Growing bonsai at home

Some are convinced that bonsai is a variety of dwarf tree-like plants that are grown in standard pots. Others believe that bonsai is an art form or trend in Eastern philosophy that a tiny Japanese tree seems to complement. In fact, bonsai are really tiny trees, which are the most accurate copy of their tall relatives. They receive them - having comprehended all the subtleties of a special kind of art, and for years they successfully keep them in their home - only after understanding all the subtleties of Eastern philosophy based on contemplation, admiration and reflection. Previously, a unique Japanese tree as tall as an ordinary indoor flower could only be seen at exhibitions. Now bonsai has become incredibly popular and spread all over the world. Many Russians have also begun to master the technique of its cultivation. It is simple only at first glance, but it contains many secrets and features.

Where to begin

If you have firmly decided that you need a tiny tree in a pot, the question arises of how to get it. To make the task easier, you can buy a ready-made bonsai in the store. Then the duration of his life in the apartment will depend on knowledge and compliance with the rules of care. But many adherents of oriental culture certainly want to grow an exotic plant on their own from scratch. There are different types of bonsai, depending on the type of plant that will be converted into a dwarf. Almost any tree from the garden or from the nearest forest belt can become a candidate. The art of bonsai became famous thanks to Japan, but was born in China during the reign of the Tang Dynasty, when one of its rulers wanted to create a miniature copy of his empire. It was then that the clever ancient Chinese came up with the idea of ​​making the same trees out of ordinary trees, only dozens of times smaller. The new agricultural technique was called "cultivated on a tray" or bonsai. Thus, observing certain techniques, any plant can be turned into a dwarf. But in practice, success often comes with trees that can withstand extreme conditions of existence, namely, develop in a miniature volume of soil, not get sick from changes in natural lighting conditions, changes in annual temperatures and watering. Therefore, no matter what types of bonsai you choose, it is important to take into account the natural living conditions of your pets and strive to get as close to them as possible.

Where to get planting material

As mentioned above, different plants, both conifers and deciduous, are suitable for bonsai.When choosing, you need to pay attention to the size of their leaf blade. Since the potted plant will be miniature, it is desirable that the leaf blades of its prototype are not too large. Otherwise, the small trunk simply will not be able to hold them on itself. The second condition is that the species of plants from which different types of bonsai are created have a genetic tendency to form a dense crown. Having decided on the candidate, it is imperative to take into account in what soil your future bonsai grows in the wild, with what illumination, with what humidity. All this will exactly need to be recreated at home in a pot. In practice, success is achieved with fruit trees, citrus fruits, myrtle, maple, rhododendron, ficus and many others.

Yamadori

There are not only different types of bonsai, but different technologies for its propagation, or, more correctly, the starting operation of growing. Yamadori is considered to be the simplest technology. It consists in the fact that in its natural habitat the necessary young tree is looking closely. It is dug in a circle, too powerful roots (if any), truncated and left alone for three months. Then it is removed with a lump of earth and placed in a selected flower pot (bonsai). For early adaptation, the plant is shaded, sprayed, and a temperature regime similar to the natural one is created.

Toriki

This technology in Russian means trivial cuttings. It is important to respect the timing of this process. For example, in Russia, deciduous species are desirable to cut at the end of spring, and conifers, on the contrary, at the beginning. Plants from which cuttings are harvested must be five to ten years old. If you strictly follow the rules for harvesting planting material for your bonsai, caring for it in the future will not bring disappointment. Cuttings need to be cut only in cloudy weather, cutting off still not stiff shoots. Their length can vary, depending on the number of internodes. There should be no less than three of them and it is not desirable that there should be more than five. The upper edge of the cutting is made even, and the lower edge is beveled, placed in water, covered with a damp cloth. Another practiced toriki method is to carefully remove a strip of bark no more than 2 cm wide on a branch that you like, or an incision is made on the branch, into which a pebble is inserted. This place is abundantly moistened with epin, wrapped in sphagnum, polyethylene on top, secured and wrapped on both sides to stop the air supply. This compress is regularly injected with a syringe. The twig should take root in about 60 days.

Misho

This method is ideal for beginners and means seed reproduction. Maples, oaks, myrtle, pomegranate, citrus fruits are suitable for this. You can collect ripe seeds from selected trees, from which bonsai should be obtained without any problems. For this alone, the seeds must go through all phases of stratification. To facilitate the task, you can carefully remove the already sprouted seeds from the ground in the spring and place the ready-made sprouts for the future bonsai in prepared bowls.

Classification by size

There are not only different types, but also styles of bonsai that differ in size. It is surprising that the world of miniature plants has its own tiny giants and midgets. The international classification distinguishes:

1. Mame. This group is made up of trees up to 20 cm high. Among them:

-Keshi-tsubu (Lilliputians in the land of Lilliputians, up to only 2.5 cm high).

- Sieve (up to 7.5 cm high, maximum 8 cm).

-Gafu (up to 20 cm high).

2. Syokhin. This group is made up of plants of intermediate sizes between very small and just small. There are two subgroups here too:

-Komono (about 20 cm tall).

-Mabi (up to 25 cm).

3. Kifu. The group is in the middle position. The plant included in it can grow up to 40 cm.

4. Ty. Plants in this group are almost giants and reach one meter in height. Subgroups:

-Tyukhin (up to 60 cm).

-Omono (up to 100 cm).

5. Bonju. In the world of midget plants, these are already giants, capable of stretching up to 120 cm and higher.

Classification by crown shape

It turns out that there are also different styles of bonsai based on how the crown looks. The traditional ones include:

-Tyokkan (erect trunk, thickening towards the base).

-Moyogi (base and top of the stem are perpendicular to the ground, and the middle is curved).

-Sokan (the tree has two stems, each with its own crown, forming something whole).

-Syakan (trunk without curvature, but growing towards the ground at an angle).

-Kengai (trees resemble classic weeping ones, that is, they grow with trunks inclined below the pot, as if falling).

- Khan Kengai (the stem of the tree is also falling, but the top is always in line with the ground of the bowl, and the outgoing branches resemble independent plants).

-Bundzings (the tree grows with an erect stem, but with a minimum number of branches).

-Sekijёju (there are stones in the bowl on the ground, and the roots of the tree seem to entwine them).

-Ishitsuki (a composition of curly stones is created in a bowl, and plants grow in their crevices).

-Hokidachi (the stem of the plant is straight, and the twigs form a beautiful spherical crown).

-Yose ue (several trees grow in the pot, not a multiple of 4, different in height and age).

-Ikadabuki (imitation of a tree, as if falling to the ground, from the trunk of which individual branches grow upward).

Exclusive Styles

In addition to the classical ones, which are considered simpler, in the art of bonsai there are very complex ones that require high skill. This is:

-Netsuranari (a tree from one root grows several trunks, which are intricately intertwined with each other).

-Fukinagashi (a complex composition in which the bonsai grows not just at an angle, but in such a way that its twigs and leaves are arranged like a tree is tending to the wind).

-Sakei (an imitation of a whole corner of nature is created in a bowl - a forest or a mountain area, and bonsai plants make this imitation more natural).

Growing rules

It is not very difficult to maintain a bonsai at home, the care of which is based on strict adherence to the rules. Those who believe that dwarf trees should grow only in the house, as an element of decor, are mistaken. Very often, bonsai compositions are placed in the fresh air, and they are brought into the house only with the onset of cold weather. If the winters are not harsh, the bonsai can be left outside, but the bowls must be placed in a container with a large diameter, and covered with a thick layer of moss from above to the very branches of the tree.

It is very important that deciduous bonsai in winter, as well as in natural conditions, shed their foliage and remain dormant for some time. To do this, they are taken out to a cool room. The third condition for success is strict adherence to lighting and humidity standards. If the bonsai does not have enough natural light, they additionally turn on the lamps, but at the same time take into account the heat generated by them. You can maintain optimal humidity with an electric humidifier. If there is none, the pot with the plant can be placed in a tray lined with pebbles and half filled with water. The simplest, but also the most ineffective way is to spray the plant crowns.

Landing

When the planting material is prepared - cuttings or seeds - the bonsai needs to be placed in his house. The Japanese and Chinese use bowls and low flower pots for this, covered with glaze or matte, but always having several drainage holes. So that the soil does not wash out of them, the holes are covered with a piece of tile. The shape of the pot can be any. It is best to take the soil for indoor bonsai the same as that of its outdoor relative. Some masters prepare the soil separately. Everyone has their own recipes. The most common ones are:

- a mixture of equal parts of clay, fine gravel, humus, stone chips or sand;

- clay, humus and gravel in the ratio (3: 5: 2);

-clay humus, gravel (1: 5: 3);

- leafy earth, coke, sand, crust, volcanic soil.

In any case, the soil should be easy to pass water in order to avoid stagnation. In addition, experienced craftsmen advise disinfecting the pot and soil before planting. The stratified seeds are placed in the ground, covered with glass, the whole period of germination is maintained at a warm temperature and moderate humidity. The plants that hatch and have reached the stage of 2-4 leaves dive. In order for the root system to develop, the picking operation must be carried out several more times. Cuttings and seedlings are planted in the same soil as the seeds. For better rooting, the cuttings are covered with foil.

Transfer

Growing bonsai is unthinkable without a transplant, which must be performed every two, maximum three, years before the start of sap flow. This operation is also carried out if there is a suspicion of decay of the root system. Before transplanting, the plant is left without watering for a couple of days. Remove from the pot with a knife. The soil is carefully removed from the roots, all suspicious roots, and large roots are also removed. The pot is disinfected, filled with a couple of centimeters with new soil, the roots remaining after pruning are straightened with a wooden stick, laid out on the ground, sprinkled with earth, compacted and watered. The plant can be fixed with a wire inserted into the drainage hole.

Bonsai (plant): how to care

Keeping small trees is not very difficult. They need to be watered regularly with cold water, making sure that the soil in the pot does not remain dry or too waterlogged. During the dormant period, the plants are watered less frequently, more often during the growing season. Bonsai feeding is mandatory. Do this from the beginning of the growing season every week, adding sapropel or urea. You can also use mineral fertilizers in the form of granules or solutions. Fertilizers containing a lot of nitrogen are applied after the end of the first wave of growth. With the onset of a dormant period, feeding is stopped. Coniferous bonsai also do not feed in winter. You cannot fertilize sick and recently transplanted plants.

Bonsai formation

How to make unusual out of ordinary wood is perhaps the main question. The technologies are different here. In our conditions, even novice bonsai maple is good at it. Having chosen the desired variety, according to the general rules, seeds or cuttings are planted, the first year the plant is allowed to grow stronger. In the future, they change the appearance of the trunk, gently wrapping it with soft (copper or aluminum) wire. But with maples, this does not always work. Most often they are formed by pruning. To stop the growth of the tip, new shoots are regularly removed on it. Maple has a rather large leaf blade. To reduce it, around the middle of summer, the grown leaves are removed, leaving the petiole. For this period, the tree is moved to a shaded place. In order for the maple bonsai to grow lush, when pruning, you can truncate a too elongated trunk (cover the wound with an antiseptic), remove skeletal branches, and pinch young shoots. To give the trunk a slope or bends, a weight can be tied to it during the period of active growth, or it can be gently bent in the desired direction and secured with copper wire, placing a cloth under it. Several methods can be used to achieve the desired barrel thickness. In some plants, young stems are spliced, planting them next to each other and fastening them together. For maple, this method is not very successful. The thickness of the trunk in this case is achieved by truncation.

Not everyone can properly grow a 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 quickly 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 the 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, 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 put 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:

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.

• 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 facilitate 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. Consequently, 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, remove all branches from the lower part of the trunk and all the "dry forest" 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

The Japanese introduced the world to the art of bonsai. And to them the idea of ​​growing copies of trees in flat pots came from China in the 6th century. The Chinese have been able to grow small boxwoods, pines and cypresses for two millennia, but Japanese craftsmen managed to give this skill the features of true art. In Japan, bonsai has become a philosophy that associates the best of personality with the shape and prosperity of a flat-bowl home treasure. To grow a tree you need knowledge and skills, close attention, understanding, delicacy and love. You will understand this when you get to know more about the samples of many years of creativity - in good hands the tree lives for hundreds of years, connects generations and becomes a symbol of the family.

Bonsai is a unique phenomenon that is difficult to put on a par with the cultivation of indoor plants. A miniature tree is an absolute, many times reduced copy of large trees, while maintaining proportions and shapes.

Real bonsai requires compliance with clear requirements:

• Strong trunk with clearly defined root base.
• A clear and graphic line of branches.
• The branches and trunk are the basis of the tree.
• A miniature plant should be recognizable, no one should have any doubts about its generic affiliation.
• A bonsai pot cannot draw attention to itself - it is just a base for a plant.
• The tree and the pot make up a single composition.

Features of growing bonsai

In size, bonsai are large - up to 120 cm, medium - from 30 to 60 cm, small up to 30 cm, miniature - up to 15 cm, among which there are very tiny 5 centimeters high. In this case, the growth is measured from the edge of the pot to the maximum point of the crown.

No expert will advise you to prune a medium-sized tree to make it miniature - buy a plant of the desired height or grow it yourself. For the smallest bonsai, plants with small needles or leaves, such as myrtle, bamboo, cypress or boxwood, are suitable.

When growing bonsai, it is necessary to take into account the features:

• To form a strong trunk, the first couple of years the tree is grown in a pot "for growth".
• Watering is regular, but very moderate.
• Transplant every year (in spring) with the removal of excess roots.
• Fertilizers of low concentration.

Indoor bonsai require constant attention and reverent attitude. If you want to plant a miniature tree at home, get ready to constantly care for it and create favorable conditions. Home bonsai require high humidity and do not tolerate drafts.

Planting bonsai

The easiest way to get a homemade tree is to buy a ready-made one in the store and cherish it, observing all the rules. At the other extreme, trying to grow a bonsai from a seed is too long and the prospects are hazy. We suggest choosing the middle path.

First of all, determine which copy of the tree you want to grow in your home. The choice is almost unlimited, but most often pine, oak, elm, juniper, birch and ficus take root and form.

The mini-tree will develop according to the laws common to all trees: deciduous trees will turn yellow in autumn and shed their leaves, and conifers will turn green all year round. Miniature is achieved by constant pruning and inhibition of development.

Find a small, healthy seedling in a forest or park and carefully dig it up. The height of the sprout is no higher than 15 centimeters. In the same place, take some soil to which the plant is accustomed. Trim the roots with scissors to 10 centimeters. The branches also need to be cut, leaving only horizontally located branches.

Place a trellis at the bottom of a shallow pot and cover with a mixture of peat, sand and garden soil or soil from where you took the sprout (1: 1: 3). Plant a tree, water the soil and take it out into the air, for example, on a balcony. Arrange the plant so that it is protected from direct sunlight.

When is the best time to plant

The best time for planting is autumn. In winter, the tree will take root and start growing in spring. When the height of the trunk reaches 30 centimeters, you need to start forming a tree.

Where to get bonsai seeds?

Packages with seeds are sold in flower shops and in online stores, and cute "bonsai" are painted on the bags. But these are the most common tree seeds, a small copy of which you want to see at home. Without proper care, these seeds, theoretically, can grow pines, oaks and birches. If you decide to go a long way on your own, you can sprout a seed from a bag or from a park, but the process will take several years.

How to choose a bonsai pot

Choosing the right pot is very important, as it will not only be a rooting site, but also a part of the composition. For mini-trees, there are special small clay containers. Clay pots are environmentally friendly and are better for plants than plastic or metal ones, but they absorb a lot of moisture, which must be taken into account when watering. The pot must have several drainage holes and short legs so that air can flow to the roots.Flat pots promote horizontal root formation.

There are several proven rules for choosing a bonsai pot:

• The length of the pot is 2/3 of the height of the plant.
• The width is slightly less than the most prominent branches.
• Usually the depth of the pot is equal to the diameter of the stem at the base.

Advice. Light pots with flowering plants with grayish or pale green foliage look aesthetically pleasing. Trees with a dark trunk that stand out from the foliage look good in dark brown, gray or blue pots.

Features of bonsai care

Indoor bonsai are extremely demanding and whimsical, they are not easy to grow. If the rules of maintenance are violated, the tree will die or become an ordinary plant, not in any way reminiscent of a Japanese mini-miracle.

Location and lighting

Plants need additional lighting, especially from October to March. When choosing a place for bonsai, consider the following conditions:

• The tree loves bright light, if the bonsai pot is on the windowsill, remove anything that can shade the plant.
• Growth will be more vigorous in the west or east window, where the sun penetrates in the morning or evening.
• In cloudy weather, compensate for the lack of illumination with artificial lighting. In summer, this method should not be abused, but in winter and autumn it is recommended to install a fluorescent lamp that will not heat the plant.

Air humidity

Normal air humidity in a city apartment is insufficient for most bonsai. To fix this problem, place the pot on a tray of water. It is useful to regularly sprinkle the tree in the morning so that the plant has time to dry before sunset.

Temperature regime

If your bonsai is a smaller copy of a subtropical plant (myrtle, pomegranate, olive) in winter it needs a temperature of + 5-15 ° C, in summer it is better to take the pot out to the balcony.

For tropical trees, a higher temperature of + 18-25 ° C is required. Leave them in the room in summer, and do not sit on a cold stone windowsill in winter.

Attention! The need for light, water and feeding depends on the temperature at which the plant is kept. The warmer it is in the room, the more abundant watering and feeding.

How to water properly

Keep the soil in the pot moist, but not wet. When watering, the soil must be saturated through and through. In summer, watering is more abundant. Plants of the subtropics are rarely watered in summer. Tropical trees cannot stand cold water. The ideal option is warmed melt water, warmed, but you can also watered with tap water settled.

Top dressing and fertilization

When growing bonsai, it is important to slow down its growth. In a cramped pot, conditions can be created for controlled growth of the tree, but it is difficult to ensure the supply of necessary substances from the soil. Top dressing is necessary so that the plant does not die, but you need to select fertilizer taking into account the type of tree, its age, season. Macro- and microelements should be added periodically. The main top dressing includes potassium, nitrogen and phosphorus. Magnesium, zinc, calcium, copper, boron, molybdenum and other trace elements are added less often and in limited quantities.

The beginning of feeding coincides with the activation of growth. In the spring, nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium fertilizer is applied and feeding is repeated every month until mid-summer. Then you should take a break until the beginning of autumn, a series of dressings continues until the onset of a dormant period.

Advice. Apply more nitrogen in the spring and increase the potassium in the fertilizer in the fall. Flowering and fruiting bonsai must receive phosphorus.

Complex mineral fertilizers for bonsai are optimally suited for tree care. The packaging indicates the proportions and frequency of fertilization corresponding to the size of the plant and its condition.

Advice. It is convenient to place dissolved fertilizers in a tray under the pot so that the soil is completely saturated

Pruning

The most favorable time is spring and summer.Trees that grow in winter also need to be pruned all year round.

If the shoot is strong, it is cut obliquely under the bud. A weak shoot is cut horizontally above the bud. It is better to pinch off soft shoots with nails.

Without pruning, the plant will begin to stretch upward and stop branching. When forming the shape of a tree, they proceed from the ratio of the height of the trunk to the entire plant 1: 3.

Usually the bud at the top grows first, defining upward growth. After removal of this kidney, lateral buds will begin to actively develop. When pruning shoots, consider the direction of bud growth.

You need to start pruning after the appearance of the first five leaves, cutting off one or two of the top ones to suspend the stretching of the branches. The uppermost bud will determine the further direction of growth.

By growing bonsai, you become an artist who creates a tree to your liking. Shape the shape so that you can see the pattern of the trunk and branches, there are no voids.

Bonsai transplant

The first year of life, the tree should grow without external interference, and for the next seven years, the bonsai is transplanted every year, later every two years. The best time for transplanting is March-April, because with the onset of spring, the tree will be provided with light and warmth for adaptation. Taking the plant out of the pot, inspect the roots and remove diseased and dying ones. If the root system looks unhealthy, the transplant soil should contain gravel.

The transplant takes place as follows:

• For two days, the plant stops watered so that the roots can easily be cleared of the soil.
• The new pot is washed, disinfected and rinsed on the day of transplantation.
• The drainage hole is covered with a shard or mesh.
• Transplanting is quick because the roots are sensitive to light and air.
• Holding the plant firmly on the trunk, a knife is carried along the walls of the pot and a tree with a lump of earth is taken out.
• The soil is removed by a third from all sides.
• Sick and dried roots are cut off, the rest are slightly shortened.
• A thin layer of fresh soil is laid at the bottom of the pot.
• The plant is placed in a new pot and the roots are smoothed out.
• Asymmetric trees are placed closer to the edge of the pot, symmetrical trees are placed in the center.
• The roots should be visible above the surface, but not too high.
• If the root system is weak, the plant is secured with wire through a drainage hole to which a wooden stick is attached.
• Top up the soil by filling in the voids between the roots and at the edge of the pot. The soil is compacted with your fingers.
• The bonsai is watered until water seeps through the drainage hole.
• The pot is installed in a well-lit place without drafts and scorching sun.
• New roots will form in a month.

Problems, diseases, pests

Indoor trees are attacked by insects that can destroy the plant.

Aphid

It multiplies quickly and sucks juices out of the plant. If a green, white or black aphid appears, immediately spray the trees with an insecticide and repeat the procedure every other day.

Fleecy aphid

Lives on larch and pine trees. It looks like cotton balls that need to be removed from the plant. Spray the bonsai with insecticide and rinse off any remaining pests with water.

Shield

It looks like a bark build-up. Insects should be removed, and the plant should be sprayed with insecticide every other day.

Bark beetle

They affect adult plants and rarely get out from under the bark to the surface, so you can find the pest after years. Pay attention to holes in the bark and discolored areas. For 8 weeks, treat with an insecticide, after removing the damaged areas of the bark.

Powdery mildew

A fungus that thrives in high humidity and poor air circulation. Use the fungicide without letting it into the soil.

Popular types

• Hibiscus
• Garnet
• Casuarin
• Callistemon
• Cypress
• Cistus
• Olive
• Myrtle
• Spurge
• Pelargonium
• Rosemary
• Boxwood
• Pine
• Fat woman
• Ficus
• Sheflera

Answers to readers' questions

Plant lifespan

If you want to get serious about growing bonsai, prepare yourself to take care of it as a ritual. Under this condition, your tree will go to your children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In the Japanese Imperial Garden there are bonsai that are more than three hundred years old.

Can this plant be kept at home?

Yes, sure. Bonsai is a human creation and should live at home.

Is this flower poisonous?

Mini-trees in all forms repeat their great ancestors. If you choose bansai spurge, it will be poisonous.

Why do leaves turn yellow and fall off?

Caring for a bonsai is very difficult - it does not forgive neglect and is sensitive to all violations of the regime. Perhaps the leaves are turning yellow because you poured water on it from the tap or the pot is in a draft. Just cold water can provoke leaf fall. Too hot sun and lack of moisture also cause illness. Spray the plant and take a good look at it for pests.

Bonsai care in winter

Pour gravel into the pan and add water. Remove the flower pot from the heaters and place it in a cool place so that the tree can rest until spring.