Creating Your Bonsai:

The Most Popular Species to Grow

To many people, a garden filled with little growing trees grown in clay pots is one
of the most exciting and interesting sights to behold. Many are even drawn to
this rapidly growing horticultural trend not just because of the feeling of
excitement and pleasure that each pot of bonsai can give, but for the fact that
bonsai is the most special form of miniature art known to man. Several claims
have it that nothing can beat the level of greatness that the bonsais can offer
when it comes to arts and aesthetics.

Bonsai is considered by bonsai masters since the early days of its inception as an
art form for one main reason – unlike the other plants and trees grown in your
front or backyard, the bonsai requires much of your creativity and dedication. It
even needs much of your time and effort, as well as care, for it to grow and thrive
for months, even years. These factors are all required since bonsais themselves
tend to grow just like those naturally growing trees you often see outside your
home if left ignored and untreated. So without your dedication and proper care,
your tree won’t look bonsai (small and old looking) as they should be.

There is one misconception that affects most of the bonsai beginners. This has
actually something to do with the belief that bonsai is not a species of tree. Well,
the truth of the matter is that any species of tree that grows with leaves, branches
and trunks can be developed and trained to become bonsai. It is important,
however, for you to make sure that you are ready or willing to do all the works
needed in this horticultural hobby and art. That includes, of course, all the
pruning and trimming, wiring, repotting, misting, fertilizing, and the like.

So now, ready for the bonsai challenge? Well, before you take one species of tree
from your backyard, make sure that that plant is the right one. If you’re clueless
as to what specific variety of tree to grab and grow, then I have a good news for
you – below are some of the most popular species of trees that you can train to
grow as bonsai. You probably have one or two of these in your garden already.
Whatever that may be, take a look at the following:

#1: Juniper

Scientifically known as Juniperus, junipers is a non-flowering, hardy and

evergreen specie of conifers that are easy to plant and grow. This tree is deemed
throughout Japan and the world as one of the three most popular genera trained
as bonsai, along with Japanese maples and pines. It tends to thrive best on
hillsides and dry forests from around the world and generally is noted for its
trailing and elongated branches.

What makes junipers perfect for bonsai is that the tree responds well to all the
wiring and reshaping processes involved in tray planting. Also, its long branches
allow you to form the tree easily into almost all styles of bonsai, except broom.
Perhaps the main problem you may encounter along the way is that most
junipers have stiff trunks and branches that make it a bit harder for you to shape
your plant into something you really like.

Some Notes on Care and Maintenance:

Junipers come in a number of varieties. Most of them are hardy by nature. They
can be left outside the home even for hours and even during harsh and cold
winters. But for all varieties of juniper, make sure to protect its root ball from
harsh winter or frost especially if they are trained to grow as bonsai for just a
couple of hours.

It is also recommended for every beginner to pinch out the apex of the newly
budding tips. This is only applicable during the growth period. In terms of
pruning, the juniper should only be pruned during autumn and spring, not in
summer. And, to further protect your plant and yourself from any possible flaws,
just wear gloves when working with this tree. This is necessary since junipers
often come in needle forms. The prick of these needles can trigger allergic
reactions, giving you red rashes on your skin that can be irritating.

#2: Japanese Maple

Noted by the name Acer Palmatum, the Japanese Maples are a deciduous variety
of trees that appear small and in shrubs. It is noted particularly for its five
pointed leaves, as well as for its delicate and compact size foliage that develops
into rich gold and to deepest blood red color. This plant is native to China, Japan
and Korea.

The Japanese maple is by far one of the most grown species of bonsai in gardens.
However, just like the rest of the bonsai trees available, this variety needs the
ultimate care possible. In the first place, it should be placed in a semi-shaded
area during summer, while it requires direct exposure to sunlight for the rest of
the seasons. It must, however, be protected from harsh and drying winds.

How to Take Care of Japanese Maple?

Once shoots started to develop, pinch them out, especially unwanted parts. You
can prune them by cutting the shoots to a range of about three to five nodes,
leaving at least one centimeter to allow it to die back. Other than this, you should
start trimming the leaves of your maple during the late spring.

In terms of repotting and fertilizing, make sure to do this early in spring or late in
winter. Just make sure that your maple bonsai stays hydrated to prevent it from
dying. Never practice overwatering. That too can kill your bonsai. So the best
thing you can now is to know exactly the water requirement of your plant. If
you’ve purchased the maple from a nursery or garden, try to ask the person in
charge there about such requirement. He or she can tell more about it.

#3: Pines

Another popular variety of coniferous trees, the pines or pinus grow naturally in
mountainous and hilly regions. They are considered for long years as one of the
most popular species of classic bonsai, and are favored specifically for tray
planting because they are easy to care and grow. The inexperienced hobbyists
can even train it to grow healthy and vigorous.

Nevertheless, pines are the species that grow according to certain patterns. The
patterns involved here are dissimilar to that of the deciduous and the most
common coniferous varieties. With this, it is so important for every beginner to
learn even just the basics involved in the growth pattern of pine trees.
Understanding these patterns will allow you to take care of your bonsai the best
way possible.

Speaking of care, pines should be kept outdoors especially during the summer,
spring, and autumn for they need enough sunlight for them to grow vigorous and
healthy. Note than an insufficient supply of sunlight will just allow the pines to
grow with an extended needle. Dieback of branches may also result from this.

When it comes to watering, which is but another important factor to note in tray
planting, the pines should be treated with only little amount of water. This is due
to the fact that pines, regardless of variety, naturally dislike a permanently wet
soil. For this matter, it is often suggested that you use a fast drying medium of
soil for the pines to grow best. Try to give your tree a minimal amount of water
especially during the spring. This will reduced the growth of its needles, then
keeping your tree small.
The pines will also grow best when repotted. Note, however, that when doing this
process, the roots of your bonsai is already developed. If you think it’s too early
for the pines to be transferred to another pot because of the immature formation
of its roots, wait for the full growth. When it comes, only employ a very free
draining mix of soil, and make sure to leave just a bit of the old compost. Do not
wash the roots, but only remove the soil that formed in compacts on it.

#4: Chinese Elm

Indigenous to East Asians, the Chinese Elm is the bonsai specie that grows to a
length of about 18 meters. It is tall and noted particularly for its spreading bark
and habit that are stippled with different colors, including cream, dark gray and
reddish brown. The great thing to know about this specie is that it works best for
both indoor and outdoor application. According to some reviews, it stays semi-
evergreen in color when kept indoors, and turns to become deciduous if kept
outdoors.

The Chinese elm has long been noted as a good species to take care for those who
are just starting on the trend of tray planting. I bet all of these are due to the fact
that the Chinese elms grow predictably. They are also quite forgiving especially
when pruned, and being a slow-growing species, it’s no wonder that more and
more people are now taking it for bonsai purposes.

To maintain the good health of your Chinese elm, you need to protect the trees
from harsh weather, including the cold and harsh wind. Aside from that, you
need to prune the trees right after its growth period while leaving at least one or a
couple of nodes near the main branch or trunk for it to grow in the right style you
want. You can further keep your bonsai lively by feeding it with moderate
amount of water all year round. Just make sure to keep the plants moist all day
and night. Finally, you need to repot the tree early in the spring.
#5: Dwarf Pomegranate

Named scientifically as the Punica Granatum var. Nana, the dwarf pomegranate
is but another popular specie of bonsai admired particularly for its flowering and
fruiting properties. It is named as “dwarf” simply for the fact that this variety
grows with smaller trunks and branches, as well as finer leaves, fruits and
flowers. These qualities are what specifically made it perfect for this miniature
horticultural hobby.

The dwarf pomegranate naturally grows with bending trunks. They are also
valued for their ancient appearance, which is but one of the most sough after
aspects in bonsai. In case, you are not familiar with this tree, note that its leaves
appear dark green in color, but with shades of bronze. After the flowering
season, the pomegranate produces fruits that are in spherical shapes. And,
what’s more interesting to know about this species is that it fits to almost all
styles of bonsai, including cascade, tree on rock, informal upright, forest, twin
trunk, root over rock, literati, group, windswept, and twisting, to mention but a
few.

General Care and Maintenance:

When it comes to general care, it is worth to know that the dwarf pomegranate is
easy to propagate. With this fact, you can easily and quickly create group
plantings of this variety. However, when planting or growing one, make sure to
keep the plant damp or moist at all times. For it to develop shoots of flowers, try
to keep it shaded, but slightly dry, and protect it from strong or harsh winds all
year round.

Another important thing to note is that the dwarf pomegranate should not be
kept planted on a container or pot that is shallow. Unlike the pines, this
particular specie of bonsai loves to play with water. For this, it is a rule of thumb
for every bonsai beginner to select a pot that is designed with a deep surface. In
terms of wiring, just keep your plant free from bruises and breakage. This is so
necessary since the pomegranate by nature is so brittle.

A lot more species of trees and plants are available out there in nature for you to
take for your bonsai project. Included in the list of the other most well-known
species are the Zelkova, cedar elm, ficus, fuchsia, jade tree, serissa, star magnolia,
wisteria, trident maple, fukien tea, flowering quince, English box, contoneaster,
and lot more. Note that each of these varieties has their own qualities that make
them a potential candidate for tray planting. However, since they vary in type
and origin, it is always necessary for every beginner in the bonsai trend to know
everything about the fundamental facts of these trees. The good news is that
there are now a number of resources available for you to consider. You can find
them offline and online, depending on what you actually prefer.

Speaking of offline resources, you have the chance to read some books and
magazines that tackle some of the most popular species of bonsai. These books
are distributed and marketed anywhere in the world nowadays, thus finding them
is so easy and quick. You can go directly to one of the largest stores near your
place, or you can ask a friend who owns a book that mentions about bonsai
planting. If you prefer to buy one on a reputable bookstore, just be ready to
spend enough money for an informative piece. If you’re lucky enough, you can
find some bonsai books offered at discount prices. So just take the best deal.

On the other hand, if you find searching for reliable resources on the web easier
and quicker than the traditional means, then why wait. Fact is, you can do this
job anytime of the day or night. You can even do the search even at the comfort
of your own room, provided that you have the internet connection. The key to
finding the right resource on the web is to use to most reliable search engine
available. You can take Google or Yahoo! as your starting portal. Both of these
can lead you to a number of sites featuring a wealth of information about bonsai
planting, including its basics and advanced techniques. So wherever online you
may go, take time to read some of the helpful stuffs presented.

Whatever you may take, make sure to form the right style of bonsai possible for
that specific variety of tree you are considering. Start thinking about the style in
mind, and make sure that when you practice it, you exactly know what you’re
doing. Perhaps the good thing to do here for you to succeed in your bonsai
growing project is to know some of the basic steps involved in each of the styles
you are thinking of forming. Just learn the steps, and do everything you can to
make your tree truly a “bonsai”.

Oops! All else fails? If that’s the case, then don’t panic. Rather, note that
mistakes do happen, whether you want it or not. The bonsai masters of today
had even experienced that. Yes, they were once novice and they all have their
own trials and errors. So don’t ever quit. Just go on and you’ll just realize one
day that you can develop a bonsai like a pro.