Bonsai
Bonsai

The word “Bon-sai” (often misspelled as bonzai or banzai) is a Japanese word that means “planted in a container”.

This form of planting tree is inspired by ancient Chinese horticulture practice. 

Greenery is loved by everyone. No one is there across the globe to say no to plants.

Every living being wants to be in touch with plants. However, it is a little hard for the ones living in an apartment. As one can’t plant trees anywhere, but one can keep a house plant. House plants look beautiful and fill up your home with all the positive vibes and perfume of happiness.

The bonsai tree is one of the most elegant houseplants. They symbolise all the good things that nature brings such as, peace, harmony, fortune and lots of positivity.

It is one of the best choices to give it as a present to your loved ones. One can also get it gifted at their first meeting.

This tree is so special because it has been with us for thousands of years. It looks like a dwarf version of a tree. They are not genetically dwarf but they are being grown in that way. The ultimate goal of growing a bonsai tree is to create a tinier but realistic representation of nature in the form of a tree.

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Bonsai is a practice of growing a plant in a container restricting its full growth. Any healthy plant can become a bonsai that has true branches and has a woody stem or trunk, its root or food storage capacity can be reduced in a container and their smaller leaves are best to create a bonsai. To transform a plant into bonsai, it has to go through the pinching of the bud, pruning and wiring of the branches and one has to pay heed to some restrictions and add a little amount of fertilizers. All these together is a perfect blend for growing a bonsai tree. The most common suggested height of bonsai trees is up to one meter or under four meters.

 

Best Bonsai for beginners

Bonsai
Bonsai

Well, all trees look very simple and adorable. It is a hectic task to choose a perfect tree to create a bonsai. Here are three choices given to you, but every tree has its own traits and can be grown with different techniques.

1. Ficus Bonsai

One of the easiest bonsai to be grown by beginners who do not have much time to keep a check on the plant. Ficus is such a low maintenance plant and resilient in nature in the matter of watering.

Pruning Ficus Bonsai is as easy as cutting back the leaves. The buds grow back too easily; they can also be pruned back anywhere at any time. Budding of new leaves occurs near the cut of the branches. Ficus Bonsai is of dual nature, they can be grown inside as well as outside too. They can adopt any form of the environment you give to them.

They can be grown inside and can be placed in your drawing room or on the kitchen counter or at any spot you find best for the Ficus Bonsai. It can also be placed in your office.

2. Hawaiian Umbrella Bonsai

There is an abundance of plants to start off with for bonsai and Hawaiian is the cheapest and popular plant available. It is famous for many more names such as dwarf umbrella, Golden Hawaiian Umbrella, or Schefflera arboricola. This plant is very handy to be kept indoors and is the easiest going plant as it can tolerate dehydration and lack of sunlight.

All plants need water and sunlight to survive but Hawaiian Umbrella can go longer without these nutrients and this quality of the plant makes it the best candidate for beginners.

3. Baby Jade Bonsai

Jade plants give a beautiful look when grown. They look so cute as their leaves grow relatively small. Jade are so cool in nature as if their owner forgets to water them they do not mind and forgive their owner. When they get watered they store large amounts of water in their leaves. So that if their owner forgets to water, they can keep themselves hydrated. They know how to take proper care of themselves.

This quality makes them look cuter and provides the best option to grow inside for beginners.

4. Japanese red maple bonsai tree

It is one of the best choices for beginners. They are the most captivating plant as in the season of spring and autumn, their leaves turn into vibrant shades of red and orange. In the month of summer, the leaves change into a deep red colour. The vibrant nature of this plant attracts people. This tree stands in a very upright manner and leaves can be cut down up to an inch. They are very affordable in nature and ignore their master’s mistakes.

 

Why are Bonsai trees so expensive?

Bonsai
Bonsai

Bonsai is an art to transform a regular tree into a dwarf one into a pot. This art originated in China which required years of training, lots of techniques and centuries of dedication.

Making a Bonsai is not a cup of tea, it took years of practice and attention. In creating a Bonsai plant, the growth of trees is restricted by years of pruning, wiring, repotting, and grafting, and the plants need to be taken care of by getting them watered at regular intervals. 

The process of Bonsai makes the plant bent and twisted into a shape positioned around rocks, or even planted with other trees to resemble a tiny forest. This practice involves years of hard work and a minor mistake can ruin all of the efforts and can hamper the Bonsai. 

The making of it takes a lot of time and attention. It demands devotion from the maker. And as every plant has its own traits they react in their own way which is quite a time taking. Moreover, the Bonsai is grown in a pot, one has to keep a suitable pot for their tree. The tools are also a part of growing Bonsai plants. All these together make it a little expensive. The expensiveness of this plant is worthwhile as they have been made through lots of hard work and plus they are handmade plants. They provide you a different level of calmness.

 

Do bonsai trees die easily?

Trees usually don’t die due to their old age. They die when they have not been taken care of. When they do not get the required nutrients they start feeling upset and fade away slowly.

Bonsai care is not rocket science, they require normal care as you do for other plants.

There are a few steps to take care of Bonsai:

Step 1

There are plenty of these plants, the most prime step is to identify your Bonsai, what kind you want to have/ you are having. Then only you can save your dying plant.

Step 2

The second step in helping your Bonsai live is to learn the specific care of the plant. You have to understand how much water your plant needs, how much nutrients are required to keep your plant healthy. Once your plant starts getting the proper amount of right fertilizer and water it will start to recover and in a while, it will become as healthy as they were before.

Step 3: Common mistake occurs in bonsai care

  • Forgetting to keep it hydrated: Bonsai trees are planted in small pots and thus there’s not much space for getting them nourished with water and fertilizers. If one forgets to get the plant a drink, the soil will dry out completely leaving the root all dry which will result in the death of the plant. Once you feel that the leaves are falling off at regular intervals and the soil is drying too then it is time to rescue your plant, if the soil gets dried out completely then you will not be able to save your plant at any cost. To help your tree regain its health you have to water it thoroughly and make sure that the clay of the soil absorbs the moisture. Once your tree becomes healthy you are advised to repot it with proper care and guidelines.
  • Placing an outdoor tree indoors: Whenever you get a Bonsai, it is your prime duty to make a confirmation on whether it is an outdoor plant or best suitable for indoors. If you keep the tree at the wrong spot, unfortunately, the foliage will turn yellow and the tree will die. All your hard work will go in vain.
  • Over watering: If the soil of your pot has a quality of retaining water then you are advised to water it at regular intervals, frequent watering can rot the roots of the plant. Non-watering can kill your plant easily but overwatering can make your plant die slowly.
  • Insufficient light: Most of the Bonsai requires a lot of light to survive. Most of the homes do not have an area to get your plant proper sunlight. It is most important to place the plant in an area where it will get an abundance of sunlight to keep it all nourished.
  • Lack of patience: It is a basic nature of humans when people buy something new, they become over-enthusiastic and keep hovering around the tree every few minutes. They start to prune and wire their plant very early and water it too often.  This kind of behaviour irritates your tree as they get their ambience changed every time. It is required to repot and prune your plant once a year as it is a significant change to your plant.

Step 4

If you haven’t done any kind of the above-mentioned mistakes then you have to check for the pests in your plant. Pests can also kill your plants. They start eating your plants slowly and are the prime reason for their death. 

 

Are Bonsai cruel?

Caring for a Bonsai necessitates hampering the natural shape and forms of a tree. This practice is often regarded as cruel because the trees go through unnatural processes to get the desired shape and size.

Taking its shape and height, Bonsai are not a typical representation of trees.

Many people assume that it is cruel because every plant has its life to live like every other living being.

The techniques which the Bonsai goes through such as pruning, wiring, trimming and binding, all these happening to a living being will cause immediate pain and even thinking of this can cause your body to tremble with imagined pain and fear. Thus, Bonsai is often regarded as an unfair and cruel practice to a plant. 

 

Can a Bonsai be gifted? When and how?

Bonsai
Bonsai

Flowers and Gifts

Before gifting, one goes through its benefits, here are some perks of Bonsai mentioned to make your mind all crystal clear so that you do not get a second thought while buying it.

Bonsai looks adorable: Everyone will agree that a well-cared and maintained Bonsai creates a lovely look and its undeniable beauty makes it more attractive and charming and helps people in becoming an enthusiast. They increase the beauty of your place with its lovely features and positive vibes.

Bonsai are small: Bonsai plants are tiny in nature; they do not require lots of space to adjust. All they need is a little place with proper sunlight and a glass of water once in a while.

Bonsai as a gift: Nowadays people are not fond of materialistic things. Most individuals are getting attracted to handmade things and natural things. 

Plants are suitable to be gifted on any occasion. No person is there across the globe who doesn’t like greenery.

1. New Year

New year means new beginnings, new wishes, new goals, new aspirations and most importantly new resolutions. It is the time to meet and greet your near and dear ones. If you are looking for a meaningful gift, without having a single doubt you can go for a Bonsai.

2. Valentine’s day

The day dedicated to love. On this valentine’s day spread love and peace by gifting your boo a pot of Bonsai and wish them love, health, wealth and fortune for all their life.

3. Birthdays and anniversaries

If you are out of your mind as to what to give your beloved one on their birthdays and anniversaries, as you have already given them their favourites, here’s a better idea; you can get them a Bonsai this time and can witness a surprising reaction and enthusiasm on their face. Bonsai are like babies, cute  and small.

4. Farewell

Farewell is an amusing occasion where you know you are going to part your ways from your dear ones. But you can seize the day by conveying your love and affection through the Bonsai plant and it will be cherished forever as plants are a manifesto of liveliness.

5. Christmas

It is an occasion where the cousins get together and the reunion of the family takes place. Make this day extraordinary by giving a Bonsai plant to your dear ones and bringing so much positivity into your home.

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