Bonsai Myths

TreeBay

Many people approach a new hobby like bonsai with a measure of trepidation. It seems there are a lot of new techniques to learn, and the world of plants, and bonsai in particular, can seem almost mystical! _In truth, the practice of bonsai follows sound horticultural principles. The artistic side of bonsai may take a bit longer to understand, but it's a realistic goal for anyone.

Bonsai is appreciated throughout the world by people of all ages. Once you have spent a single season as a bonsai grower, you will have learned much of the required practice in caring for a bonsai tree. _By visiting bonsai shows and looking at trees in magazines and books or viewing on-line galleries, you can educate yourself in how to appreciate a fine bonsai.

HOW TO BEGIN?

Many of us begin with an inexpensive bonsai or mallsai, as they are sometimes called, from a garden center or mall gift shop. You'll need to do some research to determine what the proper environment is for your new tree. If it's a hardy tree like a juniper, maple or elm, you won't want to make the mistake of keeping it indoors for long. Other trees like Ficus and Serissa are adapted to indoor conditions so long as the lighting is adequate.

Learning to water your new bonsai properly is the second most important item on your list. Check the ***FAQ*** for more information, and keep in mind that over-watering can be just as dangerous to your tree's health as neglecting it entirely.
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WANT TO LEARN MORE?

Consider joining a club in your area. Books are also convenient for many of us, but you can't become a bonsai expert without getting your hands dirty. Attending bonsai shows in your area will expose you to new ideas and people. Check our ***CALENDAR*** listings for more information about bonsai shows, conventions and sales.

You can also make use of the TreeBay Bonsai Tools & Supplies series of articles to find help on specific subjects. _ BCI Species Index has a great deal of care information for common species, and when you have some spare time on your hands, check out the hundreds of links in our bonsaiTALK Links

Remember, every master was once a beginner just like you!

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TreeBay

Anyone can grow bonsai!

Many of the bonsai grown and sold in malls or garden centers have lived their entire lives in high humidity greenhouse environments. We call these plants "Mallsai." _They are lush green from foliar feedings and have overgrown their containers. Through no fault of the new owner, they cannot adapt easily to their new environment. If you fail the first time, don't give up, but do keep these conditions in mind:

• Location - Many newly purchased bonsai are placed indoors without adequate sunlight, or placed on top of a television or in a sunny window without circulation. Bonsai should be placed outdoors in full sun or partial shade depending on the needs of the plant and the climate.
• Watered infrequently or erratically. _Bonsai need regular watering and the container should not be allowed to dry out. _Deep waterings are the rule, but do not keep the soil soggy. _Learn more about watering in the ***FAQ***
• Over/Underfertilization. Trees manufacture their own food. _They do need trace minerals and nitrogen, but more trees are killed by well-intentioned overfertilization than ever died from lack of fertilizer. Learn more about fertilization in the ***FAQ*** under fertilization.
• Overgrowth - A tree's size must be kept in balance with its container. _As the tree grows, the root system, which is constrained by the container will be unable to keep pace. If the tree is not repotted or the top growth pruned, it will eventually succumb. Most often, it will dry out and die. If you find your bonsai is drying out rapidly between watering, it may already be too large for its container.
• Lack of repotting - Over time the soil will become compacted by watering and the container will fill with older, inefficient roots. The soil needs to be replaced by transplanting the tree, and the roots pruned slightly to encourage the maintenance of healthy feeder roots.

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TreeBay

Although Bonsai are frequently displayed and sold in indoor areas, with very few exceptions, bonsai are outdoor plants!

Bonsai need sunshine and air circulation just like their outdoor cousins, and they exposure to seasonal changes are required in order to maintain health. More bonsai are killed by being brought indoors and neglected than any other single cause. Certain species of tropical bonsai (such as ficus) can be enjoyed indoors year round. But these are the exceptions.

Check the BCI Species Index to learn more about your plant and discover if it should be kept indoors or out!

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TreeBay

Many people are impressed by the age of trees grown as bonsai, which are often collected from the wild or passed down from generation to generation and attain great age. *More significant to a true bonsai collector than actual age of a specimen is how effectively it presents the illusion of an aged tree. *

A venerable potted plant is a curiosity, but a well maintained and executed bonsai is an art form unto itself, regardless of whether it was created from a thousand-year-old collected juniper in the high desert, or a clump of privet taken from an abandoned hedgerow!

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TreeBay

Without doubt, there exist trees and plants trained as bonsai that are expensive. _In Japan it is not unusual to see trees at exhibition that are valued in the tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars. _ But the quiet beauty of a bonsai can be appreciated on any budget, from trees grown from seed or cutting, or those purchased at the neighborhood garden center for just a few dollars. _

Many of the most appreciated bonsai were collected from the wild at no significant cost whatsoever. _When one purchases a trained bonsai, they are paying for the time and care invested in locating, training and maintaining a bonsai tree.



You can enjoy bonsai on any budget, and you can achieve impressive results, even on a small budget if you are willing to invest time in the hobby.

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TreeBay

You may have seen a dramatic demonstrations in which limbs are bent and twisted with wire, power tools are used to carve and shape wood and large amounts of growth are cut away. * This sometimes leads to the impression that the practice of bonsai is a cruel sport, something akin to torture when nothing could be further from the truth.

Bonsai are in fact pampered by their owners, fertilized frequently and watered dilligently to remain at the peak of health. *The practices of wiring is used not to bind the tree and restrict growth, as is sometimes imagined, but to redirect growth. *

Those who advance this myth respond to beauty of the illusion of a potted tree without the understanding that they are relating to a product of techniques that create the perception of age and beauty. * Many of these same folk would not flinch at mowing lawns, pruning hedges or trimming their rosebushes. *

The beauty of the bonsai illusion has the power to create a sympathetic, emotional response in anyone. *Bonsai helps us to understand our own place in the world.

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TreeBay

It has been said that bonsai is a four-dimensional art form. This is because the passage of time introduces changes in the tree; the cycle of the seasons, the application of bonsai techniques and the advancing age of the tree itself all introduce changes.

For this reason, during the life of the tree, the bonsai is never truly "finished" in the sense of a painting or sculpture reaching completion. The tree will continue to develop and grow until it eventually dies. Thankfully, trees are so long lived that they can be enjoyed by your children, and theirs thereafter.

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TreeBay

If you do an internet search on bonsai or buy one of the popular "bonsai kits," you may run across packets that are labeled BONSAI SEEDS. and Some even have nice pictures of bonsai on the covers.



We should at this point clarify that there are no such thing as "bonsai seeds" that when simply planted will yield a beautifully trained bonsai. However, bonsai can be developed from seeds, garden plants, nursery stock, and cuttings or specimens collected from the wild.

You may find seeds of unusual species or cultivars packaged for bonsai use, but there are no magic bonsai seeds!

Bonsai, like most art forms involves a series of techniques that can be learned and mastered.

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TreeBay

It is possible to develop bonsai on a budget and enjoy the hobby without purchasing a lot of expensive tools.

The three most important tools are the following:

1. A pair of sharp shears to trim twigs
2. A pair of concave cutters that can make flush cuts close to the trunk of the tree.
3. A pair of wire cutters that is adapted for bonsai are especially helpful in removing bonsai wire.

A beginner also will find it useful to have the following: [*]a ready supply of aluminum wire for training trees[*]a watering can or hose end sprayer with a fine rose to avoid washing soil out of bonsai pots.

Browsing tool catalogs like the one on at TreeBay Bonsai Tools & Supplies may give you the impression that you need a lot of tools. *However, these bonsai tools" exist that can make specific techniques easier, or their practice more effective. *

Specialized shears, branch cutters and knives, for example, are used to prune and direct growth and pastes and sealants help to encourage rapid healing of wounds.

You can purchase a basic tool kit, or just a few tools to get started, and add to your collection over time as the tools are needed.

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