Bonsai which plants are suitable. The bonsai growing kit includes

The ancient art of growing miniature trees is becoming more and more popular with us.

In the article we will talk about what types of decorative bonsai exist, and also find out what are the features of growing these dwarf trees.

How to divide bonsai

Over the many centuries of the existence of the art of growing Japanese (Chinese) trees in pots, several types of bonsai classifications have been identified.

To size

Allocate 5 main types. But within each species there are subspecies.

So, there are:

- here they include a height of up to 20 cm. These are literally dwarf trees.
- up to 25 cm.
Kifu (medium)- specimens of these species are grown up to 40 cm high.
Tyu / Tyukhin (large)- these are already solid individuals up to 120 cm high.
Dai/Daiza (huge)- everything above 100-120 cm gets here.

By number of stems

There are several forms of bonsai, depending on the number of plant stems.

One root, one tree. The most common style. It is he who is the basis for many different forms and types of bonsai.

When several trunks grow from one root. There are styles when several plants with individual roots grow in one container.

Styles

In any case, no matter what size or number of trunks, all bonsai are grown using certain techniques and rules that determine how each will look.

Did you know?Each style, in addition to the main name, also has a Japanese one, and each one sounds like a poem. For example, the literary style is "Dance of the Geisha in the Spring Breeze". Or broom style - "Perfect harmony in the soft air."

This is how the difference in bonsai styles arises. The difference in trunks and crowns is mainly taken into account.

These styles differ in the slope of the trunk, the direction of the branches, the combination and arrangement of several individuals in one container. The main styles of bonsai are "classic upright", "tilted tree" and "cascade". The remaining styles are variations of these three, differing only in the number of barrels, the angle of inclination, and the complexity of use.

Basic styles

We will describe in more detail the main styles of bonsai and consider their photos.

Chokkan (直幹, CHOKKAN)- single smooth, thickening downwards. Simulates a lone tree growing on flat ground. The branches are evenly spaced, the lower third of the trunk is bare. In front, the branches are removed to the upper third.

Moyogi (模様木MOYOGI)- imitates an old tree in the mountains, changed under the influence of time and weather. The trunk is curved, closer to the top, the bends decrease. The lower, most massive branch is exactly a third of the height, and the top is exactly at the level of the base. This style is used for beech, which, thanks to the shade, grows slowly. It begins to stretch towards the light and forms curves.

Sokan (双幹SOKAN). Two trees grow from one root. This style symbolizes a close couple - lovers, parent and child.

Shakan (斜幹 SHANKAN)- straight, but inclined at an angle to the base, as if under gusts strong wind. Symbolizes the will and thirst for life.

Important!For the formation correct form bonsai, you must adhere to the specific rules of harmony. For example, the proportions between the crown and the thickness of the trunk, the choice of the place where this tree will be placed.

Kengai (懸崖 KENGAI)- like a tree on the edge of a cliff, the plant grows down in the gorge. The top is well below the pot. The branches reach for the light.

semi-cascading

Han-kengai (半懸崖 HAN-KENGAI). The top is at the level of the container in which it grows. Similar to a tree that grows on the edge of a waterfall, a cliff.

Bunjingi (文人木 BUNJINGI)- neat, slightly sloping, with very few branches in the upper third.

Did you know? At the very beginning, Buddhist monks and priests grew bonsai, and only hundreds of years later they spread this art among the people.

Sekijoju (石上樹 SEKIJOJU)- wraps its roots around a round stone, holding tightly to the ground with its tips.

Ishitsuki (石付 ISHITZUKI). Grows right out of the stone. This is an illustration of the hardiness of the plant.

Hokidachi (箒立ちHOKIDACHI). Single trunk, crown in the form of a ball. Branches of uniform length.

Yose Ue (寄せ植え YOSE-UE). Depicts a group of trees growing in the same area - a forest, a grove. Includes usually an odd number of plants. In this style, the same types are combined, but different ages.

Important! Be sure to ensure that the number of trees in group combinations is odd. And by no means four. Symbol in Japanese culture« 4 » is also a symbol of death.

Ikadabuki (筏吹き IKADABUKI). Shows a single tree that has fallen into a swamp, which gives life to its branches.

The culture of bonsai first became known in Japan and China more than two millennia ago. Translated from Chinese, the word means "tree in a bowl." To date, bonsai are common throughout the world, but it is the Japanese species that are distinguished by their elegance.

What does a bonsai tree mean?

Many consider bonsai to be an ordinary tree, but this is not at all the case. A real bonsai is creativity, a work of art that requires a lot of work. In the interior and exterior of the East, such a plant is an indispensable element.

Nothing can decorate landscape design just like bonsai. A photo of this beautiful plant is the best proof of its uniqueness. Modern bonsai is a whole sign system. With its help, many elements can be translated into reality: plants of the sea coast, alpine trees, meadow plants.

AT natural conditions a tree acquires its appearance through the action of wind, sun, terrain. At home, the formation of bonsai is done manually- using wire, secateurs and a knife.

In the homeland of bonsai, it is believed that the older the plant, the more noble it is. Ancient compositions adorn best places East. The scale of the bonsai in relation to the ordinary tree, of which it is a copy, is 1:100.

How to make a bonsai yourself?

The process of creating a bonsai on their own- quite laborious, lengthy and complex, but very interesting. Before you figure out how to grow a bonsai, you should study the main stages of growing a plant. Conventionally, they can be divided into eight consecutive steps:

choice of blank of the original tree for bonsai;
pruning the tops of the tree;
periodic pruning of branches and root system with a concave pruner;
the formation of a crown of bonsai from the kidneys;
formation of branches for the crown of bonsai, pruning of excess branches;
shaping branches with wire;
shortening young shoots for better branching and compactness of bonsai;
transplanting bonsai into a miniature pot and creating a composition.

Basic requirements for traditional bonsai

A real home bonsai must meet a number of characteristics:

powerful trunk with a strong root;
a clear line of branches;
branches and trunk - the foundation of the plant, which should be visible through the leaves;
visual resemblance to the original tree;
planting bowl - simple, dim design;
design match pot and plant.

Bonsai differ from each other in two main characteristics:

the size;
the form.

There are two ways to form a plant:

with wire;
without using wire.

The technique of crown formation with the help of wire appeared not so long ago, but it was firmly established. With its help, you can create the most diverse and unique crown shapes.

Instead of wire for shaping bonsai, you can also use pins with rubber gaskets or cargo.

The following types of bonsai trees are distinguished by size: large (up to 1 m 20 cm); medium (up to 60 cm); small (up to 30 cm); miniature (up to 15 cm). As a rule, bonsai at home - miniature plant, causing a state of awe, incredible beauty and fragility of a young girl.

Growing bonsai large sizes practically does not differ from miniature subspecies. There are only a few special creation conditions:

formation of a low base (up to three branches);
planting in a large bowl to form a thickened trunk;
enhanced watering;
annual transplant with the removal of unnecessary roots;
non-concentrated fertilizers.

The most common forms of bonsai are: vertical symmetrical, vertical asymmetric, inclined, bent, cascading, rock, forked, three-stemmed, multi-stemmed.

On the pedestal of the most whimsical indoor plants can be safely attributed to the banzai tree. Home care for this plant is a rather laborious and difficult process.

Failure to comply with the rules for keeping bonsai can cause his death. Therefore, if there is the slightest doubt about the possibility of providing necessary conditions it is better to initially abandon the idea of \u200b\u200bgrowing bonsai. For favorable growth bonsai should be created by him optimal conditions content:

light mode;
air humidity;
temperature regime;
priming;
watering;
fertilizer.

Bonsai is a light-loving plant that does not have enough natural lightening, so you will have to take care of the source of additional lighting. Otherwise, the plant will begin to experience a lack of light. The greatest need for abundant lighting is winter period.

The main parameters that you should pay attention to when choosing a place for bonsai are the side of lighting, the angle of incidence of the sun's rays, and the color of the walls.

The best source of additional lighting is a fluorescent lamp, which has a high efficiency and is easy to use. The closer the lamp is to the plant, the higher the effect of its presence., but at the same time, do not forget about the strength of thermal radiation, which can harm. The optimal location of the lamp is 30-40 cm from the plant.

The optimal temperature for keeping bonsai depends on what type of plant it belongs to:

for subtropical subspecies, the temperature of the content in winter ranges from 5-15 degrees, in the warm period it can be kept at outdoors;
for tropical subspecies, the required temperature is 20-25 degrees.

Do not forget that there is a directly proportional relationship between the temperature of the content and the abundance of watering: the higher the temperature, the more often the plant needs watering.

There is not enough moisture in a standard room to create favorable conditions bonsai, so it needs additional air humidification. To do this, you can spray the leaves with water daily or purchase an electric humidifier. The second option is more convenient, but quite expensive.

The soil in the bonsai bowl should be constantly wet, it should not be allowed to dry out, as it suffers root system and the plant as a whole. The level of soil dryness is determined manually. Be sure to achieve complete wetting of the earth until the water flows out of the drains. In the warm season, bonsai needs more frequent watering than in winter. The most suitable water for irrigation is boiled and melted water.

It is best to plant bonsai in special soil, which is sold in specialized stores. Soil for indoor plants is not suitable for bonsai, as it has an unsuitable composition for it.

As a fertilizer, both a universal (for most plants) and a special (exclusively for bonsai) substance can act.

Bonsai is a compact miniature plant. Now Japan is considered the birthplace of the tradition of growing miniature plants, although in fact the country only adopted the tradition from the ancient Chinese - bonsai were grown there 2 thousand years ago. And in Japan, art appeared much later, along with the religion of Buddhism.

But it was through Japan that the whole world learned about the art of bonsai. It was the inhabitants of this country who brought it to perfection, invented many various kinds, methods of cultivation and decoration. For a small country like Japan, these miniature trees turned out to be very in a suitable way Express your love for art, beauty and nature. At the same time, they are small, which is important, because the average apartment in Japan is small in size - and bonsai fit perfectly into this space. Chinese bonsai still exist, but the Japanese versions differ from them in much greater elegance and thoughtfulness.

By now, the thoughtful Japanese have already created a real philosophy of bonsai, as in almost every other area in life to which they put their hands and brains. It is believed that the art of bonsai cultivation brings up hard work, patience and wisdom in a person. Europeans and residents Western countries it is sometimes difficult to accept this philosophy, but nevertheless, having begun to grow these plants, willy-nilly, you will have to show patience. With proper care, bonsai can delight you long years- Some varieties of plants live more than a hundred years. And a tree planted by a grandmother may well continue to be grown by her grandchildren.

Now, by the word bonsai, we mean a miniature tree growing in a container, preferably ceramic. From the usual indoor flower it differs in that the bonsai outwardly is a tree, only very small. It also has a trunk and a crown. At the same time, bonsai almost never bloom.

What signs are inherent in the "correct" bonsai:

A powerful trunk with clear signs of a developed root system.
The branches have a clear contour, they are quite branchy, they form a crown characteristic of an ordinary tree in a plant.
The trunk is the base of the bonsai and should be clearly visible through the leaves.
Bonsai should be very similar to ordinary tree growing in natural conditions.
A container for the composition is preferable without decor, a simple laconic shape, made of ceramics or clay.
The pot and the plant itself should be combined with each other, emphasize and complement the dignity.

Bonsai come in different sizes. According to this parameter, they are divided into the following groups:

Large bonsai - from 60 to 120 cm.
Average bonsai - from 30 to 60 cm.
Small - from 15 to 30 cm.
Miniature - from 5 to 15 cm. Among this last group there is a so-called “s-nail” species 5-15 cm in size and “baby” - 7.5-15 cm.

Height is measured from the edge of the container in which the flower is located - to the very top of the plant.

The most popular types are small and miniature bonsai. Their beauty, decorativeness and complete repetition of the usual tall trees in a reduced version causes admiration and surprise. What plants are most often grown as bonsai:

dwarf bamboo. This plant is native to China. It is quite capricious and thermophilic. In the conditions of Russia, it is not suitable for horticultural cultivation.
Cypress. This is a subtropical plant, it is possible to grow it as a bonsai in greenhouses and conservatories.
Rosemary. Quite unpretentious.
Olive. Very beautiful and decorative bonsai. A miniature olive can bear completely edible fruits.
Buckthorn. Berries are poisonous. Therefore, with the cultivation of this bonsai, you need to be careful. In addition, the bark of the plant is a powerful laxative. Pets must not be allowed near it.
boxwood. Decorative and quite unpretentious.
Chinese elm - stable and does not require much care.
Ficuses - common trees in many homes and offices. They are hard to care for.
Myrtle- an evergreen tree that has a pleasant smell, especially during flowering, emits essential oils which are bactericidal.

Breeding at home

Breeding a bonsai tree is practically no different from growing in garden conditions its counterpart of regular size. But, of course, there are some nuances:

A well-formed bonsai has few branches - mostly around 3-5 main branches.

In the first few years, it is recommended to grow bonsai in a disproportionately large pot. This is necessary in order for the plant to form a strong trunk of the desired shape, a large capacity will allow the tree to quickly gain the desired mass. After stem formation reaches required dimensions, bonsai can be transplanted into a pot that is more suitable for its size. Of course, there are methods for thickening the trunks, but we will talk about them later.

Bonsai needs more thorough watering than garden tree. But at the same time, it is not allowed to “flood” the plant, this can lead to rotting of the roots, and later the death of the plant.

It is customary to replant a bonsai tree every spring, changing the ground and removing excess roots, some species are replanted 2 times a year, others every 2-3 years.

Top dressing of bonsai is done with a very weakly concentrated solution and quite rarely, again, everything depends on the plant, but mostly once every 1-2 months.

The most popular forms of indoor bonsai

According to this parameter, the classification was made by Japanese flower growers, so all groups have "native" names.

Chokkan. This is a bonsai with a straight trunk perpendicular to the ground. The trunk has the shape of a regular cone, evenly and symmetrically covered with branches.

Mayogi. Also a vertical trunk, but some curvature and lack of symmetry are allowed. If the chokkan resembles a garden tree, then the mayogi is a wild specimen.

Shakan. Heavily inclined bonsai.

Fukinagashi. This type of miniature symbolizes a tree that is bent under a gust of wind. It has a very strongly inclined trunk. The branches at the same time look in the direction of the slope.

Hokidachi. This shape resembles a small fan. Goes straight the trunk, which, closer to the top, diverges to the sides in the form of a regular fan.

Kengai. This is a bonsai hanging, "ampel" form. The branches and leaves of the plant can bend over the edge of the pot. As an option - Khan-kengai - a semi-hanging form, while the drooping is not so pronounced.

Ishitsuki. This is "bonsai growing on a rock" - a literal translation. In reality, stones are placed in a pot as a rock. The roots of the plant entwine these stones very picturesquely.

Sokan. This is a form of bonsai that has two, almost identical, trunks. Literally means "twins". Trunks should grow from one root.

Sankan. Three trunks.

Kabudachi. This is a multi-stemmed bonsai, looks like a bush. Trunks can be different in height and thickness, but their number must be odd - this must be strictly followed.

Yose-Yu. This is an imitation of a plot of forest in a pot. There may be several trees here. different varieties and sizes.

Ikadabuki. In translation, this form means "raft". Represents practically lying, tumbled down on the ground, a trunk. Its branches grow vertically upwards.

Choosing between these species is not an easy task, because each of them is beautiful and wonderful in its own way. See what these styles look like in the photos and pick the right one for you!

Growing bonsai outdoors.

if you have garden plot, whether it’s a summer house or you live in a private house, then you are very lucky. After all, in the fresh air in conditions open content, bonsai most rapidly gaining desired forms. In addition, some types of trees are simply not possible to keep in an apartment, this should not be forgotten!

Garden bonsai grow best outdoors. Dry indoor air is difficult for them to tolerate. If the plant is grown outdoors, then the bonsai gets sick less often and looks better. At the same time, aggressive sunlight should not be allowed to hit the plant. In winter, the content of the plant provides protection from precipitation and strong winds. What types of bonsai can be classified as suitable for horticultural cultivation:

juniper;
Kaempfer larch;
pines;
Japanese maple;

gray elm. And a few other less well-known plants in our country. In general, for horticultural cultivation, it is important that the plant has a strong root system and is hardy enough. Do right choice suitable bonsai can be consulted on the forum with experienced flower growers and lovers of these miniatures.

Growing bonsai indoors is not easy. In "captivity" plants begin to act up and show their effeminacy and fastidiousness on a full scale. But improper care of bonsai can deprive the plant of decorativeness and make it completely unattractive.

What conditions does he need to provide:

1. Lighting.

In our latitudes, the bonsai tree, as a guest from hotter countries, often lacks lighting. Therefore, it is best to keep it on the southern windowsills. It is possible, if the apartment allows, to completely transfer the pot after the sun.

If there is no way to provide sufficient natural light for him, you can arrange additional light for bonsai in the apartment using table lamp. But at the same time, artificial light can only be used as a temporary measure when it is dark and overcast. At the same time, it is important not to put incandescent lamps next to the bonsai, LED or halogen ones are better.

2. Temperature

Some species can withstand winter time up to 5 degrees. In summer they should be grown under open sky at natural summer temperatures.

And tropical varieties need warmth all year round- from 18 to 25 degrees. They should also be left at home during the summer. You should know that the higher the temperature and the drier the air, the more abundant the watering and the more often the feeding should be. And vice versa.

3. Humidity

In our usual premises, the air humidity, especially if it is an apartment in winter, is not high enough. For normal bonsai breeding, it is not very suitable. How to fix the situation?

You can install an electric humidifier. This thing is useful not only for the existence of bonsai, but also for the health and appearance of the inhabitants of the house. But there are also disadvantages - it is expensive, it consumes a lot of electricity, it makes a lot of noise.

A simple and elegant way out is to place the bonsai pot on a tray of expanded clay filled with water. Such a measure is especially effective when the pallet is located above the heating radiator. A steam effect is created by the rapid evaporation of water.

You can spray bonsai with a spray bottle. It is better to do this procedure in the morning so that the plant does not stay overnight with wet leaves.

4. Watering

Bonsai loves fairly moist soil, drought endures with great difficulty. In summer, watering should be increased, in winter - vice versa. When watering, it is important to monitor the temperature of the water; you can not water a delicate miniature cold water- only at room temperature.

5. Substrate (primer for wood)

Clean shop soil is not suitable for growing bonsai. It can only use like constituent part substrate. The maintenance of bonsai provides for the manufacture of earthen mixture on their own. How to do it:

clay - 1 part;
humus - 5 parts;
coarse sand, ground gravel - 2 parts.

This is the optimal soil substrate recipe for growing capricious bonsai.

Instead of humus, humus from leaves or needles, even bark, is suitable.

Do not forget the constituent parts of the soil to be crushed properly. After you have prepared the parts, they should be heated at a temperature of 100 degrees for 15 minutes. This heat treatment will destroy pest larvae and weed germs.

In conclusion, we add that in Japan there is a sign associated with the cultivation of miniature plants, which greatest flourishing the art of bonsai cultivation reaches when the society in the country is healthy, and in general the whole country is moving forward and developing.

The right choice of bonsai for growing in our climate and the correct determination of the conditions for its maintenance is the key to the health of the plant and its normal existence. With the help of the following article, we will help you choose the plant that is most suitable for planting.

Theoretically, it is possible to grow absolutely every plant in miniature, whether it be a shrub or a tree, but the art of bonsai has its own favorites, which I would like to pay attention to. Basically, these are deciduous and coniferous plants. So, the most popular are maple and pine. They are quite whimsical and grow extremely slowly, but it is worth trying to create right conditions and respect necessary care in order to grow these masterpieces.

The legislators of the art of bonsai, the Japanese, grow miniature ornamental plants in fresh air, that is, on the street, and bring them indoors only in holidays. In our regions, this possibility simply does not exist, since even on the balcony, in winter, the plant may die. Freezing of the roots occurs, which turns into an extensive disease of the whole plant, which leads to a slow death. However, plants that have been taken from the wild for bonsai cannot be permanently kept indoors. With the right content, they need winter dormancy, which is achieved at temperatures from 0 to -5 degrees Celsius. So, especially for bonsai, you will be forced to provide the necessary climate, for example, on a glazed balcony. Before you start growing bonsai, you need to identify exactly the plant that is more or less predisposed to our climate. Their adaptability is much higher and the percentage of survival is much higher than that of exotic plants.

Plants that are suitable for growing in our environment:

Common lilac, Hungarian lilac, White svidina, White variegated svidina;
Spirea Japanese, Spirea average, Spirea birch-leaved, Spirea omitted;
Irga alder, European Forsythia, Common cherry, Steppe cherry;
Siberian spruce, prickly spruce, gray prickly spruce, spherical willow, weeping willow, Ledebour's willow;
Berry apple tree, Sievers apple tree, Cossack juniper;
Siberian larch;
Low almond, bean, Chubushnik varietal;
Vesicle viburnum;
Viburnum ordinary, Maple riverine;
Cotoneaster chokeberry, Euonymus European;
Ussuri pear, Hawthorn;
Birch drooping; Barberry Thunberg;
Barberry purple, Amur barberry.

Choosing a plant for bonsai (video)

indoor plants for bonsai

It is much easier to grow bonsai from indoor plants, subtropical and tropical. They do not require any special conditions for wintering or growing up, and it is much easier to form bonsai from them and this can be done in a short time, of course, in a comparative sense. Even in ordinary wildlife stores you can find ficuses that are suitable for formation from them. ornamental trees small size.

One of the main criteria when choosing material for bonsai will be the ability to find plants with small leaves and flowers that are approximately commensurate with the small trunk of the plant itself. So the future plant, already from the very beginning, will be a proportionally reduced creation, similar to an adult tree.

We grow bonsai (video)

Also, in addition to external data and conditions of detention, when choosing plants for bonsai, people are often guided by useful properties plants. Some of them, in addition to producing a small amount of oxygen, tend to disinfect the surrounding air, while suppressing the vital activity of various harmful microorganisms or supplying it with volatile secretions from leaves with medicinal properties. In the list of similar plants:

Ficus Benjamin;
Laurel noble;
Arabian coffee;
Boxwood evergreen;
Hibiscus Chinese;
Japanese privet;
Japanese euonymus;
Thuja western;
Muraya exotic;
Grapefruit;
Lemon;
Figs.

Professionals who have been doing bonsai for many years say that in no case should you choose a plant for planting a house that you do not like, annoying appearance, flowers or scent. Plants for bonsai should bring only positive emotions and be sure to match your character.

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. The temperature in winter is 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. Take out in summer 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, in winter 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 the top of a young fatty is pinched and side shoots the second order is shortened. 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. A miniature garden is 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, 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 the bonsai, not only the crown is cut, but also the 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 houseplants. 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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