is a small tree with an unusual beautiful forms trunk and crown. The art of growing such plants appeared more than two thousand years ago in China. But it took root among Japanese gardeners, becoming a symbol of this country.

Bonsai is a non-special type of tree, it is formed from ordinary plants using pruning and pinching.

Choosing a plant for creating a bonsai

In order to gain practical skills and not lose interest, it is better to start creating a miniature tree from fast-growing plant species. For example, or maple. Larches and pines are very slow growing but easy to work with.

Choose a plant to create miniature tree this table will help:

Name	Conditions	Formation	Peculiarities
Hibiscus	South side, with permanent lighting	Pruning a biennial plant. Flowering shoots are not cut.	Young shoots are cut to a stiff part. They are sent up with a wire in March-April.
Garnet	Southwest side with permanent lighting. Temperature in winter time year not lower than 5˚C. Regular watering in spring and summer and rare after the foliage has fallen (autumn-winter).	Shoots are pruned in autumn after flowering. Pruning begins 2 years after planting.	Choose a variety with small leaves. Fertilize in spring and summer. Repot every 3 years. Propagated by cuttings and seeds.
Callistemon	Sunny side. During the growing season, abundant watering, in winter - limited.	Weak shoots are removed and thinned out from March to May. Form a bonsai in the fall, cutting off excess branches.	Recommended varieties: Pininfolius or Viminalis.
room cypress	Bright diffused light. The temperature is not lower than 5˚C. Watering is moderate.	In early spring, young shoots are cut to 2/3 of their length. Formed with wire.	Recommend grade Goldcrest. Propagated by cuttings. Transplanted in the spring every 2 years.
cistus	Southwest side with permanent lighting. In winter, the temperature is not lower than 5˚C. Regular watering.	To stimulate flowering, the branches are thinned out in the spring. When shaping, the top is regularly trimmed.	Varieties: Incanus or Laurifolius. Can tolerate drought. Fertilize with calcium from early spring to late summer.
Olive	Southwest side with permanent lighting. In the summer they take it out into the fresh air. Water moderately.	With the help of wire, upright shoots are given asymmetric natural shapes.	Fertilize throughout the year. Propagated by seeds and cuttings.
Myrtle	Scattered light, moderate watering,	The shape is shaped with wire while the branches are bent. Shoots are pruned after the flowers wither	Transplanted every 2 years, propagation by cuttings
Spurge	Southwest side, temperature in winter 8-15˚C, moderate watering.	When pruning the shoots, juice appears on the cut, it must be removed with a cotton pad and rinsed with water at room temperature.	Variety Balsamifera. If you do not water for a long time, then the foliage falls off. It is necessary to wait for new shoots and resume soil moisture. Fertilize from mid-spring to late summer. Propagated in summer period leaf cuttings.
	The sunny side, the temperature in the cold season is 6-15˚C, watering is frequent. With a lack of water, the leaves begin to turn yellow.	Formed into bonsai easily.	If the roots are thick, then you need to transplant rosemary annually. Propagated by cuttings.
Pine	sunny side, winter period temperature 6-14˚C, regular watering,	The first pruning is done 3 years after planting. The lower branches are completely cut off, and the upper branches are made horizontal with a wire. New shoots of horizontal branches are completely cut off. The bend of the trunk is attached with wire.	Recommended varieties: Halepensis and pinea. Fertilize in spring and summer. Propagated by seeds.
	Southwest side, t=6-20˚C, moderate watering,	For creating beautiful crown pinch the top of the young fat woman and shorten the side shoots of the second order. Thin out annually in mid-spring to allow light to reach inner shoots.	The dry period can last up to two weeks. Fertilize April-September. Propagated by leaf cuttings.
	Penumbra	The first pruning is done 2 years after planting. The shape is given by wire. To create a thick trunk, the stems of 3 ficuses are intertwined.

Pot selection

To give a finished and harmonious composition it is important to choose the right one for the mini-tree.

To make the bonsai look stylish, the height of the container should be equal to 2/3 of the length of the plant.

It is better to choose ceramic and well-fired bowls with holes for drainage. When choosing a container for bonsai, they are guided by 2 criteria:

• Colour pot. In single containers Brown conifers will look interesting. Flowering plants are perfect for bright containers for bonsai.
• The form pot. In oval deep containers, single trees look spectacular. When creating cascading compositions, it is better to use narrow square and deep bonnets. miniature garden preferably planted in shallow oval containers. Plants with a multi-stem shape or with a dense crown look great in wide and flat containers. If the tree has open roots, then it is better to choose a deep and narrow pot.

soil for bonsai

For the preparation of the soil, the following components are used:

• Sand. Fine and granular is well suited, because its function is to make the soil loose. River sand must be thoroughly washed and calcined in an oven.
• Clay. It perfectly passes air and absorbs moisture. Thanks to this component nutrients, especially phosphates, come to the plant evenly.
• Organic Supplements. This includes peat and coniferous or leafy soil. In order not to infect the plant with a fungus, it is necessary to ignite the additive in the oven for 5 minutes. It is better to collect soil in plantings deciduous trees, in the middle of spring. The layer of leaves that have not rotted over the winter must be removed.

The proportions depend on the type of plants:

• Conifers:
  • Clay - 6 parts;
  • Sand - 4 parts.
• Fruiting and blooming:
  • Clay - 6 parts;
  • Sand - 3 parts;
  • Leaf humus - 1 part.
• Deciduous:
  • Clay - 7 parts;
  • Sand - 3 parts.

How to plant? Step-by-step instruction

Miniature trees can be grown in several ways. The most complex and time-consuming method is. It is much easier and faster to get a tree from cuttings.

Stages of growing from seeds

• seed processing. The skin is cut or pierced. Or a landing specimen is kept in warm water for a day.
• Soil preparation. It is screened and disinfected. The composition of the soil is the same as for the permanent cultivation of bonsai.
• Pot preparation. It is thoroughly washed and filled with earth.
• Sowing. The best time for this process is mid-spring or late summer. Not all seeds will sprout, so they are planted twice as many as required. Small ones are sown evenly, and large ones are planted one at a time.
• Creating a greenhouse. From above, the seeds are sprinkled with soil and covered with glass or film. Direct sunlight should not fall on the mini-greenhouse. The soil should be moderately moist. T=23˚C.
• After the appearance of the first shoots you need to slightly move the glass so that air begins to flow. After 2-3 days, it is completely removed.
• When the leaves appear the plant can begin to dive. For the development of the root system, the tree is transplanted several times. Seedlings are planted at a distance of 4 cm. The trunk with cut roots is deepened into the ground to the first pair of leaves. A month and a half after transplantation, the plant is fertilized.
• Planting in a permanent pot. As soon as the tree gets stronger, it is transplanted into a permanent bowl. Formation begins to do in 2 years. Bonsai will grow after 5 years.

Growing from cuttings

Bonsai Care Rules

Transfer

To maintain the size of a bonsai, not only the crown is cut, but also root system. This process is carried out when transplanting a tree. It depends on the type of plant when pruning will be carried out.

Deciduous trees are transplanted in late winter-early spring, and flowering trees in autumn.

It is also necessary to monitor the root system. If it has filled the entire bowl or has grown through the drainage holes, then it's time to prune. If this did not happen, and the transplant has already begun, then simply replace the soil in the pot without touching the roots.

Bonsai transplant steps:

• Before removing the plant from the bowl, it is necessary to moisten the soil;
• Remove thick roots with secateurs;
• Lateral and adnexal trimming is not necessary;
• You can remove 2/3 of the root system, but at the same time cut the bonsai crown in the same way;
• Bonsai is early to form if the root is in the form of a rod. It is cut off by 1/3 and left in the same container until a fibrous system is formed.
• During transplantation, it is recommended to bring thick roots to the surface. This will give the composition naturalness.
• So that the water does not evaporate quickly and the tree looks natural, the ground is covered with green moss.
• The plant adapts in a new pot for about three weeks. This time it is necessary to water it moderately and protect it from rays.

Watering

Bonsai Watering Example

Water for watering bonsai should be settled for 3 days or filtered.

If you spray the leaves with a hard and unpeeled one, then a white coating will remain on them.

The water temperature should be slightly above room temperature.

Bonsai need to be watered regularly. Periodically immerse the pot with the tree in a container filled with water. Wet soil must not be allowed to cool, therefore, in the cold season, watering is done once a week.

In summer, bonsai should be moistened daily. But this general recommendations, and for each species and variety of plants there is a water regime. Deciduous plants watered more often than conifers.

Moisture is absorbed very quickly if most of the pot is occupied by the root system, and not by the soil. Therefore, moisten the bonsai until water begins to pour out of the drainage hole.

The liquid should not be left in the stand, this will lead to rotting of the roots.

top dressing

To feed small trees, you can use both special nutrients and top dressing for ordinary trees. indoor plants. In the warm season, bonsai are fertilized weekly, and monthly in winter. You can not feed the plant with mineral and organic additives at the same time. It is better to do this in two steps.

You can not feed the plants after:

• flowering;
• Trimmings;
• Transplants.

Conifers are fertilized much less often, deciduous. Experts recommend keeping a feeding calendar.

Style selection

The main styles of bonsai art:

The style must be chosen in the process of growing a miniature tree.

Formation of the crown and trunk of bonsai

Creating a certain style of bonsai, the crown and trunk are gradually changed. For this, 3 methods are used:

• Wire. She fixes the angle of inclination of the trunk and the location of the branches. The ends of the wire are attached to a support outside the pot. You need to wind the wire carefully, without damaging the plant. The tree will stay in chains for several years until it learns to keep its shape on its own.
• pruning. It is carried out for the emergence of new branches. To form a natural crown, it is necessary to prune three times a year. Young branches of the lower level should be cut to the second internode, the upper - to the first. To maintain the shape of the crown, it is thinned out annually.
• Pinching. During the summer it is done three times. Pinching is done for good growth leaves and that the branches are not long.

Bonsai is a tiny tree that is gaining popularity among flower growers every day. In what style and what form it will be, depends on the patience, creative plans and improvisation of the grower.

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How to plant and grow bonsai from seeds?

So, how to plant a bonsai from seeds? Bonsai is a small tree with a trunk and crown. unusual shape. Growing bonsai from seeds is considered an interesting activity for patient gardening enthusiasts. To obtain the desired result, it is necessary for several years to first care for the seed, then for the sprout and then for a small tree. It is not always possible to grow bonsai from seeds the first time. But those who can go through this long and difficult path will be able to delight their eyes with the beauty of this plant, the embodiment of the strength and power of a tree in a small beautiful pot at home.

Bonsai is small tree with a trunk and a crown of unusual shape.

If the seeds are properly cared for, any tree can be grown. There will be no need for special conditions here, it is only necessary to create and maintain a favorable climate that is required for a plant, especially if it is small. This will require a certain amount of knowledge to grow a beautiful tree.

Seed selection and preparation for planting

When choosing seeds, preference should be given to those types of trees that will be able to grow in territorial climatic conditions. If you plan to keep a grown bonsai on a balcony or garden, then you need to choose species that can grow in this region. If the tree will grow in the house, then you can choose from tropical species.

If there is no experience in growing plants, you can plant ficus, which is unpretentious in care.

If there is absolutely no experience in growing plants, you can plant ficus. This is unpretentious plant. If you have experience in growing plants, then you can choose the seeds of any popular type of tree you like for bonsai. If you choose a pine tree, it will grow slowly, however, a copy of original beauty can be obtained from it. You can choose any tree, but you need to take into account the attractiveness of the future plant. First of all, you have to like it.

Seeds must be prepared taking into account the duration of their germination so that they are ready for planting by the beginning of summer. Summer time is the time of active growth of any plants, and only at this time can you perform the necessary picking. By the winter period, the seedlings will already be able to grow a little and become stronger.

Pine seeds, for example, must be planted as soon as they are harvested. Many seeds require preparation before planting. The seeds are in a hard shell, the water does not pass well. In order to accelerate germination, seeds must be placed in a humid environment. For this purpose, wet sand should be poured into the pot, seeds should be laid on it, covered with wet sand from above. Then the pot, which is wrapped in cellophane, must be removed in a cool place for up to 3 months. A couple of days before planting, you need to place the seeds in warm water. To speed up the swelling of the seeds, the shell can be filed a little. It is imperative to perform seed treatment with any fungicide.

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Choosing a pot and soil for bonsai

The optimal pot for a small Japanese tree is a ceramic container with a small depth and a large diameter, which resembles a bowl. There should be enough space so that the roots of the tree are securely covered.

The optimal pot for bonsai is a ceramic container with a small depth and a large diameter.

It is not recommended to use soil for standard houseplants, because it will delay a large number of moisture, and the roots may begin to rot. The natural environment of bonsai is harsh conditions, rocky slopes where they cling to almost bare rock. It is not necessary to grow it on stones at home, but bring it closer to more natural environment recommended. main function pot and soil is considered a balancing of the above-ground part of the plant.

Drainage holes must be made in the pot. It is also recommended to lay the net on the bottom in order to prevent soil from washing out. Before planting, the roots of the plant must be cut so that the plant is placed in a container. A small amount of soil is poured on top of the grid, then a tree is placed, while its largest underground parts are tied with wire, fixed to the pot through the drainage holes. Now you need to fill the container with soil and water the bonsai.

It must be borne in mind that trees of species that grow in temperate climate should only be planted in the spring.

Bonsai is the art of growing small trees. And although it seems that this is an incredibly complex process, it is almost impossible to get a good result in which great desire and diligence everything can work out. Growing a bonsai is really not easy, especially if you start over and not buy a ready-made tree. But a person who is not afraid of difficulties will be fully rewarded.

The history of the art of growing bonsai originates several thousand years ago in the environment Japanese monarchs. Initially, it was a privilege to dedicate time to caring for small trees. A little later, art became accessible to all segments of the population, and in the last century it gained worldwide distribution.

To become a professional bonsai grower, you need not only free time and patience, but also inspiration based on a great desire to grow your own bonsai tree. You can start with the seed of a tree, but the best chance of success is to plant a seedling. In many garden yards and specialty stores you can buy such a seedling. The main thing is to understand what exactly you want to get in the end.

To choose the best tree for yourself, which will please the eye and give pleasure, you need to understand what varieties exist, as well as find out the features of their cultivation.

At home, in a small pot, you can grow a miniature copy of almost any tree: oak, ficus, pine or birch. The tree will grow according to the same rules of nature as an ordinary street tree - in the fall it will shed its yellowed leaves, and in the spring it will bud and renew its foliage.

If there is no desire to observe the same picture on the windowsill life cycle tree, as outside the window, you can buy an evergreen tree and all year round enjoy its beauty.
You can try to grow a miniature tree from an ordinary seedling. And in order for the bonsai to remain small and not grow beyond the pot, it constantly needs to be cut, forming a crown, and slowing down natural development.

If, nevertheless, a decision is made to try to grow bonsai on your own, for this you need to do the following:
1. Find a suitable seedling. To do this, you will have to go to the nearest planting or forest, choose a tree that you want to grow. It is desirable that the size of the seedling does not exceed 15-20 cm, and when digging it, it is necessary to capture a little of its native land so that the tree adapts more easily.

2. The seedling must be planted in a container with a small height. It is important that it is wide enough. To prepare the soil for bonsai, you need to mix 3/5 garden soil, 1/5 peat and 1/5 sand.

3. After planting, the first pruning of branches is carried out, only horizontal processes must be left.

4. best time The year for planting bonsai is autumn, because over the next few winter months the tree will have the opportunity to adapt and take root.

5. The crown should be cut constantly and regularly so that the height of the branches does not exceed 30 cm. It is important to form the shape of the crown that you want to have as a result.

6. To slow down the growth of the tree, small incisions are made on its trunk to slow down the flow of juice in the trunk.

Bonsai transplantation is carried out once every 2-3 years, this is done in order to remove excess roots. The size and shape of the pot should not change, otherwise the tree will begin to grow from a miniature size.

The shape of the bonsai is one of the main features of the tree. To decide what shape of the tree crown to form, you need to understand what varieties and styles of bonsai exist. There are several main styles: straight, cascading, inclined, multi-stem. In addition, there are many varieties of these styles, each of which characterizes some features, features and symbolizes a certain attitude to life. After all, bonsai is not biology, but philosophy.

Definitely grow bonsai from right seedling, bought in a specialized store, is much easier, and the probability of the desired result is higher. In the store, along with the sprout, you can get detailed instructions for growing bonsai, as well as necessary fertilizers. But it's more interesting to try to do something on your own. And by making the necessary efforts and developing your patience, you can achieve good results, which, of course, will please.

My dear lovers of the beautiful and unusual, I hasten to please you, following my not tricky advice, you can grow "bonsai", one of the most expensive and sought-after plants in the countries of near and far abroad. Recently, this exotic culture has gained the right to life in our country, but the prices for bonsai are quite high and not every consumer is ready to pay big money for aesthetic pleasure.

The idea of ​​growing this crop has long fascinated many generations of amateur flower growers and do not be afraid of difficulties. With a little effort and a bit of patience, you will be able to master this tricky technique. Before you get started, I want to warn you, bonsai requires daily attention! 10-15 minutes a day is enough for your brainchild to develop perfectly, delight the eye and amaze guests with its beauty.

What may be required. Of course, you will need a container for growing bonsai, but you can experiment with any other dishes that are at hand. The main thing to remember is that bonsai literally translates as "growing on a tray." Accordingly, the dishes should be with fairly low sides, preferably from frost-resistant materials. We also need sandy soil, copper wire, budding knife, tongs and scissors for bonsai. Well, perhaps, we have everything we need, we can begin to analyze the crops for planting.

Plant species suitable for bonsai can be divided into 2 categories.

The first is coniferous bonsai. Pine, spruce, cedar, juniper - these are tree species that are not difficult to find in our forests and nurseries. Best of all, juniper tolerates wintering in an apartment. But any coniferous culture needed low temperatures from -4 to 0 degrees. Here, greenhouses, greenhouses, greenhouses and even balconies will come to your aid. I pay special attention to greenhouses "dacha 2dum" because they have the function of additional building if necessary. And when growing seedlings, they did not show themselves badly. And if you want to collect early harvest cucumbers or tomatoes, then you certainly can’t do without it.

If it is not possible to provide your pet desired temperature, remember that you can save the plant at higher rates, but not higher than + 12-15 degrees. The main condition is frequent spraying, top dressing 2 times a month, drying out of the soil in the container is not allowed!

The second category is leafy bonsai. This category, in turn, is divided into 2 sections: evergreen deciduous bonsai and deciduous deciduous bonsai. There is already a place for fantasy to roam! But it should be borne in mind that if you opted for an evergreen deciduous plant, then it will endure wintering in an apartment well. Watering should be daily, without drying out the surface even for one day, mandatory spraying 2 times a day, 2-3 feedings per month. In the case of the deciduous variant, wintering in room conditions will require coolness and light. Water as needed, no top dressing during the winter.

For beginners, I advise you to try juniper, linden and beech. The next step may be oak, and then all the other more fastidious crops.

There are several ways to grow bonsai.

The first and longest-term program is the cultivation from seeds. The lesson is not for the impatient, it will take at least 2 years before the sprout can begin to form.

The second way - air layers. It is desirable to carry out the procedure from May to June, when the processes of sap fermentation are just beginning to wake up in the tree. On the tree you like, find a v-shaped cutting. With a budding knife, make 2 circular horizontal cuts under the mother plant. Then remove the bark between them and sprinkle the bare part with growth hormones. Wrap the treated surface with moss or peat and cover everything with foil. After 3-6 months, the root system will appear and it will be possible to separate the cutting from mother plant for a transplant.

And the third one is the easiest and fast way, for those who do not like to bother. Buy a 2-3 year old seedling from a nursery and get to work. There is a belief that inexpensive seedlings usually bring the fastest results.

Well, we have purchased suitable plant. We plant a seedling in a well-disinfected container, after cutting off the roots according to the volume of the container. side shoots should be shortened by a quarter. Wrap the docked branches with wire and give the desired shape. It is important to know that the plant does not need too fertile land, the soil should be a mixture of sand, poor soil, peat and compost. All the necessary trace elements should come from bait, this allows you to regulate the growth of your tree yourself.

After planting, the soil around the plant should be compressed and shed abundantly. Bonsai require daily watering, during the growth period, do not forget to add liquid fertilizer to the water for irrigation every 2 weeks.

Well, the planting is over, the plant has taken root. It's time to think about how you want to see your tree in the future. I offer you several types of cupping.

1. Formation of a plentiful crown (works great with elms - photo 2). To obtain a reliable result, it is necessary to shorten long branches by 1-2 leaves several times a year. There is another version - remove the whole bough, after a couple of months, small branches will completely fill the entire volume formed at the saw cut site. It remains only to keep an eye on and cut the branches as they grow, forming the necessary look.

2. Plant grafting method. It will require some experience in administering vaccinations, but a few training sessions will fully provide the necessary skill. It is worth carrying out this operation in winter, when the tree is at rest. Let's get acquainted with the necessary terminology. The branch of the plant that they want to grow is called a "graft", into the trunk to which they are attached the new kind plants are called "rootstock".

Cut the scion diagonally and carefully insert it with a sharp end into the side cutout on the rootstock. In this case, the cut surfaces on the scion and rootstock should coincide in combi layers. Next, coat the joints garden pitch and wrap tightly with dark plaster or plastic tape. Do not be afraid to experiment and success will be guaranteed. The main advantage of grafting is that on one tree you get the opportunity to have several trunks. different types trees (the main thing is that the trees belong to the same family).

Let's take a look at some of the main styles used for crown development.

It does not take much effort to change the direction of the trunk. A coil of wire and your imagination is enough. In some cases, use a weight to bend the branch down.

Vertical style. To bring this style to life, they form a trunk growing straight up. First, several branches are removed, leaving the strongest lower branch, and those following to the top are thinner. Pruning buds and branches helps to minimize the plant.

The broom style is the easiest. Branches are removed by half the length. After pruning, strengthened nutrition should be carried out in order to restore the strength of the plant. The crown is shaped like a broom.

The horizontal type of crown formation involves pruning upper parts trees and increased growth of side shoots.

As you can see, it's not that difficult! The main thing is your desire and success is guaranteed! In the summer, when nature triumphs, take your plant outside and let it breathe. fresh air! I remember my mother always said: "Bonsai is Small child. If you want to drink, then you need to bring it to him. If it’s hot for you, then it’s not comfortable either.” A live mini tree will perfectly complement the interior of your garden. I grow trees right in the apartment, I especially love citrus fruits. We have covered the most basic things that you need to know about bonsai, and it remains only to wish you success in this difficult, but exciting business.

Growing bonsai is not just a creative hobby. miniature plants is an art, a living organism that grows and changes every day.

The ancient art of bonsai

« Bonsai" translated from Japanese as " tree in a flat container". It was first mentioned in Chinese chronicles about 2000 years ago. Dwarf plants adorned the gardens and houses of the nobility, were used for meditation, contemplation and reflection. Over time, the beauty and harmony of miniature compositions became an art, which later flourished in Japan.

Japanese craftsmen adopted the main techniques and methods from the Chinese, but it was in the country rising sun formed classic styles cultivation. The formed bonsai should resemble a tree or shrub in nature..

Bonsai came to our country only in 1974 as a gift from the wife of the Japanese ambassador. Since the beginning of the 90s, their popularity in Russia, as well as throughout the world, began to grow. Clubs of amateurs, nurseries for cultivation are created, exhibitions are organized.

Types of plants for bonsai

There are many trees and shrubs suitable for growing plant miniatures. How to decide?

The most unpretentious and small-leaved ficus species excellent for the first experience.

Ficus benjamina and ficus blunted

Evergreen trees. They winter well indoors. They do not retire, they only slow down growth. They grow quickly, you need to periodically thin out the crown.

Experienced gardeners can expand their list with subtropical deciduous and.

evergreen coniferous plant, in nature grows up to 10 m. It grows quickly, most species are perfectly formed from an early age. Resistant to pests. used for outdoor bonsai.

Pomegranate dwarf

year-round flowering shrub from the Mediterranean, the flowers are small, bright red. In room conditions, it can bear fruit. The pomegranate is shaped in all Japanese styles.

More difficult to grow - a group of deciduous plants middle lane. For them, you need to create special conditions for wintering.

More than 150 species are known. Maple is one of the symbols of bonsai in Japan. Valued for being beautiful decorative leaves, painted crimson in autumn. Light-loving, but can grow in shady places. Resistant to adverse conditions. Handles pruning well.

Blooming sakura (Japanese cherry) is a spectacle of special beauty. Its flowering in nature is annually celebrated in Japan as a national holiday. The trunk of the tree is red-brown in color with a dense crown. Bright pink and white flowers with a diameter of 1 cm are collected in inflorescences of several pieces. Grown as in open field as well as at home.

How to choose bonsai in the store?

It is better to purchase plants in garden stores or nurseries. They offer two options: young plants aged 2-3 years, which need to be cut at home and transplanted into a flat container or ready-made bonsai.

What should I pay attention to when buying?

Plant appearance

The plant should look healthy: have a good root system, a lush crown and a strong trunk without scratches and wounds. It is allowed to have several yellowed leaves on the lower branches of deciduous plants in autumn period, but plants with half-circled leaves should be discarded. The soil in the pot should not be waterlogged.

Presence of pests and diseases

They should not be on the branches, trunk and ground. If it so happens that pests and diseases are detected after purchase, then immediate treatment with drugs will prevent the spread of infection. old earth replace by adding Bazudin or Aktara to the new substrate to kill the larvae.

What conditions are needed for growing?

illumination

Plants have different lighting needs: some like constant bright light, others like partial shade.

The location also depends on the orientation of the windows (north, south, west, east). Plants are placed so that the sun is available three to four hours a day. Every 2-4 weeks the containers are rotated 180°. In winter, if the shoots began to stretch, organize artificial lighting.

Humidity

Optimum air humidity in a dry urban area is maintained by regular spraying of plants and the air around them with settled water. It is good to place water trays and aquariums near the bonsai tree.

Temperature

The temperature regime during the year must correspond to natural conditions in the home of plants.

Plants of the middle lane in warm weather contain outdoors, for the winter they are either left there covered, or brought into a glazed loggia.

subtropical plants in summer they are on the balcony, in the garden or near open window, in cold period kept indoors at a temperature not exceeding 15°C.

Tropical A year-round temperature of 18°C ​​to 25°C is required.

The soil

Bonsai soil must retain moisture, provide the plant with oxygen and nutrition. good substrate consists of peat, sand and humus earth(leaf or coniferous humus) in proportions corresponding to the needs of each species.

How to choose a pot?

The pot is the second most important element of a bonsai. Together with the plant, they create an ideal harmonious image. Depending on the type of plant and style, containers can be different shapes: round, oval, multifaceted, deep or flat.

For example, for cascading style fit tall and narrow, for formal and informal vertical styles round, square or rectangular are best.

It is preferable to use clay pots natural colors: brown, gray, black, white. It is important that the coloring is not flashy and does not dominate general appearance. Containers must have drainage holes for draining.

How to grow bonsai from seeds?

Growing bonsai from seeds is a long way to go, but some plants that do not take well or do not take cuttings can only be propagated in this way. These include: , cedars, maples, oaks, lindens, birches, elms, poplars etc.

Seeds are prepared for sowing. Without pre-treatment, seedlings will be less and they will have to wait longer. It is conditionally possible to distinguish three groups of seeds:

1. Not requiring stratification. Minimum seed treatment required tropical and subtropical plants (, coffee, ficus), as well as some deciduous, whose seeds in nature ripen in early summer and sprout by autumn. It is enough to soak them for a day in warm water. If the seeds have a hard shell, then to stimulate germination, it is carefully filed, trying not to damage the core.
2. Requiring cold stratification. This group includes plants that live in places where the change of warm and cold periods is a common occurrence. After soaking, the seeds are placed in wet sand, sphagnum, vermiculite and kept in the cold for one to six months at temperatures up to 5°C. Seeds are periodically checked, controlling the appearance of sprouts and preventing rotting.
3. Requiring warm stratification. plant seeds, genus from regions with mild winter(Southern Europe) after soaking and before cold stratification, they are kept at a temperature of 15–20 ° C for a month or two. Some of them are placed in hot water with a temperature of 40°C and left in it after cooling for a day. Then transferred to the cold. So artificially for plants, an imitation of the change of seasons is created.

After processing the seeds, they begin sowing. You need flat, shallow containers with drainage holes and a light, water-retaining substrate, such as a mixture of peat and sand. To avoid rot and fungal diseases, the soil is watered with a fungicide. Seeds that germinate in the light are left on the surface, slightly pressed into the substrate. The rest are planted to a depth of 0.5 to 12 cm, depending on the size of the seeds.

At first, they need only moisture and heat to germinate. The air temperature should be at least 25 ° C, after emergence it is lowered to 18 ° C. In order to develop safely, it is important for seedlings good lighting and moderate watering. Picking is carried out 3-4 weeks after germination, placing one plant in small pots.

Reproduction by cuttings

A faster way to reproduce. Suitable for , boxwood, cypress, willow, ficus, cotoneaster etc. When propagated by cuttings, all parental characteristics are preserved: the shape of the crown, leaves.

The best time for cuttings is March-August. The upper or middle part of the shoot is taken, 8–25 cm long, depending on the type of plant, and cut off with a knife or secateurs. There must be at least two knots on the handle.

The shoot is placed in water or in the substrate so that the lower node is buried. Roots will then begin to form from it. The soil must be porous, permeable to water and air. Suitable river sand, perlite, peat, sphagnum moss. When cuttings, you can use growth stimulants.

The stalk is watered, periodically sprayed with water or covered with a jar or plastic bag. The room must be lit, ventilated, with an air temperature of at least 24°C.

Rooting times are different, some species need more than one month. The appearance of young leaves in most species signals the appearance of roots. But for and spruce, this is not an indicator. Their growth of shoots is ahead of root formation.

After the roots appear, the plants are opened and aired daily. Transplanted into separate pots after the plants get stronger, after 2-3 months.

How to care?

Watering

The most important part of care. Most often, trees and shrubs die due to errors in watering. Water them as needed. The soil should be moist, but not dry and wet. Only the top layer is allowed to dry. Water is used settled, soft, so that mineral salts do not form a crust on the surface of the soil and trunk.

In winter for tropical and deciduous plants watering is reduced. Exception - coniferous, as the extra moisture saves them from dry air in the house. Watering for all types is combined with air humidification.

Fertilizer

For top dressing, organic and mineral fertilizers without mixing them with each other. Plants are fed from spring, when they begin to grow until autumn, once every 3-4 weeks.

Transfer

In the first year, the young tree grows freely, until 3-4 years old it is transplanted once a year. After the regularity of transplantation is determined individually for each species.

The signal for the need for a transplant is the exit of the roots into the drainage holes of the pot. The plant is taken out of the pot, carefully cut off the lower and lateral roots by 2–3 cm, planted in a new bowl and watered. The procedure is carried out in March-April, at the beginning of active growth.

crown formation

The trunk and branches of the tree are the central parts of the image. The trunk should have a powerful base, gradually decreasing towards the crown. To form it, all branches that are superfluous for the selected style are removed, the rest are shortened by at least 1/3.

The volume of the roots should be approximately equal to the volume of the crown. By trimming the crown, the roots are also shortened.

Regular pruning of branches keeps the tree small. When pruning, the lower shoots are left longer. The shortening of the branches sets a new direction for growth - young shoots begin to grow from the buds located near the cut.

To significantly change the direction of growth of branches, pruning alone is not enough. To obtain the desired result, use the wire. It is first mounted on the trunk or on the thickest branch, then fixed on a thinner one. No more than two branches are attached with one wire. You also need to make sure that the wires do not cross and do not cut into the bark of the branch.

Too thick branches are fixed with a tension wire, both ends of which are fixed in loops of thicker wire, fixed through drainage holes in the bottom of the pot.

"Aging" of the tree

To give the "ancient" look of bonsai, you can use:

Threads

With a chisel or power tool, the bark is removed from a certain area. Then these areas are processed with a special cutter. This results in a cracked effect. old wood. This method is used only during the dormant period on healthy trees growing in a pot for at least two years.

Creation of cracks and scars

With the help of chisels different sizes and a hammer on the barrel make indentations. Coal powder is rubbed into these places, the cracks will darken and look natural. By pressing a chisel into the wood and pulling it down the trunk, you get a scar - a cavity that is rougher than a crack.

Imitations of decay

A grinder makes several vertical cuts on the trunk, deepening them if necessary.

"Aged" plants are protected, regularly watered, sprayed and do not feed for a month.

Pests, diseases

Aphid

The first sign of infection is the appearance of a sticky light bloom on the leaves. An easy and quick way to get rid of it is to wash the leaves. soapy water. Do this three times with a break of 3 days. If aphids have bred, then use an aerosol insecticide. It is carefully sprayed from all sides and the plant is covered with a plastic bag for 30–40 minutes. Processing is also carried out 3 times.

spider mite

It feeds on plant juices, which causes the leaves to turn yellow and fall off. For prevention, spraying is more often carried out. If the tick nevertheless appeared, then they fight it, as well as with aphids, with aerosol means.

whitefly

A small white butterfly settles on the wrong side of the leaf. With a small number of pests, the plants are washed with soapy water. If the insect colony has increased, then pesticides are used.

Shchitovka

Hiding on the underside of leaves and young shoots. Looks like brown patches. The shield is removed by hand, washing the plant well. The procedure is repeated as new individuals appear.

Mealybug

Pest white color with fluffy fur. Forms nests of many individuals. Aerosol chemicals are used to fight.

powdery mildew

Fungal disease. Appears on leaves white plaque. Control measures are the use of fungicides.

root rot

The most common cause occurrence - poor drainage. Also, the roots can be damaged from frost and from watering with concentrated fertilizers. The tips of the shoots begin to dry out.

The diseased specimen is carefully removed from the pot, the rotten roots are removed to the healthy part, the cut sites are treated with foundationazole and a growth stimulator. It is recommended to temporarily place the plants in sterile sand until signs of decay disappear.

Everyone can grow bonsai. One or more plants will open up a whole world to the gardener, take you on an amazing journey and help you find harmony and yourself.