We grow bonsai with our own hands. Species diversity of bonsai

Literally translated, the word "bonsai" means grown on a tray. Essentially, bonsai is an art that involves growing a miniature copy of a tree. It arose at the end of the 8th century, in China, and was the main decoration of the imperial court. Since that time, many styles have arisen that differ in the structure of the trunk and crown. Bonsai trees are outdoors, their size varies from two centimeters to one and a half meters. Even if you do not know how to grow bonsai at home, this art is made available thanks to the article.

Trees for bonsai - types and features

Some people mistakenly believe that bonsai is some kind of culture, characterized by dwarf size and bizarre shape. Actually it is not. Bonsai can be grown from almost any tree. The main condition is to know which culture is suitable for creating a harmonious miniature copy.

Juniper, irga, spruce and rhododendron 8-20 cm.
Barberry, field and rock maple, privet, mountain pine 20-30 cm.
Scotch pine, American maple, birch, hazel, elm 30-70 cm.
Linden, larch, ash, ash-leaved or plane-leaved maple, oak, beech, black pine 60-100 cm.
Wisteria, chestnut, black pine, plane tree, elderberry, acacia 100-130 cm.

Seeds of the tree you like can be purchased at the botanical garden, a specialty store, or collected in a city park. A good option for beginners - buy seed in China. Seeds from trees such as spruce, pine, fir, oak or euonymus are ready for planting after harvest.

Seeds of other plants must be dormant for some time and undergo stratification.

Seed stratification as a measure of preparation for sowing

There are seeds that are specially prepared before planting - these are sakura seeds. In fact, Japanese cherry (sakura) - perfect material to create bonsai. From the seeds of Japanese sakura, you can create real masterpieces that can amaze with amazing shapes. In order for the plant to germinate properly, the seeds of this tree are stratified.

Essentially, stratification is a process that mimics winter conditions for better seed germination. There are several ways to stratify plants:

cold stratification. It is necessary for seeds that need ripening: pine, arborvitae or blue spruce. The seeds of such plants are first soaked in lightly warm water and then placed in the refrigerator. In this way it is produced artificial imitation temperature fluctuations in nature.
Warm stratification. Used to "awaken" the seeds. planting material placed in warm water for several hours or days. You can also place the seeds not in a liquid, but in a medium with high humidity: Wrap with damp cloth or place in wet coco substrate.
Combined stratification. It is applied to the seeds of maple, cedar, sakura, which germinate for a long time. Its essence lies in the change of cold and warm stratification. Initially, the seeds are placed in a cold room, and immediately before planting, they are soaked in warm water. Combined stratification is common in bonsai cultivation.

In addition to stratification, the seeds should be disinfected so that the plants are not afraid of the occurrence of fungal formations. To do this, you can use a solution of manganese.

This tool perfectly disinfects the seeds before planting. The seed is soaked in pinkish water. Seed disinfection lasts from 5 days to 2 weeks. After the seeds have been stratified and disinfected, they can be planted.

Soil and container for growing bonsai

Coarse-grained sand, which is steamed before use, is considered the best soil for seeds. This is a kind of disinfection that will not allow the plant to die. It is recommended to use a wide container with a depth of 5 cm and drainage holes. Before planting, the sand must be well moistened and special grooves should be made into which the seeds will be placed.

To grow bonsai at home, you should take care of preparing the soil and choosing the right container. A container in which a miniature tree is grown can be different shapes and depth. Rectangle, oval, circle or polyhedron, deep or flat - the choice is really big. Remember, if the bonsai trunk has a slope, then the container for it should be more stable. In this case, give preference to deep containers or those made of heavy material.

The color of the container should be calm and discreet, this will only emphasize the elegance of the plant. Moreover, the bowl must match the bonsai style. If the miniature copy will have a dense crown, then it is better to choose a flat and wide container. For cascading style bonsai, a narrow and tall pot is suitable, and the tall crowns of the plant will better emphasize deep, but not wide containers.

Before planting, scald the bowl with boiling water to destroy possible sources of fungus and bacteria.

Traditionally, bonsai are grown in a special substrate called akadama. It is a heavy soil, in which there are many nutrients, high level moisture and good air circulation. However, such land is rarely used in its pure form. Firstly, in its pure form, it is only in one of the prefectures of Japan, and secondly, a high concentration of nutrients does not always favorably affect bonsai, especially during the period when the tree is shaped.

The substrate for bonsai must meet several criteria: retain moisture well, contain useful material and provide access to oxygen to prevent souring or rotting of the roots. A good substrate is mixed from granular clay, humus and sand, in the ratio that is suitable for each type of plant.

Type of tree and soil used.
Deciduous trees. Sod land and sand, in a ratio of 7 to 3 (3 parts of sand and 7 parts of turf).
Blooming bonsai. The mixture is prepared from sod land, sand and humus, in a ratio of 7:3:1.
Coniferous bonsai. Four parts of sand and 6 parts of sod land.

You can prepare the soil yourself at home. Sod land can be dug up in the meadow. One has only to remove the top vegetation layer, and the top 20 centimeters of the earth can be used for growing bonsai.

Before use, the earth must be cleaned by sifting through a large sieve. Sand should be taken river, coarse-grained. It will make the soil looser, which will improve air circulation, and it holds moisture better. Before use, all these components should be disinfected by heating in the oven. Humus should be purchased at a specialized store or ordered via the Internet.

Features of sowing seeds and plant care

Landing is carried out in spring, summer or early autumn v peat pots, which are filled with a mixture of sand and peat, in a ratio of one to one. If there is no place to buy peat, then you can buy soil for cacti and mix it with coarse sand. Such a substance will be a complete replacement. Observe the following sequence of actions.

Pour the mixture into the pot so that there is another 3 cm left to the edge.
Add 1 centimeter of cleared sod land, press down with a wooden circle.
Place the seeds on the prepared surface and cover them with a layer of sand. The layer thickness is not more than two seed diameters.
Press down again with a wooden circle, remove it and pour water over the sand (no more than 80 ml).
Cover with plastic wrap.

Place the seed pot in a dark place with a temperature of no more than 15 0 C. Periodically remove the film for ventilation and check if the soil is dry. It should always be damp, but not wet.

When the first sprouts have made their way, pierce the polyethylene to provide air access. After the first shoots appear, remove the film from the pots and transfer to a lighted room. Keep plants out of direct sunlight. After 2-3 months, it is worth cutting off the tap root by 2/3, this process is called the formation of seedlings.

Fertilizers are added to the ground where the seedlings ripen. It is necessary to transplant seedlings into a separate form after the sprout grows by 10 centimeters. During this period, the sprout can be accustomed to the sun's rays and at the same time not stop forming the desired shape.

According to this scheme, you can grow sakura bonsai or Japanese pine . But some types of trees need a special approach.

Features of agricultural technology of Japanese and red maple

This tree begins to shed its seeds in autumn. To grow bonsai from maple seeds, they need to be stratified for 120 days. Optimal time for landing April or May. To make sprouts appear faster, the seeds are soaked for 1-2 days in hydrogen peroxide. This measure will speed up the germination process and protect the plant from diseases.

Bonsai from the seeds of all types of maple, especially red, should be grown in partial shade - direct sunlight is contraindicated for it. The land for growing this species should be fertilized once a month to achieve the desired level of acidity. V winter period feeding is excluded.

Features of lemon bonsai agricultural technology

Growing a plant from lemon seeds is not difficult. Stratification is not needed in this case. Seeds for planting are extracted directly from the fruit. It should be ripe, but without external damage. You can plant several seeds at once.

Prepare the pot and soil as described above.
At the bottom of the container, make 1-2 cm of drainage.
Fill to the top with prepared soil.
Place the lemon seeds to a depth of 1.5 cm.
Wrap the pot with foil.

The room where the seed container will be stored should be at least 18 0 C. Remove the film at intervals of 2-3 days and lightly moisten the surface with water. Do not over-moisten so that the resulting roots do not rot.

Features of agricultural technology of cedar

Cedar seeds are the easiest to grow bonsai and are suitable for beginner gardeners. Stratification seed has two stages.

Lasts 6 days. Seeds are placed in water with a temperature of 25-30 0 C and changed every two days.
The stratification period is 60 days. Seeds are taken out of the water and mixed with disinfected river sand and peat. This substance with seeds is moistened and periodically mixed until the first sprouts hatch.

Once the sprouts have hatched, the seeds can be planted or placed in a container. In this form, cedar seeds can be stored in the refrigerator at a temperature of 2 0 C until planting in a pot. Cedar love a lighted place, but does not tolerate direct sunlight.

An exception is a young bonsai from Japanese cedar seed. It will grow best in a shady area.

Features of agricultural technology of Japanese pine

There are 2 types of Japanese pine: black (less demanding on lighting) and ordinary. Before planting, the seeds undergo a mandatory 3-month cold stratification. Seeds should be planted in a deep container to a depth of 2 centimeters. Sowing time is the end of winter.

The grooves are cut at a distance of 3 cm from each other to facilitate the care of germinated, but not yet ripe bonsai seedlings. When the first leaves appear, you can take the container into a bright room. At accelerated process photosynthesis, the sprouts will get stronger faster. The formation of the crown can be started as soon as the plant reaches 5 cm in height.

Watering, feeding, wintering

The main problem in caring for a bonsai is watering it. Due to the small size of the pots, the roots of the tree are deformed and the effectiveness of watering is reduced. There are two main ways of watering: irrigation and immersion.

The plant is watered with water from a special kettle.
A pot with a tree is placed in a bowl of water and taken out after a few minutes.

It is better to water with rainwater, but if it is not there, let it stand for two days with tap water.

Remember, bonsai die without water. Even if its leaves are green, but there was no watering for a long time, the roots are most likely dead.

In summer, watering should be done more often and pour more water.

Feeding is important when growing bonsai, especially at the time of crown formation. The tree is fertilized every 2-3 weeks, and once a month it is necessary to apply fertilizer based on algae. The most important fertilizer components are potassium, nitrogen and phosphorus.

Nitrogen is responsible for the growth and development of the leaves and stem of the tree. It is the main component that promotes cell division and protein production.

Phosphorus stimulates cell division, is responsible for budding, and has a positive effect on root growth and development. Protects from diseases.

Potassium helps to fight microorganisms that cause diseases, promotes fruiting and flower development.

These substances must be present in top dressing for bonsai. V flower shops hard to find suitable option, which contains all the substances in the required proportions. Therefore, we recommend mixing fertilizers yourself in the following proportions:

in the spring, when the growth period is more intense, apply more nitrogen. The optimal ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium is 12:6:6, respectively;
in summer, nutrition should be more balanced, so the components are added in the same proportions - 10:10:10
in autumn, less nitrogen is required, the optimal ratio of components is 3 parts of nitrogen and 9 parts of phosphorus and potassium each.

If the bonsai is grown from flowering tree- Emphasize the addition of potassium in a proportional ratio of 12:6:6

Indoor bonsai plants are fertilized all year round, and street - from the period of early spring to mid-autumn. Young trees are fertilized every 2 weeks, older bonsai can be fed every 4-6 weeks. Blooming bonsai should not be fed during the flowering period and immediately after it. When top dressing, remember that it is better to apply less fertilizer than to "overfeed" the plant.

When winter comes, inexperienced gardeners who have miniature trees on the street make a huge mistake - they bring them into a warm room. This behavior causes the tree to constantly grow, it takes too much energy and depletes resources. Depriving the plant of natural "peace", you can put all efforts in vain. A tree that grows on the street needs to be properly prepared for wintering:

Clean the branches of dirt and pests.
Move the trees to an elevated, well-lit, and draft-free area in the garden.
At temperatures below -10 0 C, transfer the plant to an unheated room.
Make sure the soil is not too wet.

Bonsai is an amazing art and painstaking work that begins with the selection and search for seeds and never ends. Like all living things, bonsai requires care and thanks its owner for the kindness of green leaves, bizarre shapes and unique sophistication of the image.

To consolidate the material, watch a good video clip on growing bonsai from seeds. The author has a lot to learn!

Growing bonsai from seeds - features of agricultural technology

Bonsai - dwarf, but absolutely healthy and very beautiful trees cultivated in Japan. It is not so easy to grow bonsai according to all the rules, as these plants require special attention and care. If you want to start growing bonsai from seeds at home, then use the tips from this article.

Initially, bonsai originated in China, where it was called "pencai", and only later this ancient art passed to Japan and developed there. Legend has it that one of the emperors wanted to build a miniature copy of his empire, and it was for this that these dwarf trees were grown. Today, these dwarf trees are increasingly used to decorate the interior with their own hands, which not every housewife manages to grow with their own hands.

Formation of a bonsai tree

To grow the right bonsai, you need to acquire the necessary skills, abilities and knowledge. This is a very complex art, but, nevertheless, fascinating in its own way and mysterious in an oriental way. Seeds, cuttings and cuttings can be used for planting. Including for their cultivation, wild-growing trees of small sizes are taken, growing in strict conditions of the wild environment. severe frosts, strong winds and long droughts stop or retard the growth of the tree. Approximately the same tactics of influence is used in the art of bonsai.

The roots and branches of bonsai trees are cut according to a special system, and the branches are also twisted and tied with copper wire. Unnecessary buds, shoots and leaves are removed, and the trunks of trees can be pulled back or bent so that they have the shape chosen by the owners. Bonsai growth is slowed down by the following actions:

compression of its roots.

The minimum volume of pots.

Coarse soil with almost no micronutrients.

Lack of essential nitrogenous substances.

Wind impact.

The impact of heating.

Exposure to sudden chilling.

With an abundance of light and not enough nitrogenous substances in plants in the wild, chlorophyll grains stick together and die. Plants living in swamps with high humidity receive protection from solar excess - they have small leathery leaves and a fairly thick cuticle.

In addition to growth restrictions, bonsai has other rules that relate to the form chosen for the tree. Naturalness and conforming to the rules of the form - these are the two components appearance dwarf tree. There are many generally accepted types of bonsai, differing from each other in shape, and sometimes in size. And although, according to the general law, the height of a tree should not exceed thirty centimeters, now experts in this field have begun to grow trees even larger.

The tree species used also affect general form the resulting bonsai tree. For example, conifer will be pleasing to the eye all year round, as it does not have leaves that could fall off. Bonsai, characterized by beautiful fruits or flowers, will show itself in all its glory at certain times of the year. There are even species that have the brightest leaf color in autumn.

Types of bonsai for growing at home

As mentioned above, the types of bonsai trees differ from each other in shape as well as placement in the pot. There are many of them, and here are the most common ones:

1. "Symmetrical" (tekkan) - a tree that grows straight and has strong roots. It differs in that it also has a wide trunk. The species used for it are very different, you can find birch, pine, and elm.

2. "Rock" (sekizhezhu) - an imitation of a rocky landscape. Very often, cherry or oak is grown for it.

3. "Inclined" (shakan) - unlike the straight "tekkan", this type of dwarf tree is slightly inclined away from the vertical line.

4. "Tilted by the wind" (kengai) - such a bonsai is similar to the "shakan", but it is tilted even more, as if a strong wind has blown on it for many years. Sometimes such a tree can even fall below its pot. Branches of this type also correspond to the effect of a strong and long wind - they have one direction. At the same time, it is important that the Kengai pot is stable, because it is not surprising that in this case it is important to maintain balance in the composition.

5. "Dead tree" (sharimiki) - a tree that has no bark. At the same time, it really seems that it is dying or already inanimate.

6. “Two trunks” (kabudati) is a forked trunk and a common crown. There are also two trees in one pot, but they usually grow from the same point.

7. "Hieroglyphs" (bunzings) - such a tree has a crown of leaves only at the top of the branches, which the trunk is almost devoid of. It is believed that conifers in this case will look especially interesting.

8. "Multi-stemmed" (ese-ue) - like "kabudati", this is not a single tree, but several bonsai trees combined in one pot. In this case, there is an imitation of a miniature forest.

9. "Half-cascade" (han-kengap) - the base of this type of bonsai tree grows straight up, but then the trunk begins to lean down. In this case, the stability of the container in which the bonsai grows is also important.

In addition to the tree itself, tiny houses and figurines may be in the pot, and the ground is often covered with small stones or green moss. From a bonsai tree, you can create a whole composition that imitates the natural landscape.

Bonsai care at home

When purchasing a ready-made tree, you need to know the rules for caring for this plant. After all, bonsai must be cut in time, properly fed and provided right amount water. It is in winter that especially large shoots are removed from it and cut according to the chosen shape. Only clean and sharp instruments are used for such operations. When transplanting, it is necessary to remove the main, thick roots of the tree to ensure slow growth.

Watering the bonsai tree is frequent, albeit not very plentiful. It cannot be overlooked that the number desired moisture It also depends on the breed, because, as you know, coniferous trees need a smaller portion of water than deciduous ones. Spraying the tree is highly desirable. Every week in the summer, a dwarf tree needs to be fed, and not with ordinary fertilizers, but with special ones designed specifically for such trees. In winter, this is done only once a month.

Growing bonsai at home, as well as caring for it, requires compliance with certain rules. In this case, you will be able to grow beautiful trees to decorate the interior in the style of ecological minimalism. Experiment and expand your collection indoor plants new types.

Bonsai is the art of growing small trees. And although it seems that this is an incredibly complicated process, it is almost impossible to get a good result in which, with great desire and diligence, everything can work out. Growing a bonsai is really not easy, especially if you start over and not buy a ready-made tree. But a person who is not afraid of difficulties will be fully rewarded.

The history of the art of growing bonsai originates several thousand years ago among the Japanese monarchs. Initially, it was a privilege to dedicate time to caring for small trees. A little later, art became accessible to all segments of the population, and in the last century it gained worldwide distribution.

To become a professional bonsai grower, you need not only free time and patience, but also inspiration based on a great desire to grow your own bonsai tree. You can start with the seed of a tree, but the best chance of success is to plant a seedling. In many garden yards and specialty stores you can buy such a seedling. The main thing is to understand what exactly you want to get in the end.

To choose the best tree for yourself, which will please the eye and give pleasure, you need to understand what varieties exist, as well as find out the features of their cultivation.

At home, in a small pot, you can grow a miniature copy of almost any tree: oak, ficus, pine or birch. The tree will grow according to the same rules of nature as the usual street tree- In autumn, shed yellowed leaves, and in spring, open buds and renew foliage.

If there is no desire to observe the same picture on the windowsill life cycle tree, as outside the window, you can buy an evergreen tree and enjoy its beauty all year round.
You can try to grow a miniature tree from an ordinary seedling. And in order for the bonsai to remain small and not grow beyond the pot, it constantly needs to be cut, forming a crown, and slowing down natural development.

If, nevertheless, a decision is made to try to grow bonsai on your own, for this you need to do the following:
1. Find a suitable seedling. To do this, you will have to go to the nearest planting or forest, choose a tree that you want to grow. It is desirable that the size of the seedling does not exceed 15-20 cm, and when digging it, it is necessary to capture a little of its native land so that the tree adapts more easily.

2. The seedling must be planted in a container with a small height. It is important that it is wide enough. To prepare the soil for bonsai, you need to mix 3/5 garden soil, 1/5 peat and 1/5 sand.

3. After planting, the first pruning of branches is carried out, only horizontal processes must be left.

4. best time The year for planting bonsai is autumn, as the tree will have a chance to adapt and take root over the next few winter months.

5. The crown should be cut constantly and regularly so that the height of the branches does not exceed 30 cm. It is important to form the shape of the crown that you want to have as a result.

6. To slow down the growth of the tree, small incisions are made on its trunk to slow down the flow of juice in the trunk.

Bonsai transplantation is carried out once every 2-3 years, this is done in order to remove excess roots. The size and shape of the pot should not change, otherwise the tree will begin to grow from a miniature size.

The shape of the bonsai is one of the main features of the tree. To decide what shape of the tree crown to form, you need to understand what varieties and styles of bonsai exist. There are several main styles: straight, cascading, inclined, multi-stem. In addition, there are many varieties of these styles, each of which characterizes some features, features and symbolizes a certain attitude to life. After all, bonsai is not biology, but philosophy.

Of course, growing a bonsai from the right seedling bought in a specialized store is much easier, and the probability of the desired result is higher. In the store, along with the sprout, you can get detailed instructions on growing bonsai, as well as the necessary fertilizers. But it's more interesting to try to do something on your own. And by making the necessary efforts and developing your patience, you can achieve good results, which, of course, will please.

One day chinese emperor ordered to create for his palace a miniature empire, with mountains, plains, meadows, forests and rivers, the sight of which would please his heart and eyes. To fulfill the ruler's command, the gardeners created tiny living trees, a miniature analogue of growing giants.

The art of bonsai (translated from Japanese means “a plant grown in a tray”) is the process of growing in a small shallow vessel an exact, but reduced to miniature size, copy of a tall tree grown in natural conditions.

The birthplace of this fascinating art form is China, where it originated about two thousand years ago, and six centuries later, together with the Buddhists, it ended up in Japan, where it developed: the Japanese not only improved the methods of growing graceful trees, but also systematized (Japanese bonsai from Chinese is distinguished by great elegance).

If we talk about Japanese art, it must be borne in mind that it is not just a process of growing a bonsai, but is a whole philosophy, since the person doing this must have the appropriate attitude: be wise, benevolent, delicate and have a sense of justice.

Since the art of bonsai became extremely popular in the twentieth century, this approach to growing miniature trees by Europeans was somewhat simplified: those who want to have such a miracle in their home, it is enough to take their work seriously, with love and show maximum attention to the plant. In this case, miniature trees are quite capable of living for more than a hundred years, uniting several generations of the family with their presence.

Appearance

Bonsai of pine and other plants should completely resemble a tree grown in natural conditions and even through the leaves have well-visible branches and a strong trunk with clearly visible roots. It is necessary to plant a homemade bonsai in a shallow vessel of a simple shape with a discreet color.

Trees grown by this method are usually small: the largest plant has a height of 120 centimeters, the smallest one does not exceed five. In this regard, the following classification of plants is distinguished:

Large - height from 60 to 120 cm;
Medium - from 30 to 60 cm;
Small - from 15 to 30 cm;
Miniature - from 5 to 15 cm;
Tiny - up to 5 cm.

The most popular indoor bonsai are from five to thirty centimeters: they are so beautiful, fragile and graceful that, causing involuntary awe, they give the impression of belonging to an amazing magical land of miniature things.

dwarf trees in the house

Before you create a bonsai at home, you need to consider that experts do not recommend forcibly turning large and medium-sized plants into dwarf ones.

In order to grow bonsai at home, it is advisable to either buy an adult tree right size, or grow using seeds.

Experts recommend that people interested in how to grow bonsai purchase seeds of plants with small foliage or needles. For example, bonsai of pine, dwarf bamboo, cypress, buckthorn. Ficus bonsai Benjamin is also well suited - an evergreen shrub (despite the fact that this plant does not belong to traditional Japanese art, it is very popular in the world because of its ease of care and rapid growth).

Before you grow a bonsai with your own hands, you need to take into account that the occupation is not easy and you will have to constantly take care of the tree: in order to get a full-fledged plant, it will take at least four years (this is how much it will take for the seeds to germinate and form a strong trunk).

It should also be borne in mind that indoor bonsai are trees, therefore, like other plants of this species, they need fresh air and enough light. For example, bonsai pine is quite a way to grow both indoors and outdoors, but Japanese black pine prefers to grow only outdoors, so in winter you need to place the plant in the very cold room and watch out for lighting.

Growing Features

Create dwarf trees from tropical and native plants. Before making a bonsai, you need to consider the following points:

What kind of soil does the tree grow on;
How light-loving it is;
Where it prefers to grow - in the shade or in the light, in wet or dry areas.

Picking up suitable soil, after looking at the place where the created bonsai will be located with your own hands, you need to decide which method to grow the tree: by cuttings or with the help of seeds.

A person who is interested in how to grow bonsai must take into account that growing bonsai from seed is the longest process. To create a bonsai of pine, cherry, oak and other trees that are poorly cut by cuttings, it will not work in any other way: only with the help of seeds.

Seeds of plants that grow in temperate latitudes must be cold-worked. To do this, they must first be placed in a container with moistened sand and put in the refrigerator. At the same time, there is no such trouble with the seeds of plants of subtropical and tropical latitudes, but they must be soaked in slightly warm water the day before sowing.

The soil in which the seeds should be planted should be loose and well breathable (great soil for seed germination is obtained by mixing peat with sand). In order for the seeds to germinate, the soil must be moist, and the air temperature should not be lower than 25 degrees.

But after the appearance of sprouts, the situation changes dramatically: the air temperature should not be higher than eighteen degrees. At the same time, young sprouts need moderate moisture and a lot of light, otherwise they will become weak and prone to diseases. After three to four weeks, they are seated in separate vessels (it should be borne in mind that in a large dish, the plant may die, since its small root system will not cope with the abundance of moisture).

As for propagation by cuttings, it is more fast way. It must be borne in mind that the cuttings of many trees do not take root well, and therefore, in order for everything to work out, you should constantly maintain optimal conditions: combine high air humidity with low soil moisture.

The age of the trees from which the cuttings will be cut should be from 5 to 10 years, and if the plant is considered difficult to root, then younger (from 2 to 3 years). At what time of the year to cut the cuttings depends largely on the latitude where the tree grows: for deciduous plants in temperate latitudes - this is May and July, but for coniferous trees this period is either in early spring before the buds begin to swell, or at the end of summer, when active growth ends.

To get a cutting, you need to take the middle or upper part of the shoot up to 20 cm long, on which there are at least two nodes. A cut is made two centimeters from the lower shoot, after which the cutting is inserted into the ground so that its lower node is completely immersed in the ground: the root system will be located here.

As with seeds, the substrate must be porous in order to allow air and water to pass through well. The sprout should be periodically sprayed or placed in a sufficiently humid place (the planted stalk can be placed under a glass jar or covered with polyethylene). The air temperature should not be lower than twenty-four degrees, and the place where the cutting will be located should be well lit and ventilated.

tree shape

When forming a composition, you need to remember that everything should look natural, and all components should be combined with each other. For example, it is impossible to plant flowering and fruit trees, grass and shrub, or shrub and tree. Also, the composition should not have a lot of greenery or color.

One of the most challenging tasks is the creation of a tree of the intended shape, for which they use methods such as pruning, bandaging, cutting branches and other methods (the plant should not have more than two or three branches). Among the variety of forms, the main types of bonsai are distinguished:

Straight - the tree has a straight, slightly thickened trunk;
Inclined - grows at an angle;
Multi-stemmed - the tree lies on the ground, and several trunks grow from it;
Cascading - the top of the tree is inclined below the soil boundary.

Necessary care

While the plant is just being formed, it should be borne in mind that it needs to be watered very often, but not poured, fertilizers should be given in limited quantities, and replanted once a year, in the spring, removing excess roots. As for the soil in which the tree will be planted, it is advisable to do it yourself by mixing humus, clay and fine gravel or coarse sand (the soil sold in stores is not very suitable).

When caring for miniature trees, it should be borne in mind that it is easier to grow it in the fresh air, since room air too dry for him. If the plant is kept on a balcony or in a garden, it is quite easy to take care of it (the only thing is that in summer you need to cover it from direct sunlight, and hide it from rain and wind in winter). But indoor bonsai require careful care, so they are usually short-lived.

There are trees created specifically for the apartment, and therefore, having greater endurance, they require less maintenance. But they still need to be kept away from heating appliances: they need high humidity air. Also, when caring for these plants, it must be borne in mind that they are afraid of drafts.

In any case, both outdoor and indoor miniature trees are one of the most demanding indoor plants, and therefore it is not easy to care for them: improper care will either kill the tree or make it an ordinary plant that does not attract attention.

Considering that bonsai is mainly a plant of tropical and subtropical latitudes, the climate of the temperate zone does not suit it, therefore, it must be created independently.

When growing a tropical tree, it must be remembered that since the day is shorter in temperate latitudes, additional lighting must be created for the plant (this issue is especially relevant in winter). Given that every tree needs different amount light, how to care for your plant (how much light it needs and where exactly to put it), it is advisable to check with specialists or on the Internet in special thematic forums.

Subtropical trees, such as rosemary, pomegranate, olive, are kept in a room in winter, the temperature in which ranges from 5 to 15 ° C, and in summer they are taken out to Fresh air. But it’s more difficult to take care of tropical trees: they don’t like cold, so they are kept in enclosed spaces, the temperature of which ranges from 18 to 25 ° C, while even in summer they are not recommended to be placed on window sills made of stone. It should be remembered that the higher the temperature indicators of the atmosphere, the more the tree needs light, water and nutrients.

Since a small tree is extremely in need of moisture, it needs to be provided. To do this, you need to put a pot with a plant in a flat vessel filled with water, at the bottom of which there are pre-laid pebbles or a grate. The water should always be at the same level, and the tree itself should be regularly sprayed with water.

As for watering, here it must be taken into account that the earth must be constantly wet (subtropical plants are watered less often). As for tropical plants, they do not tolerate cold water, so it is advisable to use either melted or settled water.

A smaller copy of a tree called bonsai will be a real highlight of your garden on the windowsill. But not a purchased miniature, but grown at home. And aerobatics is growing a tree with your own hands.

The birthplace of bonsai is Sunny Japan. The name translates as "tree in a pot" (you can use a bowl or tray for planting). The second translation option is “tree pruning”. Bonsai cultivation is a centuries-old art that until recently was available exclusively to Japanese monarchs. And today it is available even to a novice grower. To get started, prepare the following tool:

Nippers that have a concave shape for trimming a thin part of the trunk;
Scissors for thick branches and the formation of an even cut;
A small nail file, the blade of which is 15 cm;
Scissors with thin ends;
Scissors with blunt ends.

When choosing a plant, give preference to a specimen whose size is from 20 to 50 centimeters, with a healthy root system, which contributes to the rapid rooting of the plant and makes the bonsai more exotic. For cultivation, you can use coniferous, deciduous and fruit species. The first group includes Japanese cryptomeria, juniper, cedar, pine, larch, fir, thuja. Leafy - oak, beech, hornbeam, maple, ficus. Among fruit trees, apple, hawthorn, plum are suitable. Flowers such as rose, magnolia, narrow-leaved pyracantha can also be grown as bonsai.

In addition, you should decide in advance on the style of bonsai by first drawing on paper the shape that you want to get as a result of growing a tree. There are styles such as straight, which has a thickened to the root, even trunk; inclined, when the tree is at an angle to the ground; multi-stem (several trunks grow from one that lies on the ground); cascading, when the top slopes below the ground. For rooting, choose a deep container. Subsequently, a transplant is made into a bowl, which has low sides. You can also use a tray. It is better to take containers made of clay, porcelain, faience or ceramics. Make sure that the depth of the dishes is equal to the diameter of the trunk at the base. At the same time, a length of about two-thirds of the width of the tree is chosen. The width should be slightly less than the longest branch. After planting, water the plants well and tamp the ground, and also dig deeper into the trunk so that it thickens. Then send the pot to a dark place where it will take root and arrange a ten-day quarantine. In addition, it is very important to accustom a young tree to the open air, for this it is recommended to increase the stay of bonsai on the street. Form a bonsai 2-3 years after you planted a tree. To do this, it must be transplanted into a bowl. When doing this, make sure that the lower part of the tree, and at the same time the top of the root system with large quantity horizontal roots, located above the ground. At the same time, diseased lashes and weak roots must be removed. To slow down growth, they use poor soil for transplantation, in which loam, rotted foliage, sand and stones are present, and they also practice reducing the flow of juices by applying several cuts to the trunk. In addition, it is necessary to prune the branches when the first buds appear on the tree. However, if the bonsai has buds or flowers, pruning should be discarded.