Bonsai Trees For Beginners: Your Guide to Becoming a Bonsai Master
Have you ever wondered how to start your own garden of bonsai plants? Perhaps you love gardening but have limited space? Or you want to know the difference between your ficus ginseng and Chinese elm bonsai? Bonsai2u’s beginner’s guide to bonsai trees is your first stop to getting to grips with this thousand-year-old Japanese art and building and caring for a miniature ornamental garden all of your own.
What are Bonsai Trees?
Bonsai is the ancient art of growing ornamental, miniature trees or shrubs within pots that are scaled down to mimic full-sized trees. A derivative of a similar Chinese art that dates back to 200 BC, Japanese bonsai trees have been grown and nurtured for over 2000 years. With long lifespans, easy maintenance and centuries of Asian culture, it’s hard to resist the charm and appeal that comes with creating your own bonsai tree collection.
The Basics
So where to start? There is a vast array of types of bonsai tree that can be used for both outdoor and indoor bonsai gardens. You might have already heard of popular species, such as the Japanese maple bonsai or the cherry blossom bonsai and Bonsai2u have a great selection of bonsai trees for sale, both online and in-store. Our top picks of indoor trees is a great place to browse as a bonsai beginner and help you settle on a species you can care for easily. We suggest the traditional Chinese elm bonsai and the Fukien tree to start with! Once you’ve decided on the species, you’ll need to consider the size of your bonsai as well as the environment and climate it will be kept in; will there be a lot of direct light where it’s kept?
Do you need a tree that requires infrequent watering?
Will the plant get light all around or will you need to rotate it?
Have a good think and wander round before you land on the right home for your bonsai. Now that you’ve thought about where you will place your bonsai, your next step is to ensure you have the correct pot and tray to comfortably fit your tree.
Bonsai Pots
We have a range of stylish bonsai accessories for you to utilise once you come to potting it. Our durable range of bonsai pots and trays come in all shapes, colours and sizes; from plastic to glazed ceramic for the perfect finishing touch. You can order yours online or we are happy to match your tree with its perfect bonsai pot at our Lutterworth nursery. Once it’s safely potted, you can focus on shaping the tree’s growth and creating your realistic miniature replica. Take a look at our other specialist accessories, such as bonsai wire to safely train and shape your tree’s branches, and bonsai cut paste to seal any scars or marks that blemish the trunk and branches should bacteria or fungi strike.
Soil and Fertilising
The specialist soil your bonsai will grow in is nutrient-rich and balanced to help your bonsai flourish – bog-standard soil just won’t do here! Bonsai2u specialise in bonsai soil that contains Akadama, Pumice and other supplements for optimum growth and advise you use a soil specific to your bonsai’s needs. Ask us in-store or give us a call and we can help identify the correct bonsai soil for your tree-type. You should water your bonsai when the soil is dry to touch and we advise not to create a watering routine and risk overwatering your tree. As your bonsai tree will live its life contained within a pot, it’s very important to fertilise and feed your tree to keep it healthy, all the way from its roots to the tip of its leaves. The perfect bonsai soil is balanced with all the nutrients your tree will need and should be used once a week during growing season. Bonsai2u’s range of slow release and liquid feed formulas will keep your bonsai thriving and are available to buy here.
Bonsai Tools
Being a responsible bonsai owner comes with the need for a comprehensive toolkit to take the best care of your bonsai as it starts to take shape. While bonsai trees are, as a rule, very sturdy, they still require some periodic maintenance using specialist bonsai tools. Tools such as bonsai scissors and knob/branch cutters have been adapted for use on these trees, as well as miniature rakes and sieves to maintain a healthy plant and soil. We stock all of the below to help keep your bonsai manicured and pruned to perfection:
Time to Get Started
Even though it might seem there’s a lot to learn, bonsai’s are actually quite easy to keep once you’ve got the knack and can flourish into stunning features for both your home and garden. Why not try out our specialist beginner bonsai kits that contain not only your first tree, but all of the tools you need to get you going? While you might make some mistakes along the way that result in some crispy leaves and bent branches, there’s nothing stopping you from creating a beautiful bonsai collection with the help of Bonsai2u.
Why not visit our care hub and see our top tips on how to maintain your bonsai tree as it grows?