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Basic principles and rules for growing bonsai

Basic principles and rules for growing bonsai

It is known that the first samples of bonsai came to Europe in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Exhibited at international exhibitions in Paris and London, they made a rather scandalous impression.

In dwarf trees, they saw an analogy with the "barbaric" Chinese custom of bandaging the feet of girls from noble families.

This prejudice is still alive today. Sometimes we hear that the bonsai is the result of sophisticated and cruel bullying. Such a view is naive and as far from the truth as Europe is from the country of Yamato.

Bonsai is a "favorite", "mama's son", a spoiled and demanding child, to whom its creator and owner devotes a lot of time and effort.

Fresh soil suitable for this particular type, feeding, frequent transplants, regular watering, spraying, bathing, pinching, stimulating growth, shaping pruning, pest control, hardening, air and sun procedures, shelter for the winter - this is not a complete list of concerns related to the content of bonsai. But for an amateur, all this is not so painful.

It is widely believed that in order to obtain a stunted plant, it must be suppressed as much as possible, and this is fundamentally wrong.

On the contrary, the better your pet is, the better the chance of success. To slow down the same growth in height, special techniques are used that accelerate growth in thickness.

The faster the plant develops, the sooner it can be given the appearance of an old, naturally developed tree. Therefore, it is better to choose fast-growing small-leaved tree species with a profusely branching crown.

It is useful for amateurs to study photos of various bonsai, follow the achievements in this area of ​​other enthusiasts. Success will surely come if you make full use of observation, experiment and improvisation. Despite temporary setbacks and disappointments, dedication to the bonsai culture will sooner or later bear fruit.

Basic principles and rules for growing bonsai

  • • Make the ultimate goal of growing an “adult” or “age old” tree.
  • • Ensure that the entire bonsai composition looks natural and harmonious.
  • • For garden bonsai, select plants that are resistant to local climatic conditions.
  • • For indoor forms, use tropical plant species.
  • • Give your bonsai plenty of fresh air.
  • • Use laconic, uncomplicated bowls with suitable drainage holes and with "legs" so that the bottom is higher.
  • • Make sure that no air pockets are formed during planting and transplanting.
  • • Try to place the plant correctly in the container.
  • • Provide maximum access to sunlight from all directions of the bonsai.
  • • Plant the tree in a container and transplant from one container to another at the appropriate time of the year.
  • • Perform regular formative pruning to create a beautiful, harmonious crown.
  • • Ensure adequate, balanced nutrition using fertilizer.
  • • Apply special fertilizers.
  • • Ensure regular watering of the plant even when you are away.
  • • Give enough water to drain through the drain.
  • • Monitor drainage regularly.
  • • Inspect the bonsai as often as possible for harmful insects, pests, rot and other problems.

What should not be done in any case

  • • Avoid creating artificial looking bonsai.
  • • Do not shape the trunk and branches into a fancy or symmetrical shape.
  • • Do not choose a style that is unacceptable for the selected breeds.
  • • Do not use unnatural objects for decoration.
  • • Avoid plants with large leaves, flowers and fruits.
  • • Do not strive to produce flowers and fruits before the bonsai takes shape.
  • • Do not prune old softwood trees.
  • • Do not water conifers frequently.
  • • Do not mix organic and mineral fertilizers in the same solution.
  • • Do not keep the bonsai directly on the ground, be sure to use stands.
  • • Do not wire the plant too tightly; this will disrupt the movement of the sap and damage the bark.
  • • Do not keep wood under wire ligatures for too long.
  • • Do not use blunt cutting tools.
  • • Do not reduce the size of the bonsai to the point where its natural characteristics are no longer visible.

These simple truths should be well understood and remembered. Practice shows that if you correctly learn the basics of growing bonsai from the very beginning, you will endure less difficulties later.

Used material from the book M. P. Zgurskaya "Bonsai"

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