How to grow maple bonsai from seeds at home?

Content:

1. Maple tree type for bonsai
2. Execution options
3. Searching for seeds
4. Preparation of planting material
5. Preparing the soil and capacity
6. Planting seeds
7. Working with a handle
8. Escape landing
9. Planting care
10. Crown formation

Bonsai (translated from Japanese - "grown in a tray") is a small copy of a tree, grown at home or in a summer cottage. The effect is achieved by regulating the size and shape of the plant's root system. It is not easy to grow maple bonsai with your own hands, the process requires patience and time. But the end result fully justifies expectations: a deciduous tree behaves like a full-fledged brother, in the process of blooming and withering, the leaf changes color, then falls off. The compact size of a dwarf plant allows you to keep it even in an apartment, taller individuals adorn verandas and backyards.

Maple tree type for bonsai

You can grow a small tree from pine, sakura, bamboo, willow, elm, lilac, lemon, spruce, ficus. Plant breeders experiment with different types of plants, the principle of creating any specimen is to work with the root system of layering and special care for the crown.

Maple bonsai can be grown at home from different types of tree:

• Rocky;
• Field;
• Ash-leaved;
• Palm-shaped;
• Platan-leaved.

The dwarfs of these species have small leaves, which looks most organically on bonsai trees.

Colored specimens have been bred to grow these trees at home. These include:

• Maple blue or blue;

• Japanese red;

• Purple.

The art of bonsai is in high demand among flower growers and summer residents, therefore the industry is constantly developing, breeders are bringing out new types of maples with different leaf shapes and shades. The photo shows the most popular types of maple compositions.

Execution options

You can grow a miniature tree from a representative of the maple family in several forms:

• Erect view;
• Inclined;
• Broom-shaped;
• Grove.

You can grow a composition from seeds or cuttings at home in any form, it is enough to follow a clear sequence of actions and not to miss important points.

Searching for seeds

Most often, gardeners use a mature tree seed - later, such a source can be given any shape without the need to change an already formed system.

Harvesting is carried out after ripening and falling of "helicopters" from the branches in the autumn. True, such material is not ready for planting: for seeds it is necessary to arrange an imitation of winter rest in artificial conditions.To do this, take a container with a tight-fitting lid, put wet sand into it, into which the seeds are buried, close the container and place it in the refrigerator. The stratification period is 100-120 days, in the spring the collection is ready for planting.

If you want to grow a natural decor item at home, but there is no time to collect seeds, you should contact specialized stores that offer ready-made planting material for Japanese and other types of maple. Blue, blue, red bonsai are obtained only from specially bred plants.

A faster way to get an ornamental tree is to plant a cutting.

Preparation of planting material

In order for the seeds to grow faster, a dense shell is incised and placed in warm water or 9% hydrogen peroxide for 2-3 days. In conditions of high humidity, the liquid is intensively absorbed and the seed comes to life.

To prevent the development of diseases of the embryo of a tree, primary seed treatment is carried out with a dry or liquid fungicide.

Preparing the soil and capacity

To grow maple bonsai at home, it is important to properly prepare the soil. For maple, an equal ratio of alumina, humus and sand is taken.

An important stage is soil disinfection. Optimal ways:

1. Heat treatment with high temperatures. To do this, the soil is heated in an oven, microwave or in a water bath, then cooled, dried and sieved through a sieve.

2. Another method is freezing and thawing the soil.
3. The use of dietary supplements such as "Fitosporin", "Barrier", etc. They are sold in specialized flower shops.

During processing, pathological fungi, mold, insect eggs and other infection that can harm the plant die. After the procedure, fertilizer is introduced into the soil to restore beneficial microflora.

For the first time, you can take a small bonsai tree - the tree is grown no faster than in natural conditions, therefore, as it grows, it is changed to a larger volume.

The container is thoroughly cleaned with non-aggressive substances, washed and dried. There must be drainage holes in the bottom of the pot. To avoid washing out the soil, it is recommended to cover the bottom with a net.

Planting seeds

Soil is poured into the prepared container, leaving 3 cm to the edges of the bonsai. If there are several seeds, they are placed at a distance of at least 1 cm from each other. The resulting layer is pressed with a board, then soil is poured on top with a thickness of no more than 3 diameters of seeds. The planting is lightly watered and the container is covered with glass or polyethylene for free passage of light and moisture retention.

After the first shoots appear, the glass is raised, and several holes are made in the film to supply fresh air.

After the formation of leaves, young shoots are planted in fresh soil at a distance of 2-3 cm.

Working with a handle

A quicker way to create a maple bonsai with your own hands is to take a finished tree stalk and transform it.

1. A blank twig is prepared in early summer: they choose the one they like, it should not have a formed bark.
2. At the base of the cutting, an annular cut of the skin and rough woody part is made. Roots will develop here. The second same incision is made 2-3 cm higher than the first.
3. Remove the bark and the hard part between the incisions.

Next, the roots are germinated for the subsequent planting of the blank twigs.

1. A root-forming hormone is applied to the cut area in the form of a powder or gel.
2. To activate the work of the substance, moistened sphagnum moss is attached to the treated cut, sealed with polyethylene and left in a dark, cool place.
3. After a few weeks, the roots will show themselves through the applied protection, then the bandage can be removed.

For germination, you can use a mixture of good compost and sand: the cut part of the cutting is placed in a moistened substance until roots appear.

After the formation of confident roots, the cutting is separated from the mother branch.

Escape landing

They take a pot with drainage holes, fill it with round pebbles, soil (80% crushed bark and 20% peat) in an amount sufficient to securely fix the tree. A thin bark is removed from the shoot, without violating the integrity of the roots, the bare part is placed in the ground.

A little sphagnum moss can be added to the soil. It fertilizes and softens hard water for gentle root care.

To enhance the fixation, a peg is inserted into the pot, to which a young tree is tied.

Growing bonsai with your own hands by cuttings is available only in cases where the tree is planned to be placed on the street... Even full care is not able to replace the native element for a wild tree. During the period when the color of the foliage changes, the composition can be brought into the house, but not more than for 1-2 hours.

Planting care

Seedlings obtained from seeds are pruned at the age of 3 months - the main stem is shortened by 2/3.

Blue, blue red maples develop in the same way as green ones: each species should be transplanted in the spring with an interval of no more than 2 years. Each time the soil is completely changed, the central and lateral roots are pruned by 20%.

The shoots are pinched after the formation of 2-4 leaves.

When the plant reaches a height of 10 cm, it is transplanted into an ordinary pot, preferably a ceramic one.

In late spring and early summer, bonsai are fertilized with special fertilizing.

Maples love shade, so you shouldn't leave them in the sun. It is also impossible to expose the composition to large temperature extremes.

Crown formation

Maples are given different shapes by pruning branches and the direction of their growth.

The blue maple in the photo is obtained from seeds. When a new branch appears in a grown plant, it is wrapped with a thin wire at the base and fixed to the pot in the desired direction. Thus, the most bizarre and exotic forms of dwarf trees are obtained.

You can grow a home bonsai with your own hands in 5-7 years with proper timely care.

For connoisseurs of bonsai, maple, sakura and mountain pine are the real symbols of this ancient art. But if evergreen pine needles make the appearance of a tree unchanged throughout the year, sakura is especially attractive in spring, during flowering, then maple is a bright palette of autumn on the extraordinary openwork foliage.

Maples are common throughout the northern hemisphere. Bonsai culture is traditionally dominated by Far Eastern, Chinese and Japanese varieties, but the growing popularity of this area of ​​plant growing has made it possible to include varieties from Europe, the Caucasus and the North American continent in the list of species.

Types of maple trees for growing bonsai

Plants with small foliage and short internodes are especially appreciated, which allow you to create miniatures that are unique in shape and harmonious, natural in appearance.

Among the species suitable for growing bonsai are Japanese maple and Norway maple, Montpellian, field and rock maple. The trees of the palm-shaped maple with fancifully cut leaf plates are in special demand. The leaves of this species remain red, contrastingly edged, light yellow or purple, not only in autumn, but throughout the year. This species should not be confused with the red maple, which is also grown as a bonsai. Its five-toed leaves only by autumn gradually change their outfit and the appearance of the crown as a whole. From the USA and Canada, ash-leaved maple, easy to form, unpretentious and also having varieties with variegated or silvery foliage, fell into the sphere of interests of connoisseurs of bonsai.

It is not surprising that small trees with red, yellow or any other bright foliage are the most attractive for flower growers. Therefore, unscrupulous sellers often play on this by offering blue maple seeds for bonsai.Don't trust empty promises. If shoots appear from such seeds, at best they will turn out to be an ordinary maple with green leaves. Although it is impossible to grow blue maple, bonsai with purple, carmine, red or orange leaves is a reality.

There are many examples of varieties used for red maple bonsai, but due to the low content of chlorophyll, which supports the nutrition of the tree, such plants are weaker than their green counterparts and need special attention.

Decorative forms are more likely to suffer from sunburn, frost and cold winds, and their brightness directly depends on the choice of location. In the shade, reds, burgundy and crimson hues may fade.

Another highlight of the Japanese bonsai maple is the plant with heavily dissected, palm-like leaves. Such views look great in cascading falling compositions, but are not suitable for beginners due to their rather capricious disposition and soreness.

But dwarf maple varieties in bonsai are unpretentious and, as it were, help a person with their formation. They do not strive to grow up, but form a dense crown covered with small foliage that preserves its natural appearance.

Conditions for growing maple bonsai

Maples feel good in central Russia, but in the form of a bonsai, this tree suffers more from external influences and needs a careful choice of place of residence.

The most common maples in bonsai, palm-shaped and fan-shaped maples, can be sore and have difficulty growing:

• in direct sunlight, especially in the southern regions;
• in the wind or drafts;
• in thick shade.

However, when it comes to choosing between light and shade, it is better to expose the pot to the sun, which in the central part of the country will not cause serious harm. In the sun, the tree forms smaller leaves, which eliminates the need to remove buds and does not weaken the plant. In addition, the colors of the foliage in full sun are brighter and more attractive.

If in the summer, as in the photo, the maple bonsai is taken out into the open air, it must be protected from the wind, otherwise a plant with a trimmed root system risks losing its balance and falling out of a shallow pot.

Maples, both in nature and at home at low temperatures, do not tolerate excessive air humidity and insufficient supply of fresh air. In such conditions, bonsai is attacked by harmful fungi that cause powdery mildew and anthracnose.

Watering is a must and very important part of bonsai maple care. In summer, the intensity and frequency are increased, if necessary, careful sprinkling is used. In winter, when the leaves fall and the plant hibernates, the need for moisture drops sharply.

In the spring, with the awakening of the maple, they feed it, and the presence of iron in the mixture is important for the maple. This is also taken into account when compiling the substrate. Soil for maple bonsai should be nutritious, aerated, with a neutral or slightly acidic reaction. In addition to traditional components, a clay substrate for bonsai is added to the soil, which provides anchoring of the root system and structuring the earth mixture.

Transplanting and replacing the container when growing maple bonsai coincides with root pruning, which is carried out at intervals of 2-3 years. In parallel with the formation, dead or damaged rhizomes, lumps of adhered soil are removed.

Maple propagation for bonsai

All types of this plant are easily propagated by cuttings and rooted cuttings. For growing from maple bonsai, seeds are also suitable, which should be stratified before sowing.

To do this, the seed is dropped into wet sphagnum, sand or peat, after which the container with seeds is sent to the refrigerator. For preparation of seeds of palm-shaped maple, for example, 3-4 months stay in the department for vegetables is enough. The field of this, when warmed, the shell will surely open, and friendly shoots will appear on the light.

The hatched maple seeds for bonsai are transferred into a sand-peat mixture or planted in well-moistened peat tablets. In a greenhouse in the light, but not in direct sunlight, the plants give a pair of true leaves after a month.

When their number reaches 4-5, it's time to transfer young maples to their own pots and start forming bonsai.

Maple bonsai crown shaping techniques

How to grow maple bonsai without pruning and pinching the crown? It's impossible. These techniques, along with wire-forming stems, are an integral part of ancient art.

Pruning of branches is carried out when up to five pairs of full leaves are revealed on the shoot. Usually they are shortened by 2-4 leaves, and large leaf plates are plucked out separately, leaving their cuttings.

Over time, the cutting will fade and fall off, and too large leaves will be replaced by small ones, more appropriate for bonsai. In the middle of summer, healthy trees with green foliage undergo defoliation or plucking of growth buds, which will lead to:

• to growth retardation;
• to the gradual formation of shorter shoots;
• to increase the density of the crown.

On red maples for bonsai, this operation is not performed, as it can weaken an already sensitive plant.

It is better to carry out all procedures related to pruning not in spring, when sap flow is active, but in summer or autumn. The same applies to artificial aging of maples grown for bonsai. In the second half or at the end of the growing season, the inflicted wounds heal better, and the tree recovers better.

Japanese Palm Maple Bonsai - video

Literally translated, the word "bonsai" means grown on a tray. Basically, bonsai is an art that involves growing a miniature copy of a tree. It arose at the end of the 8th century, in China, and was the main decoration of the imperial court. Since that time, many styles have emerged that differ in the structure of the trunk and crown. Bonsai trees are outdoor trees, their size varies from two centimeters to one and a half meters. Even if you do not know how to grow bonsai at home, this art is made available thanks to the article.

Bonsai trees - types and features

Some people mistakenly believe that bonsai is some kind of culture that is dwarf in size and bizarre in shape. In fact, this is not the case. Bonsai can be grown from almost any tree. The main condition is to know which culture is suitable for creating a harmonious miniature copy.

See below for tree types and recommended sizes for bonsai formation.

1. Juniper, irga, spruce and rhododendron 8-20 cm.
2. Barberry, field and rock maple, privet, mountain pine 20-30 cm.
3. Scots pine, American maple, birch, hazel, elm 30-70 cm.
4. Linden, larch, ash, ash-leaved or plane-leaved maple, oak, beech, black pine 60-100 cm.
5. Wisteria, chestnut, black pine, sycamore, elderberry, acacia 100-130 cm.

The seeds of the tree you like can be purchased in the botanical garden, a specialty store, or collected in the city park. A good option for beginners is to buy seed in China. The seeds of trees such as spruce, pine, fir, oak or euonymus are ready for planting after harvest.

The seeds of other plants must be dormant for some time and undergo stratification.

Seed stratification as a measure of preparation for sowing

There are seeds that are specially prepared before planting - these are sakura seeds. In fact, Japanese cherry (sakura) is the perfect material for making bonsai. From the seeds of Japanese sakura, you can create real masterpieces that can amaze with amazing shapes. In order for the plant to germinate properly, the seeds of this tree are stratified.

Basically, stratification is a process that simulates winter conditions in order to better germinate seeds.There are several ways to stratify plants:

1. Cold stratification. Essential for seeds that need ripening: pine, thuja or blue spruce. The seeds of such plants are first soaked in lukewarm water and then placed in the refrigerator. In this way, an artificial imitation of the temperature drop in nature is made.
2. Warm stratification. Used to "awaken" seeds. The planting material is placed in warm water for several hours or days. You can also place the seeds not in liquid, but in an environment with high humidity: wrap with a damp cloth or place in a damp coconut substrate.
3. Combined stratification. It is applied to the seeds of maple, cedar, sakura, which germinate for a long time. Its essence lies in the change of cold and warm stratification. Initially, the seeds are placed in a cold room, and immediately before planting, they are soaked in warm water. Combined stratification is common in bonsai cultivation.

In addition to stratification, seeds should be disinfected so that the plants are not afraid of the appearance of fungal formations. For this, you can use a manganese solution.

This tool perfectly disinfects seeds before planting. The seed is soaked in pinkish water. Seed disinfection lasts from 5 days to 2 weeks. After the seeds have been stratified and disinfected, they can be planted.

Soil and container for growing bonsai

The best soil for seeds is considered to be coarse sand, which is steamed before use. This is a kind of disinfection that will prevent the plant from dying. It is recommended to use a wide container with a depth of 5 cm and drainage holes. Before planting, the sand must be well moistened and special grooves must be made in which the seeds will be placed.

To grow bonsai at home, you should take care of preparing the soil and choosing the right container. The container in which the miniature tree is grown can be of different shapes and depths. Rectangle, oval, circle or polyhedron, deep or flat - the choice is really great. Remember, if the trunk of the bonsai has a slope, then the container for it should be more stable. In this case, give preference to deep containers or those made of heavy material.

The colors of the container should be calm and discreet, this will only emphasize the elegance of the plant. Moreover, the bowl should match the bonsai style. If the miniature copy will have a dense crown, then it is better to choose a flat and wide container. For a cascading style bonsai, a narrow and tall pot is suitable, and the tall crowns of the plant will better emphasize the containers that are deep, but not wide.

Scald a bowl with boiling water before planting to eliminate possible sources of fungus and bacteria.

Traditionally, bonsai is grown in a special substrate called akadama. It is a heavy soil, rich in nutrients, high moisture levels and good air circulation. However, such land is rarely used in its pure form. Firstly, it is in its pure form only in one of the prefectures of Japan, and secondly, a high concentrate of nutrients does not always have a beneficial effect on bonsai, especially during the period when the tree is being shaped.

Bonsai substrate must meet several criteria: it retains moisture well, contains nutrients and provides oxygen access to prevent souring or decay of the roots. A good substrate is mixed from granular clay, humus and sand, in the ratio that suits each type of plant.

1. Type of wood and soil used.
2. Deciduous trees. Sod land and sand, in a ratio of 7 to 3 (3 parts sand and 7 parts turf).
3. Blooming bonsai. The mixture is prepared from turf, sand and humus, in a ratio of 7: 3: 1.
   Coniferous bonsai. Four pieces of sand and 6 pieces of turf land.

You can prepare the soil yourself at home. Sod land can be dug up in a meadow. One has only to remove the top vegetation layer, and the top 20 centimeters of soil can be used to grow bonsai.

Before use, the land must be cleaned by sifting through a large sated. The sand should be taken from the river, coarse-grained. It will make the soil looser, which will improve air circulation, and it holds moisture better. Before use, all these components should be disinfected by heating in the oven. Humus should be purchased in a specialized store or ordered via the Internet.

Features of sowing seeds and plant care

Planting is carried out in spring, summer or early autumn in peat pots, which are filled with a mixture of sand and peat, in a one-to-one ratio. If there is nowhere to buy peat, then you can buy land for cacti and mix it with coarse sand. Such a substance will be a complete replacement. Follow the steps below.

1. Pour the mixture into the pot so that there is another 3 cm to the edge.
2. Add 1 centimeter of cleaned turf soil, press down with a wooden circle.
3. Place the seeds on the prepared surface and cover them with a layer of sand. The thickness of the layer is no more than two diameters of the seeds.
4. Press down again with a wooden circle, remove it and pour the sand with water (no more than 80 ml).
5. Cover with plastic wrap.

Place the seed pot in a dark place with a temperature of no more than 150C. Remove the airing film periodically and check if the soil is dry. It should always be damp, but not wet.

When the first shoots have broken through, pierce the plastic to provide air access. After the first shoots appear, remove the film from the pots and transfer to a lighted room. Make sure that the plants are not exposed to direct sunlight. After 2-3 months, it is worth cutting off the taproot by 2/3, this process is called the formation of seedlings.

Fertilizers are added to the land where the seedlings ripen. It is necessary to transplant seedlings into a separate form after the sprout has grown by 10 centimeters. During this period, the sprout can be accustomed to the sun's rays and at the same time not stop forming the desired shape.

According to this scheme, you can grow sakura bonsai or Japanese pine.. But some types of trees need a special approach.

Features of agricultural technology of Japanese and red maple

This tree starts shedding seeds in the fall. To grow bonsai from maple seeds, they need to be stratified for 120 days. The optimal time for disembarkation is April or May. To make sprouts appear faster, the seeds are soaked for 1-2 days in hydrogen peroxide. This measure will speed up the germination process and protect the plant from diseases.

Bonsai from seeds of all types of maple, especially red, must be grown in partial shade - direct sunlight is contraindicated for it. The land for growing this species should be fertilized once a month in order to achieve the desired level of acidity. In winter, feeding is excluded.

Features of agricultural technology lemon bonsai

Growing a plant from lemon seeds is not difficult. In this case, no stratification is needed. Planting seeds are extracted directly from the fruit. It should be ripe, but not externally damaged. You can plant several seeds at once.

1. Prepare the pot and soil as described above.
2. At the bottom of the container, make 1-2 cm of drainage.
3. Fill to the top with prepared soil.
4. Place the lemon seeds 1.5 cm deep.
5. Wrap the pot with plastic wrap.

The room where the container with seeds will be stored must be at least 180C. At intervals of 2-3 days, remove the film and slightly moisten the surface with water. Do not overmoisten so that the resulting roots do not rot.

Features of agricultural technology of cedar

Cedar seeds are the easiest to grow bonsai seeds and are suitable for beginner gardeners. Seed stratification has two stages.

1. Lasts 6 days.The seeds are placed in water with a temperature of 25-300C and changed every two days.
2. The stratification period is 60 days. The seeds are taken out of the water and mixed with disinfected river sand and peat. This substance with seeds is moistened and mixed periodically until the first shoots hatch.

Once the sprouts have hatched, the seeds can be planted or placed in a container. In this form, cedar seeds can be stored in the refrigerator at a temperature of 20C until they are planted in a pot. Cedar loves a lit place, but does not tolerate direct sunlight.

The exception is young bonsai from Japanese cedar seed. It will grow better in a shaded area.

Features of agricultural technology of Japanese pine

There are 2 types of Japanese pine: black (less demanding on lighting) and common. Before planting, the seeds undergo a mandatory 3-month cold stratification. You need to plant seeds in a deep container to a depth of 2 centimeters. Sowing time is the end of winter.

The grooves are cut at a distance of 3 cm from each other to facilitate the care of germinated, but not yet ripe bonsai seedlings. When the first leaves appear, you can take the container out into a bright room. With an accelerated process of photosynthesis, the sprouts will get stronger faster. The formation of the crown can be started as soon as the plant reaches 5 cm in height.

Watering, feeding, wintering

The main problem with caring for a bonsai is watering it. Due to the small size of the pots, the roots of the tree are deformed and the efficiency from watering is reduced. There are two main methods of watering: irrigation and immersion.

1. The plant is watered with water from a special teapot.
2. The pot with the tree is placed in a bowl of water and taken out after a few minutes.

It is better to water it with rainwater, if it is not there, let it stand for two days with tap water.

Remember, bonsai dies without water. Even if its leaves are green, but there has been no watering for a long time, the roots are most likely dead.

In the summer, watering should be done more often and more water should be poured.

When growing bonsai, feeding is important, especially at the time of crown formation. The tree is fertilized once every 2-3 weeks, and once a month it is necessary to apply algae-based fertilizer. The most important fertilizer components are potassium, nitrogen and phosphorus.

Nitrogen is responsible for the growth and development of the leaves and stem of the tree. It is a major component in promoting cell division and protein production.

Phosphorus stimulates cell division, is responsible for budding and has a positive effect on the growth and development of the root. Protects against disease.

Potassium helps fight disease-causing microorganisms and promotes fruiting and flower development.

These substances must be present in bonsai food. In flower shops, it is difficult to find a suitable option that contains all the substances in the required proportions. Therefore, we recommend mixing fertilizers yourself in the following proportions:

• in spring, when the growth period is more intense, apply more nitrogen. The optimal ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium is 12: 6: 6, respectively;
• in summer, food should be more balanced, so the components are added in equal proportions - 10:10:10
• in autumn, less nitrogen is required, the optimal ratio of components is 3 parts of nitrogen and 9 parts of phosphorus and potassium.

If the bonsai is grown from a flowering tree, focus on adding potassium in a proportional ratio of 12: 6: 6

Indoor bonsai plants are fertilized all year round, and outdoor plants are fertilized from early spring to mid autumn. Young trees are fertilized every 2 weeks, older bonsai can be fed every 4-6 weeks. Blooming bonsai should not be fed during and immediately after flowering. When feeding, remember that it is better to apply less fertilizer than "overfeed" the plant.

At the onset of winter, inexperienced gardeners who have miniature trees on the street make a huge mistake - they bring them into a warm room.This behavior makes the tree grow constantly, it takes too much energy and depletes resources. Having deprived the plant of its natural "rest", all efforts can be wasted. A tree that grows on the street needs to be properly prepared for wintering:

1. Clean branches from dirt and pests.
2. Move the trees to an elevated, well-lit, draft-free location in the garden.
3. At temperatures below -100C, transfer the plant to an unheated room.
4. Make sure that the soil is not too wet.

Bonsai is an amazing art and painstaking work that begins with the selection and search for seeds and never ends. Like all living things, bonsai requires care and thanks its owner for the kindness with green leaves, bizarre shapes and unique sophistication of the image.

To consolidate the material, watch a good video on growing bonsai from seeds. The author has a lot to learn!

The art of bonsai originated many centuries ago. Bonsai is a bonsai grown in a pot. Ready-made copies are sold in specialized stores. But it is much more interesting and enjoyable to create such a mini-tree on your own at home. The article will tell you how to do this step by step.

What bonsai trees can be grown at home from seeds?

Getting bonsai from seeds at home takes patience. After all, the desired result will be visible only after a few years. On the first try, not everyone succeeds in growing a miniature tree from seeds. The reason lies in inexperience and non-observance of some rules.

It is easy to grow and make bonsai yourself from seeds and by cuttings a sprout at home on a stone from almost any tree. But it is better to give preference to those species that grow and are adapted to the domestic climate conditions. Especially if the plant is planned to be kept in a garden or on an unglazed balcony. If the bonsai is in the apartment, it is allowed to choose and form more exotic, tropical options. Dracaena, coffee tree, hibiscus, shefler and laurel grow well at home.

If there is no experience in plant growing, it is better to try planting Microcarp ficus at home. It is unpretentious and easy to clean. An experienced gardener can take pine and plum seeds. From this material, a beautiful and unusual garden bonsai is obtained. True, the pine grows very slowly.

Of the deciduous trees, preference should be given to beech, birch, maple, pedunculated oak, cherry, and if you want to grow tropical species in an apartment, it makes sense to pay attention to acacia, abutilone and myrtle.

Tropical tree species

Tropical trees such as shefflera, wisteria, ficus Retusa, portulacaria and crassula are great for growing nivaki in an apartment. The main thing is that the house has good lighting and humidity.

Especially often gardeners choose Natasha ficus. After all, this plant has all the characteristics that are needed to create a real adult bonsai at home:

1. The root system is branched.
2. The bark is beautiful.
3. The foliage is small.
4. The trunks are florid, corrugated, massive.
5. Ficus grows quickly.

Different varieties and types are suitable for growing an ordinary mini-tree at home. For example:

• Variegated.
• Microcarpa.
• Dull.
• Bengal.
• Rusty red.
• Dark-leaved.
• Karika.
• Ginseng.

But many choose to create bonsai ficus Benjamin and Microcarp. To get a beautiful bonsai from such a ficus, you need to properly plant and care for the plant. More details on the process of planting and leaving can be seen on photos and videos on the Internet. Often, when the conditions of detention are violated, foliage is observed to fall. To avoid this, it is required to carry out a competent planting, pruning of roots and crowns, and transplantation. It is important to follow the rules of care.

From ginseng, wisteria, you can also get an original bonsai with your own hands. But this tree is very moody and needs certain conditions. Wisteria is photophilous, so the lighting should be good. It is important to monitor the temperature regime so that the room is always above -5 degrees. Otherwise, the tree will freeze. It is important to regularly ventilate the room in which the wisteria is growing. A transplant is performed annually after the end of flowering. In doing so, inspect the root zone and remove all damaged parts.

Broadleaf tree species

Of the broadleaf tree species, maple, hornbeam, elm, beech, pomegranate, lemon, felt cherry and birch are most suitable for bonsai. Experienced growers experiment and form bonsai from several types of plants. Taking care of the crown and root system in a certain way, you can get interesting specimens.

To create a bonsai from maple at home, the seeds of the palm-like, field, platon-leaved, rocky and ash-leaved varieties are most often chosen. These species are characterized by small foliage. Therefore, the trees look and look very organic.

Since the art of bonsai is very popular among summer residents and flower growers, breeders are working on breeding maple varieties with different colors and leaf shapes. For example, blue, blue maple, red Japanese and purple look very interesting.

To create bonsai at home, the crown of a maple tree is given a different shape: inclined, grove, erect, broom-shaped. Any of these styles are easy to create at home. The main thing is not to miss such important points when growing a lemon tree:

1. Use mature seeds that sprout quickly. Such material allows you to give the plant any shape without changing the already formed root system.
2. Seeds should be collected in the fall. But the material is not yet ready for planting. It is left for the winter. Store in a container with wet sand in the refrigerator.
3. To get an ornamental tree faster, it is recommended to use the cuttings planting method.
4. To get bonsai from red, blue and blue maple, you need to buy specially bred plants in stores.

Coniferous tree species

The easiest way to grow bonsai from those tree species that grow in the country. Conifers are most suitable. Particularly good compositions are obtained from juniper, pine, spruce and thuja.

There are different styles of mini tree growing. But in any case, you must follow these rules:

• The crown of thuja and spruce should be cone-shaped or divided into horizontal tiers.
• It is important that thuja and spruce have dense needles.

To form the crown, you will have to spend a lot of time and effort. After planting the plant in a container, you need to trim the top. You must first think over the style of the future mini-tree. Since the first pruning lays the foundation for the bonsai. During the haircut, all unnecessary branches are removed. With the help of aluminum wire, the barrel frame is formed.

Thuja and spruce should be pruned regularly. Only with this procedure can you maintain an attractive appearance. The first time it is trimmed in the spring with the beginning of active growth. Further, everything depends on the intensity of development of the crassula tree.

Each coniferous species has its own pruning rules, so that the cut is tightened faster, it is covered with plasticine.

In the summer, cut off excess needles in order to rejuvenate the crown. Dwarf thuja and spruce should be repotted regularly. This operation is carried out in the warm season. To do this, take a ceramic flower pot and make holes for drainage in it. 1/4 the container is filled with clay. Then a layer of special soil mixture is poured. All overgrown, old and damaged parts of the root zone are removed with garden shears. Then they carefully clean the roots of the old soil. Place the plant in a new container and cover with the substrate.

Sakura, azalea, rose, bastard, fuchsia

Some budding gardeners decide to create a bonsai from a rose. As a rule, all attempts are unsuccessful. After all, such a plant does not tolerate pruning of the root zone. But a lot depends on the selected variety. If the flower is characterized by slow growth, then it is quite possible to create a bonsai from it. Better to give preference to terry varieties. Bonsai are successfully created from the Chinese rose, rhododendron.

Sakura is a more suitable type of tree. But her bone is covered with a dense shell. Therefore, seed germination takes longer and more difficult. Before planting, the material is subjected to stratification: it is placed in a refrigerator for several months. Seeds are sown into coarse, disinfected sand. There is no need to fertilize the substrate. As the seedlings grow, they dive. Multiple transplanting allows the plant to quickly form a strong and powerful root zone. It will take 2-3 years to grow sakura from scratch. After this time, they begin to cut and form a mini-tree.

The main task is to restrain the growth of sakura, give it a dwarf appearance. This is done as follows:

1. All shoots that grow vertically are cut off. This creates a thick trunk at the base.
2. The upper part of the root system is exposed. To do this, remove the top layer of soil. So even a three-year-old tree will look like a secular one.
3. The crown and trunk are formed by trimming the lower branches.
4. If the trunk is very long, it is shortened. For this purpose, a strip of bark is cut off at the base and the plant is transplanted in a bare area into the ground. Roots grow on the treated area. After that, the old root system is cut off and sakura is transplanted.
5. If the grower has chosen the bonsai style broom style, the vertical branches should be cut as much as possible. The vertical style encourages the growth of the side shoots and the main trunk.

They also create bonsai from fuchsia, azalea and bonsai. Even if the tree is fully formed, it must be pinched and trimmed periodically. Only in this case it will be possible to maintain good shape.

Tomatoes for bonsai tree

Often people who do not have a summer cottage grow miniature tomatoes on the windowsill. If you choose compact varieties, you can form a bonsai to bear fruit. Before planting, the seeds of Gavrish tomatoes are soaked for three hours in a manganese solution. The pot is filled with earth, leaving 5 centimeters from the edge. Lay out the material and tamp it a little. Sprinkle on top with a 1.5-centimeter layer of soil.

Micro f1 tomatoes are light-requiring, so they should be placed on the southern windows. For good growth and development, it is important to prune the old lower leaves in a timely manner. It is useful to feed the plant with mineral fertilizers. It is recommended to add fresh vermicompost every two months.

To form the crown of a miniature pomegranate tree, a special variety is usually used - bonsai tomato. It is a small potted plant that does not need a garter. It bears fruit with original and tasty fruits.

Below are the benefits of the variety:

• High productivity. One bush gives about 2 kilograms of tomatoes.
• The first fruits ripen 3 months after planting.
• Tomatoes look neat, rounded, bright red. Weigh up to 65 grams.

Where to buy seeds?

Seeds for growing a bonsai-style tree are harvested independently from deciduous or coniferous trees. Planting material is also sold in specialized stores. Some gardeners order seeds, get ideas and advice on internet portals. The price depends on the type and type of wood.

You can often find a mix of seeds for growing bonsai. For example, a collection of seeds consisting of Siberian cedar, laurel, pine, sequoia, juniper, many companies sell inexpensively, for only 1000 rubles. As a result, for a small amount, it turns out to form several original bonsai.

Will outdoor bonsai grow?

Usually, it is customary to keep standard bonsai at home. Growing outdoors is rather an exception to the rule. Having decided to create a mini-tree in the garden or in the country, you need to take care of buying a suitable variety. It is better to choose deciduous species. For example, apple tree, magnolia, cork oak, Japanese or Chinese elm. It is advisable to grow these trees for residents of regions with a warm temperate climate. In any case, a young plant outdoors needs protection from wind, rain and sun. The podocarpus feels good in an open area.

Thus, bonsai is a popular technique for growing artificial mini trees. For this, different types and varieties of plants are used. The main thing is to know the prices, methods and rules for forming the crown. When deciding to create bonsai outdoors, you should choose those tree species that are adapted to the conditions of the domestic climate.