, the trunk of the tree should be perfectly straight, have an ideal conical shape. The lower branches are distinguished by a large volume, towards the top of the branches they become thinner and thinner.

Free form implies the curvature of the tree trunk, which alternately "departs" to the right and then to the left. Yet the general direction of growth is upward.

Any plants are suitable for the vertical style, but the free subspecies is recommended for conifers.

Bifurcated trunk

This interesting shape can be obtained in one of two ways: by planting two different plants or from one root. It will be easier for beginners to get used to two different plants, and they need to be selected so that the pair has a pronounced leader. The weaker tree, however, should not be sick.

The composition can be either strictly vertical or slightly tilted.

Bonsai broom

This style of bonsai requires special attention to the tree as it is not easy to achieve perfect "equality" between all branches. The apical shoot is pinched at a height of about a third of the total size of the tree. From this point, skeletal branches begin to grow. Necessary keep equal proportions, the thickness of all branches must be equal. Thus, a beautiful and wide crown is formed.

Deciduous plants with spreading branches, which in nature form a large crown, are suitable for this style.

Platy bonsai

Such a plant is rare, since several trunks at a distance from each other are formed from one tree. How to achieve this unusual look? A seedling is selected, on one side of which the branches grow more actively than on the other. The "thick" part will become the basis for the bonsai. Excess branches from the other side are cut off, cuts are made on this side, and the tree itself is placed horizontally in a container with soil. Roots will begin to grow in the places of the notches. Thus, the branches of one side will turn into trunks over time.

Multi-stem bonsai

This style also has many stems from a single root. But the very shape of the tree can be almost any: vertical, curved and even inclined.

Bonsaz forest style

But in this case, the number of trunks determines the number of plants. Several trees are planted at once (always an odd number). The composition is formed rather compactly to emphasize the resemblance to a real forest. The central tree is usually taller than all the others, it is brought to the front, placing two more tall trees on the sides. Extra branches are removed from everyone, leaving bare trunks, the crown is thinned out. But the background is represented by smaller trees with dense branches.

Bonsai literary form

An interesting and unusual look of the plant is achieved by constant adjustments. The trunk of such a tree is constantly bending. It is quite simple to consider all the slopes, since the trunk is completely bare, leaving only the top with young shoots. The combination of a thick old trunk and young branches is especially appreciated in this style.

For the formation of bonsai, it is recommended to use densely branched coniferous plants.

Cascading bonsai

Such trees are a little more common, because they look very impressive and immediately catch the eye. Cascading forms are typical for wildlife: rocky areas. A powerful root system is strengthened in the ground, and the plant itself hangs along the rock.

Separately highlighted and semi-cascade, which differs in the level of inclination. The lower branches of such a plant should be at the level of the base of the bowl.

Inclined barrel

Another common shape is a uniform slope on one side. The trunk can be either very thin or thick, but it is imperative that open roots remain on the surface. This view gives the impression of "tearing", as if a powerful hurricane was trying to uproot a tree.

Both deciduous and coniferous trees are suitable for formation.

Bent by the wind

The slope level in this bonsai style is close to critical. In nature, such forms are found on the coast, where the wind constantly blows only from one side. The trunk is formed in such difficult conditions and looks like it is constantly under pressure.

Choosing a cutting

There are many ways to grow bonsai. If you want to choose the style of the tree yourself and can wait, then do not purchase young plants, but give preference to cuttings or seeds. The last option is suitable for people who know how to wait.

The stalk is ideal for growing bonsai. It should be taken from a one-year (in some cases two-year) tree. The size of the shoot usually does not exceed 10 centimeters. In order for the root system to form quickly, special compounds are added to the soil, which accelerate root formation.

Make sure the cutting is from a healthy plant. The shoot should have no more than 6-8 leaves. The unfinished part is removed before planting in the pot.

Choosing a ceramic bowl

A very important part of preparation is choosing the right pot for growing your bonsai tree. The bowl should not only fit into the interior and be combined with the plant, but also meet many functional requirements. So, for example, notice the presence of wide drainage holes... Excess moisture can cause the development of diseases, rotting of the roots and cause the death of the plant.

The size of the pot must also match certain parameters. Experts recommend adhere to the following rules:

• the depth of the bowl is equal to the diameter of the trunk at the base,
• width - 2-3 centimeters less than the length of the branches,
• and the length is not more than two-thirds of the width or height of the tree.

However, you should not rush into choosing a suitable ceramic bowl, since the stalk is usually grown in a container, and transplanted into a beautiful pot only after a year or two.

Soil preparation before planting

Cuttings for the formation of shoots are planted in a mixture of peat and sand... The recommended depth for an escape of 10 centimeters is 3 centimeters. After watering, the plant is covered with polyethylene to protect it from temperature extremes, wind and sunlight.

Only after the tree gives its first shoots can it be taught to the sun and fresh air (if it is supposed to be grown on a balcony or outdoors).

It is recommended to transplant it into a ceramic bowl in a year or two, when the tree takes over and grows. At this moment, the most important phase begins - the formation of the trunk and crown.

To give the plant the desired look, you must first of all slow down its growth. And a properly selected soil will help with this. The characteristics of the soil, of course, depend on the specific type of tree. But it is still worth remembering that poor soil is the basis of bonsai... The composition usually includes peat, stones and sand, rotted leaves. The roots are pruned and the tree is transplanted into a prepared bowl.

How to grow bonsai at home?

The peculiarity of bonsai is that this art time is given daily... A good owner knows all the features of his plants, can remember all the branches and constantly monitors the condition of the trees.

First of all, you should take care of growth, or rather, its slowdown. Even in sparse and rocky soil, a fairly large tree can grow if you don't artificially restrain it. For this, special nippers cut the trunk in several places... The juice will be used to heal wounds, not to grow quickly.

Pruning branches also slows down this process, but this method is rarely worth it. In addition, the branches should be clearly structured.

You also need to make sure that the tree takes the chosen shape. For this the trunk and branches are fixed with bandages or rings, even wrapped with wire.

Bonsai care

In order for the tree to delight you with its appearance for many years, try to observe simple rules:

• regular watering should not be done from above, but at the roots of the tree;
• branches and leaves need to be sprayed with water to nourish them and remove dust, but this procedure can only be carried out in the morning;
• the bonsai bowl should not be in direct sunlight;
• the plant should be protected from frost and protected from high temperatures;
• Regular pruning of branches and roots will allow you to form a tree of the desired size and shape.

How to grow bonsai at home: video

Bonsai is the art of growing small copies of natural plant origin, which first conquered Japan and then the whole world. The clever resemblance of the chosen representative of the flora is formed with his own hand, so this requires a lot of patience, time and knowledge. In this article, we will show you how to grow a bonsai tree at home, and how you need to care for it.

Choosing a tree for bonsai

In order to grow a beautiful bonsai tree at home without much hassle, it is best to choose for this one of the plants listed below, about which the gardeners' reviews are extremely positive. Photos will help you see how such a green pet will look like.

• Indoor citrus fruits: orange, lemon, calamondin;
• Ficus Benjamin;

• Dwarf pomegranate;
• Willow;

• Ornamental varieties of apple trees;
• Barberry;
• Hawthorn;
• Oak;
• Maple.

These are just some of the most popular options. Growing bonsai can be done from a variety of plants that are found everywhere: in parks, forests, gardens. You can also purchase a seedling from nurseries. The price will depend on the type of tree chosen and its height.

Growing bonsai from seeds

There are two types of shrub and tree seeds suitable for exotic bonsai.One type of crops can be used immediately for germination, while the other part undergoes a hibernation period, in which the sprout must wait out the cold season. Stratification at home will simulate winter.

• For a period of 3-5 months, the seeds of the bonsai tree are placed in sphagnum moss or wet sand, then the container is put into the refrigerator. A positive temperature and a humid environment will help the seed prepare for growth. When it is placed in a warm place, the sprout will quickly awaken;
• You can grow bonsai from seeds from spring to the very beginning of the fall season. For seedlings grown at the end of summer, it is necessary to apply illumination, which is indispensable in the autumn-winter period;
• To successfully germinate seedlings and make them easier for the first months of life, you need to take peat tablets, soaked and absorbed moisture, or a light sandy-peat substrate. Until sprouts appear, the container is kept under the film in the dark. The air temperature depends on the type of tree being grown;
• The greenhouse must be ventilated so that rot and condensation does not appear. When the first shoots appear, the presence of fresh air in the room is necessary, then the seedlings are transferred to the light. If necessary, they are fertilized and watered using a complex composition.

The bonsai plant is replanted when it reaches 10-12 cm in height. In this case, the main root is shortened by 1/3 so that the green pet stops its vertical growth. The future trunk is immediately formed using copper wire.

Growing bonsai from cuttings

You can grow a bonsai with your own hands from a cutting. This method allows you to accelerate the growth time in comparison with the previous version by almost a year. First you need to collect suitable cuttings. It is better to do this in the spring.

• Choose semi-lignified or green shoots 5-10 cm long and about 5 mm in diameter;
• It is necessary to plant cuttings in sterile soil, additionally treated with hormonal powder (if possible).

A short master class on planting a cutting:

• Fill the bottom layer of a deep pot with a diameter of 15 cm by about a quarter with a mixture of akadama and fine gravel in equal proportions;
• Fill the remaining space of the container with a soil mixture suitable for the selected plant;
• We remove all the branches at the bottom of the cutting, cut the thick branches obliquely;
• If desired, we treat the cuttings with a special hormonal powder, which can be bought in plant stores;

• We insert the seedlings into the soil, leaving a sufficient gap between them;
• Water the soil carefully;
• We remove the pot in a place inaccessible to direct sunlight so that young bonsai leaves do not get burned;
• We slightly moisten the soil, but do not fill it;
• It will take several weeks before germination. It will be possible to plant shoots in a year, and in another couple of years it will be possible to start forming a bonsai crown.

How to choose soil and pot for bonsai tree

It is advisable to plant home bonsai in a shallow and small container so that it does not grow huge. At the same time, it is necessary to form and cut off part of the roots.

The bonsai pot is chosen very carefully. This takes into account that from year to year the plant will become heavier, may become unstable, especially if it has a cascading, inclined or irregular shape. Therefore, ceramic bowls, containers or pots, usually massive, of various shapes and styles, are made for the "green friend", which has a size from a few centimeters to a meter. Their bottom should have several drainage holes used to release excess moisture and to fix the future tree.

Scalding with boiling water or a hot potassium permanganate solution works very well for processing the pot. This will help protect Japanese bonsai from root fungus.

The soil helps the tree retain moisture and provides nourishment, and the soil also fixes the roots of the plant in a small pot. Therefore, in order to grow miniature copies of maples, oaks, lemons, lindens, etc., they resort to using a special substrate. This mixture, which is based on certain types of clay, is called akadama in Japan.

The granular substance is "flavored" with sand and fertile soil for good looseness and nutritional value:

• To grow flowering crops, they take three parts of sand, seven parts of land with turf and a part of highly nutritious humus, which are mixed with each other;
• Deciduous bonsai trees thrive thanks to a substrate with three parts washed coarse sand and seven parts turf;
• Conifers love loose soil, consisting of two parts of washed sand and three parts of turf soil.

Before planting a bonsai, the soil must be sorted out and any excess that can damage the root system must be removed. And also the substrate is sterilized and sieved, drainage is done at the bottom of the container.

Bonsai crown formation

To give a miniature tree a beautiful bizarre shape, copper wire is usually used.

• First, all branches from the lower part of the trunk and all the "dry forest" are removed from the plant. Next, three main branches are selected on the crown, which visually form a triangle with equal sides, and all remaining branches between them are removed. You can also leave 2 or 4 branches - it all depends on your desire;
• To make the trunk bend, remove the top soil layer from the roots and carefully tilt the trunk to the required angle. One end of the soft wire is buried in and fixed in the ground at the stem base from the inside of the bend. The trunk must be tightly, but carefully wrapped with wire to the base of the left branches, so as not to damage or tear off the bark;

• You can also create bends of bonsai branches using thin braided wire so as not to hurt delicate plant tissues;
• It is necessary to remove the wire from the trunk of the formed tree after a couple of years, otherwise it may return to its original state. The branches can be released after six months;
• To maintain the aesthetic appearance of the bonsai, also do not forget to regularly prune the long shoots that have crawled out beyond the perimeter of the crown and old foliage to allow new young leaves to grow.

Video: Bonsai Pruning and Crown Formation

How to care for a tree at home

Your main goal is to successfully cope with watering a miniature crop. After all, a shallow pot filled with roots and a small volume of soil create certain difficulties. Drip irrigation or irrigation is best suited, which will allow metered, without blurring, to moisten the substrate under the plant.

Only settled, melt or soft water is suitable for irrigation. During the growing season, green pets need a lot of moisture, and in the fall, watering is reduced and become less frequent.

Miniature plants are great for algae-based mineral supplements, which are carried out every 2-3 weeks. You need to take care of the trees carefully, do not leave them without "food", but the most important thing is not to "overfeed":

• In the spring season, at maximum growth, nitrogen must be added to the fertilizer 2 times more than phosphorus and potassium;
• In summer, the same proportions are used, but the concentration decreases by 1/2;
• At the end of August, especially for deciduous crops, the content of phosphorus and potassium is doubled, and nitrogen is reduced;
• Fruiting and flowering shrubs and trees require more potassium, which is used to form ovaries and buds.

In winter, the tree needs the following care:

• In mild climates, plants are kept outdoors or on unheated terraces;
• In a small pot, the roots may suffer in the first place, so they are well covered, and the substrate is dried a little;
• In the spring, the bonsai flower awakens.Now it again needs to be watered, fed, formed crown and roots.

The video below will help you see the process of growing miniature plants more clearly. If you do not want to wait long, then you can buy an already formed tree, but its cost will amount to several thousand rubles. If you do not have the time and opportunity to carefully care for such a green pet, then make an artificial bonsai from beads, which, according to its aesthetic data, will be no worse than a living one.

Video: How to care for a bonsai tree