Plant Gardens 101

If you want to protect your fruit tree from pests during the summer, this is almost impossible to accomplish without the use of pesticides or chemicals. This might scare some people into thinking that the actual fruits will contain traces of the chemicals. If you do things correctly, you can get rid of all the pests and not infect the actual tree. If you’re going to be spraying chemicals, you most likely will be using either a handheld pump or a hose-end sprayer.

If you’re using the pump sprayers, you will be able to more accurately determine the mixing of the chemicals. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to spray it very far. Usually it won’t reach the tops of trees. This can be achieved with the hose end sprayers, but getting the correct mix of chemicals is quite a challenge. It all depends on your water pressure to get the correct mixture of chemicals, but water pressure is not constant. One day it might be lower, in which case your chemical content would be higher. The types of materials you buy for hose application are generally in an extremely strong form. They need to be severely diluted before they are weak enough to apply. (more…)

Watering This is the most important aspect of caring for bonsai, especially for bonsai that is kept indoors for too long. Two things to remember about providing water for bonsai are the type of soil and species. Different soils will absorb and retain water at different rates and different tree species have varying degrees of water need.

The Japanese have a saying: water three times, each one for the pot, the soil and the tree. About 75% percent of water is taken in through the root system, but don’t forget the leaves. Bonsai plants also acquire water through its stomata so make sure you wipe or wash away the dust and dirt regularly.

Use gentle water pressure when watering your bonsai. If you use a strong one, you might wash away the topsoil and expose the roots. Use a misting hose or a spray hose with an adjustable spray nozzle and mind the water temperature. Good tap water is fine, so take care that the water that comes out of the hose isn’t too cold or too warm. (more…)

If you wish for a unique home-based business opportunity with lots of potential for growth, why not consider establishing a bonsai business?

REQUIREMENTS FOR ESTABLISHING A HOME-BASED BONSAI BUSINESS Gardening Skills – Unless you’re willing to pay for hired help, you have only yourself to depend on for nurturing your bonsai plants to growth. If you weren’t born with a green thumb, you can still learn the necessary gardening skills for having a bonsai business either by self-study or enrolling in a gardening or bonsai growing workshop.

Small to Moderate Capital – The amount of your investment will depend on the size of the business you wish to establish, and whether you wish to grow outdoor or indoor bonsai plants. A bonsai business however will prosper depending on your skills the level of attention you give it and requires no equipment or machineries to run. As such, investment costs are still minimal compared to other types of businesses. (more…)

Beginning Bonsai: The Gentle Art of Miniature Tree Growing Larry and Shirley Student

This book is one of the best for beginner bonsai growers and is authored by Northeast Bonsai Association charter members. Everything you need from buying your first bonsai to creating your own bonsai landscape is here. There are also important tips on how to find the right bonsai style, how and when to prune or pinch and anticipate potential problems. This is a practical book to have, especially if you’re still unsure about handling bonsai.

The Art of Bonsai: Creation, Care and Enjoyment Yuji Yoshimura with Giovanna Halford

This book is in paperback and discusses the beginnings and nature of bonsai as an ancestral tradition. You get expert advice and lessons from Yoshimura, who travels the world to teach about bonsai and from Halford, a pupil of Yoshimura’s. (more…)

When used properly, bonsai can be a very good indoor ornament both as a focal point of the room or as a conversation piece on a shelf, a side table or on top of the fireplace. Bonsai needs special care and there are ways to keep it strong and healthy without the benefit of outdoor elements. Here’s how:

Indoor bonsai Not all bonsai plants will thrive indoors as ornaments, so choose tropical plants and trees for the job. These can grow well indoors and only need to be let out to soak up the sun several hours a day. You can also let them out during the late spring and in summer and keep them indoors when the temperatures begin to drop.

During colder months when temperatures are low, fill a shallow tray with a layer of tiny pebbles or gravel and add water. Place your bonsai pot on top and let it soak up the extra moisture as the water evaporates. If your house is heated, this will provide enough humidity to keep your soil moist. (more…)

Bonsai growers are a special lot. They seem to belong to a different clique altogether, a little bit far removed from your regular gardener or plant fan. They are patient, skilled and determined and they seem to speak a language that’s all their own.

If you’ve been bitten by the bonsai bug and are still in denial, here are a few reasons why you should give in:

A chance to create a living work of art Growing bonsai is more than just having a green thumb and knowing which soil goes with what species. It can actually be an artistic endeavor. Here’s why: if you don’t have a sense of aesthetics, you could get the best plant species to turn into bonsai but you’ll just be wasting them because you can’t maximize their potential for beauty.

It takes a certain artistic bent to create bonsai. If people tell you it’s as simple as planting a shrub, think again because it’s so much more than that. (more…)

Black pine is an excellent candidate for bonsai because it is a sturdy, beautiful tree. It is also one of the most common bonsai plants among bonsai growers and if taken care of properly, it can mature into a well-balanced plant for years to come.

Soil When choosing soil for your black pine bonsai, make sure it’s a good 50% akadama and 50% pumice mix. If it’s a younger tree, you might want to use more grit. These materials help the black pine bonsai grow healthy roots because they drain water well.

Water Black pine bonsai will do well with soil that is evenly moist, so take care not to water too much. They can manage a little dryness and with soil that’s free-draining, overwatering won’t be a problem.

Try to water your black pine bonsai with tap water that has a pH balance range of 5.5 to 6.5. Water two or three times to thoroughly wet the soil. (more…)

Serissa is a tiny evergreen shrub that can grow 50 cms tall. It was first spotted inSoutheast Asia, amidst damp and moist open woodland. The leaves come in opposite sides. Funnel shaped flowers are often produced by the Serissa bonsai especially during the summer. Thus it earns the nickname “tree of a thousand stars.”

There is a wide variety of Serissa that is currently being cultivated targeted to bonsai enthusiasts. They are commondly found throughoutEurope, especially inBritain. Serissa is famous for being hard maintenance especially to bonsai newbies. They have the tendency to drop their leaves, sometimes even turning yellow, when the proper growing conditions aren’t followed.

Since they come from a subtropical location, Serissa bonsai has to be grown at a temperature that is below 7 degree Celsius. Indoor cultivation is highly suggested when the bonsai enthusiast is considering of growing Serissa. (more…)

John Yoshio Naka was born on August 16, 1914 in Denver,Colorado. He and his family returned to their native Japan when he was eight years old. Having his grandfather as his constant companion, he observed as his elderly shaped and trimmed the trees.

When he was nineteen years old, John took up landscape design. He learned the fundamentals in the relationship of nature – trees, space and stone. After completing his education, he pursued further studies by attending a prestigious art school inJapan.

Because of the building war in Japan in 1935, his father feared that John might be deployed. John was sent back to Colorado to live with Sadao, his bruther. He settled down by marrying Alice Toshito Mizunaga in 1936. They had three sons: Eugene, Robert and Richard.

The family moved toLos Angeles in 1946. Here, John worked as a landscaper and concentrated on Japanese gardens. Striking a friendship with Sam Doi, John Naka was encouraged to read books about bonsai techniques. (more…)

One of the most popular and easiest to grow among bonsai tree species is the onsai money tree. If you wish to gift yourself or a loved one with the perfect indoor plant, look no more because there’s no one that a bonsai moneytree can’t please.

A Starter Plant Bonsai moneytrees are ideal gifts for people with very light green thumbs or are still starting out in gardening. Unlike other species of bonsai trees, the bonsai moneytree is easy and simple to grow. It requires minimal care and attention, so you don’t necessarily have to spend the whole day monitoring its growth. Of course, be sure to advise your recipient that even bonsai moneytrees need to be shown TLC once in a while to grow properly.

Tree for Luck Bonsai moneytrees are perfect gifts for people who are superstitious by nature because in Eastern legends, bonsai moneytrees are symbols of luck especially when you acquire them not by purchase but by way of gifts from other people. Make sure that you inform the recipient of course that luck won’t knock on their doorstep if they don’t take special care of their plant. (more…)

There are two primary benefits you can enjoy if you choose to build a bonsai nursery of your own and grow your bonsai trees from seed. Firstly, bonsai seeds are cheaper to procure than live bonsai trees. Whereas rare bonsai trees can cost you a considerable amount of money, a packet of seeds of the same bonsai tree species may just cost you $5.

Secondly, nursing bonsai trees from seed will give you God-like powers over every aspect of your plants. You can fully control all aspects of your bonsai tree to ensure that it grows according to your plans.

Tips on Nurturing Your Bonsai Nursery (more…)

If you have a bonsai plant, it’s important to remember that caring for them is akin to caring for a baby. Loving and caring is required but it’s not sufficient; you also have to show certain “parenting” skills to ensure that your bonsai plant will enjoy a long and healthy life.

Tip #1 Water is the source of life for all creatures but it’s especially so for bonsai plants. Although they need to be watered more frequently than other types of plants, they also need a precise amount of watering. Anything that’s less or beyond the ideal amount of water can lead to your bonsai plant’s death so it’s important that you ask for professional advice.

Factors that affect the amount of water required by a bonsai plant include but aren’t limited to the type of tree you’re taking care of, what season it is at present, if the tree’s grown outdoors or indoors, and so forth. (more…)

How do you know if you’re a genuine bonsai lover? How do you know if you can become a genuine bonsai lover? How can you improve your authenticity as a bonsai lover? Learn the answers to all these questions as you read on.

ARE YOU A BONSAI LOVER? If you are, then you understand that bonsai trees are living creatures just like us in the sense that they need love and attention from their caretakers – that’s you, by the way – and nutrition as well, which comes by the forms of watering and fertilizing.

You also understand that bonsai lovers can only grow easily to their full potential in ideal conditions. If the weather isn’t favorable, and the air is polluted, there’s very little chance for your bonsai trees to survive. (more…)

A bonsai kit is a perfect gift for any loved one born with a green thumb. You can either make your own bonsai kit or purchase one from any gardening shop.

Tips for Making and Designing Bonsai Kits Here’s a list of what your bonsai kit should include:

Bonsai Tree – Before giving away your bonsai kit, do try to determine whether your recipient would wish to have an indoor or outdoor bonsai tree. Secondly, determine which bonsai tree specie you believe your recipient would have the greatest affinity to. As some bonsai tree species are more difficult to grow than others, make sure that you choose the appropriate specie if you’re giving a bonsai kit to a child. (more…)

Thrill junkies choose to have hobbies that can make their blood rise all the more. Others prefer hobbies that allow them to adhere to the status quo. Some, however, prefer to find a hobby that can sufficiently engage their interest and alleviate the stress from their lives. If you belong to the last category, do consider making bonsai growing as your hobby as it can provide you with all the benefits you’re looking for.

Benefits of Bonsai Growing as a Hobby Long-Lasting – Plants are living creatures just like us. Moreover, they can even live longer than we do as long as we continually care for them properly. If you choose a bonsai growing hobby, it’s definitely a hobby that can and will last a lifetime if you so wish. (more…)

Growing bonsai is both a challenge and an artistic endeavor and it’s a practice that’s been around for hundreds of years. From its well-respected beginnings inJapan to its growing popularity worldwide, bonsai has definitely conquered our homes and cyberspace.

To join bonsai forums and meet other bonsai growers from around the nation and the world, here are a few sites to check out:

www helpfulgardener com This site isn’t exclusively about bonsai, but you can log on to find many helpful tips on how to give your miniature plant the best care. Send an e-mail to the Helpful Gardener about any bonsai concerns or register and create a profile to join their forum. Leave a message, ask a question or join a discussion. There is lots to learn about bonsai and bonsai care from this site. (more…)

If you’re redesigning the landscape of your yard and considering adding a garden to your home, make sure that your list of options includes building a bonsai garden. A bonsai garden is a unique design in many ways, and having it will make you the envy of your neighborhood.

Tips on Building Your Own Bonsai Garden

Size – Unlike other types of gardens, size isn’t a consideration if you’re intent on building a bonsai garden. If you don’t have much space to work with, you can just as easily choose to grow all your bonsai from pots alone. Of course, you can let bonsai grow from the ground if you so wish. As long as all growing conditions are ideal, bonsai plants can grow just as large and strong as any other tree. (more…)

If you like the look of tiny flowers on your bonsai, then choose ideal flowering trees to nurture into miniature versions of their species. Here are a few of the best choices for flowering bonsai:

Mt. Fuji Serissa Mt. Fuji Serissa is noted for its brilliant white colorings on the outer edges of its leaves. It also blooms a single white flower in summer.

Proper care: likes lots of warmth and sun so place in an appropriate spot. Wait for the soil to dry before watering and take care to keep away from frost.

Okinawa Holly This tree has tiny pink flowers that bloom during the spring and summer. The leaves are glossy, deep green with serrated edges. It’s unique, hardy and easy to care for. (more…)

www tradebit com Probably one of the best bonsai care e-books you can find on the internet, ‘Bonsai Essential Tips: Bonsai Care Secrets’ has everything you want to know about bonsai, especially if you’re serious about learning its nature. From landscape design to tree training and pruning, this book presents easy step-by-step instructions on bonsai care secrets that only the master bonsai growers know.

www ebookexplorer com This site’s bonsai care book is ‘Bonsai Gardening Secrets’ by Erik Olsen, a longtime bonsai grower and enthusiast. At over 95 pages long, this book presents hands-on bonsai care secrets to creating the most stunningly beautiful bonsai.

The book features easy-to-follow instructions from selecting the right types of trees and plants for bonsai growing and using the right kinds of techniques and styles to maximize your bonsai’s potential. If you still think that you can shape bonsai anyway you liked without thought to its nature, think again. This bonsai care e-book will let you in on the secret why different plants are used for specific bonsai forms. (more…)

www bonsai-bci com BCI stands for Bonsai Clubs International, a 2006 winner of the Cetre’ International. This is a non-profit organization that focuses on educating bonsai lovers and fans around the world. A good club to join if you want to meet and talk to bonsai growers from other countries and be exposed to international organizations that promote the growth and care of bonsai.

Membership includes four issues of Bonsai Magazine every year, access to the exclusive audio/video library and special registration rates to annual BCI Conventions.

There are different types of memberships to choose from and the club also features a special group for teens. Individual memberships and federation memberships cost $36 per year, silver and gold memberships cost $100 and $500 per year, respectively while platinum membership costs $1200. If you like the club, join for a one-time, lifetime membership fee of $1200. Be sure to check the website, though since rates are expected to change in 2007. (more…)