Bonsai tree cultivation has been a Japanese tradition stretching back hundreds of years. Bonsai literally translates to "tray planting," and involves actively growing and shaping trees into an artistic dwarfed version of themselves. A bonsai tree is not a special dwarf or hybrid species of a common tree; they’re genetically the same as their much bigger brothers and sisters. It’s the careful cultivation and shaping techniques that keeps these trees miniture is size. However, the trees are not sick or damaged. In fact, with the proper care, the dwarfed version of a tree can live longer than the same tree if it was allowed to grow in the wild.
Grown from seeds or cuttings, Bonsai trees usually grow in height from two inches to three feet. Through pruning both roots and branches bonsai trees are kept miniture in size. They’re also repotted periodically, and new growth is often pinched off.
Growing and cultivating bonsai trees is actually as much about art as it is about horticulture. Bonsai trees are not only kept miniture, they are also formed into pleasing shapes. They frequently follow a number of different patterns of growth, from simple triangles to waterfall shapes cascading down over their pots. The shapes are usually a product of both the pruning of the tree and by the wrapping the trunk and branches with wire, shaping the tree into its desired form. The pots themselves are part of the art as well, chosen to compliment the shape and color of the tree itself. Rocks and mosses are frequently added to the base for aesthetic appeal.
Taking care of a bonsai tree is more complicated than taking care of most houseplants. Since the bonsai has has a smaller root system than most plants, it needs fertilizer and water more often than the majority of garden-variety houseplants. Pruining is also essential occasionally, since the bonsai tree would grow into just a normal big tree without pruning. Also, if wire is used to help mold and form the tree, it is important to take care that the wire doesn’t dig into the bark of the tree, scarring the branches permanently. Depending on the type of bonsai tree and your climate, you may be able to keep some bonsai trees outside year round, while others will need to be kept inside for at least part of the year. Since moisture in the soil, branches, and leaves of the bonsai is important, they need to be misted occasionally if they are to develop healthily.
