Bonsai 1. Concept When plants are growing indoors, it is desirable to grow and develop at a much slower rate. This concept is found in the Japanese art called bonsai. The word Bonsai is a combination of two Japanese words 'bon' meaning tray and 'sai' meaning tree, so bonsai meaning tray tree. 2. Definition of Bonsai Bonsai is the Japanese art of growing, pruning and training of trees, shrubs, and vines to be miniatures of their natural forms. 3. Classification of Bonsai 3.1. According to Size i. Miniature bonsai : <15 cm ii. Small bonsai : 15-<30 cm iii. Medium bonsai iv. Large bonsai : 30-<60 cm : 60-100 cm 3.2. According to Shape 3.2.1. Chokkan (Formal Upright) Trees are characterized by a straight, upright and tapering trunk. Branches progress regularly from the thickest and broadest at the bottom to the finest and shortest at the top. 3.2.1. Moyogi (Informal Upright) Trees incorporate visible curves in trunk and branches. 3.2.2. Shakan (Slanting Trunk) Trunk emerges from the soil at an angle and the apex will be located to the left or right of the root base. 3.2.3. Han kengai (Semi Cascade) The apex of bonsai extends just at or beneath the edge of the bonsai pot. 3.2.4. Kengai (Cascade) The apex falls below the base of a container. Compiled by: Md. Dulal Sarkar Lecturer, Department of Horticulture Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University 3.2.5. Sokan (Twin Trunk) Two trunks rise from a single set of roots. The base of the trunk generally touches and may be joined to a short distance above the soil. One trunk is taller and thicker than the other. Page 1 of 6
3.2.6. Sankan (Triple Trunk) Three trunks rise from a single set of roots. Trunk sizes are varied, with one trunk being the thickest and generally the tallest. 3.2.7. Ikadabuki (Multiple Trunk) All the trunks growing out of one spot with one root system, and is actually a single tree. 3.2.8. Yose ue (Group or Forest Planting) It comprises planting of several trees of one species, typically an odd number, in a bonsai pot. 4. Principles for Making a Bonsai Four general principles- plant selection, design, pruning and training, and management should be considered during making a bonsai. 4.1. Plant Selection Slow growing, hardy plants with little leaf are most suitable. Three groups of plants are used in creating bonsai- 4.1.1. Conifers Conifers are hardy evergreen plants, tolerate pruning and other manipulations. 4.1.2. Deciduous Trees Deciduous trees shed their leaves in the winter season and the tree offers a good opportunity for pruning and reshaping. Vigorous growth resumes in summer and require regular pruning to keep their leaves small. 4.1.3. Ornamental Shrubs Ornamental shrubs make good bonsai and their magnificent display of flowers and fruits also are a sight to view. 4.2. Design Designs are meant to produce plants that appear old, rough, and weathered. 4.3. Pruning and Training Pruning is done to control the rate and development of plant. Roots and shoots are judiciously pruned to obtain the planned shape and size. Wires are used during the training process to force the plant to assume a desired shape. 4.4 Management After establishment, pruning is periodically required to maintain the shape of bonsai. The plant needs to be watered, fertilized, and placed under appropriate environmental conditions. Page 2 of 6
5. Tools A pair of pinchers is used for cutting the taproot, and pliers are used for stripping away the bark of branches. The clippers are used for shaping the top of the tree. Apart from copper wires are used in creating bonsai plants. 6. Containers The selected plant should keep in its original container for the initial stages of training and pruning. After the topwork is completed, it should be transplanted to a shallow container. The bonsai container is usually round but may also be oblong or rectangular in shape. The color of the container should not be bright and, browns and greens are preferred. Drainage holes should be provided in the bottom of the container. 7. Procedure for Making a Bonsai 7.1. Collecting Bonsai Plants from Nature The Japanese name for collecting readymade bonsai from natural surroundings is called Yamadori. The natural bonsai is called Yamadori shitate, have the advantage of twisted branches, stunting, and aging. The best environment for collecting bonsai material is poor nutrition, shallow soil, unseasonable temperature and windy conditions. 7.2. Growing Plants A plant for bonsai may be raised by seed, seedling cutting, layering or plant collected from the wild for about 2-3 years old. 7.3. Plant Shape The plant should be selected with desirable natural features such as natural curvature and twists in the stem. The plant height also should be counted. 7.4. Primary Pruning The primary branches, starting with the lowest ones should be removed. Sometimes dead branches below the selected lowest one may be retained and incorporated into the overall design. During the initial pruning stage, one or two of the lowest branches may be cut back to leave 2 to 4 inches of branch that is stripped of its bark for aging. The taproot should be removed to encourage the growth of lateral roots. 7.5. Secondary Pruning It is done very frequently to maintain the plant size and shape. Leaves and buds are also removed. Page 3 of 6
7.6. Wiring It is a primary activity in creating bonsai. The branches may be forced by twisting a copper wire around a branch and bending it into a new shape. Wiring starts from the lower part of the branch and progresses to the tips. Wires should be removed after about 6 to 12 months when the shape is set. 7.7. Aging The technique of aging is called jin. After stripping off the bark, the bare surface should be polished with fine grade sand paper and dilute citric acid may be rubbed on the bare surface to bleach the area. The result gives the appearance of aged plants. 8. General Care of Bonsai 8.1. Watering Watering should be done once a week during the winter season. 8.2. Manuring Bonsai plants are fertilized with slow acting fertilizers during the active growing period. Fertilizing of flowering and fruiting bonsai plants should be delayed until after flowering. 8.3. Defoliation All leaves are removed from the tree to force a new batch of leaves. It encourages new leaves of smaller size and gives a new look to the plant. 8.4. Pruning A bonsai plant needs periodic pruning to maintain its shape and control growth. Depending on the species, roots require pruning every three to five years. 8.5 Sanitation Routine cleaning includes scraping and brushing that stop the moss growth on the trunk and removing weeds from the soil. 8.6. Plant Protection General plant protection measures should be taken properly. 9. Criteria for Selecting Bonsai Plants 1. Slow growing and hardy plants with small leaves 2. Should have a trunk which looks natural 3. The growth should be in harmony where it stands 4. The branches should reflect a rhythm consistent with the artistic value 5. The plants which show seasonal variations in growth and flowering pattern Page 4 of 6
10. Plants used for Bonsai Conifers Shrubs Deciduas Evergreen Silver fir Azalea Trident maple Ficus Japanese cedar Rhododendron Japanese maple Bottle Brush Chinese juniper Rock cotoneaster Chinese elm Mango Japanese white pine Japanese apricot Hornbeam Neem Japanese black pine Almond Crab apple Sapota Spruce Japanese cherry Black birch Yew Wisteria Beech Larch Winter jasmine Gray-bark elm False cypress Japanese camellia Figure: Tools for creating a bonsai. Cutting implements (a, b, e), a pair of forceps (c), a pair of pliers (d), a brush (f), a hand trowel (g), a scalpel (h), and a wire (i). Figure: Typical bonsai containers have an oriental design. They are usually shallow Figure: Root pruning Figure: Shoot pruning Figure: Wiring activity in creating bonsai Figure: A technique of creating a bulging stem base Page 5 of 6
Figure: Tree with overhang aged branch stumps Formal upright Informal upright Informal upright Slanting trunk Semi cascade Semi cascade Cascade Forest style Twin trunk Triple trunk Multiple trunk Page 6 of 6