Bonzai trees

Hi Per, and welcome. Wherever you saw the bosai tree seeds they couldn't have described them properly. There is no such thing, but they probably meant they are seeds that are suitable for growing trees that you wish to turn into bonsai

Making bonsai takes patience and care but is not difficult. You grow the tree into a sapling and then start shaping the branches and root pruning. Mrs shiney gives talks on bonsai and suggests that I put some of her crib notes on here for you. You will need to decipher them :D

You should be able to find a good book on bonsai in your local library. They are usually very easy to follow and the end results are quite rewarding.

Good luck.

"Bonsai: plant in a pot. It is not a ââ?¬Å?type|ââ?¬Â of tree ââ?¬â?? eg Japanese

How? Seed, sapling, cuttings, layering, dividing, some ââ?¬Å?suckersââ?¬Â - eg lilac, plants from the wild - get permission if appropriate

What do you want?
First: do you want evergreen or deciduous?
Interesting shapes - maple, conifers, oak, weeping willow
Leaf colour: maple, berberis, conifers, gingko biloba, cypress
Flowers: azaleas, cydonia japonica, forsythia, jasminum nudiflorum, malus, wisteria, tamarisk
Fruit: cotoneaster, hawthorn, holly, malus

Styles: Upright Chokkan
Oblique Shakan
Winding Kyokkuk
Gnarled Hankan
Clasped to stone
Cascading Kengai
Horizontal - Ikadi buki p.34

Seed: Well drained soil, crocks or pebbles near drainage hole, label what they are and the date! Hardcoated seeds - stratification. Good drainage ââ?¬â?? layers of sand, seed, sand, seed, etc.

Suitable subjects: acer, birch, cotoneaster, hawthorn, beech, gingko, holly, oak, yew

Cutting: half ripe pieces, remove bottom leaves and strike in sharp sand mixed with compost.

Hollies are male, female or bisexual: So if you want berries, you need a cutting from a tree that has both male and female flowers on it. Ilex aquifolium is a bisexual holly.

Layering: can layer into the ground, or identify a suitable branch on a tree (maple e.g.)
Cut a ring of the camber 2�apart. Collect some sphagnum moss, wrap it round the branch, and cover with clingfilm. This is so you can see when the roots appear. When this happens, sever it from the mother plant and pot it up in potting compost.

Containers: - personal taste; attractive; pottery classes; rectangular, oval, shallow (P52)
Drainage most important

Repotting: don�t be in a hurry. Bonsai can stay in their original pot for 2 -3 years. If you are worried about nutrients, you can get a Bonsai fertiliser and water occasionally with this. John Innes No. 1 is good for bonsai.

Positioning of bonsai in the pot - not always central ââ?¬â?? cascading off centre so it is nearer the edge to cascade;

Creating a Forest: many seedlings or a horizontal cutting.

Training: raffia, small stones, copper wire: Make sure that the copper wire doesn�t stay too long or it will cut through the growing bark and damage your bonsai. Train during growing season

Pruning: cut to an outward growing tip. Don�t leave extra on as it will rot. Finger pruning: rub out a leaf bud before it comes out. Much easier.

Root pruning: Light prune, cut tap root to encourage feeding roots. Let roots grow to within 1�from the sides of the pot."

 

:D :D :D :D

 

Handy notes there Shiney. I have a Beech one coming on. It is about 6yrs old I think & has been in this pot for 3yrs now. Too dark now for a pic, but will try & remember to post one tomorrow. I have had a couple of books from the library..

 

MF, if you can get a good photo on here we may be able to make some suggestions :D

 

OK here you go Shiney, my SiL says it is older than 6yrs & I can't remember..!! :rolleyes: :D
BTW it is about 7"or8" high.
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So what do you recommend I do shiney.?