Culture bonsai originated in China and Japan.

Translated from Japanese, “bon-sai” (the Chinese word is “pun-sai”) means “wood in a bowl.”

However, a bonsai is not just a container tree, it is a true work of art that requires many years of work. In the eastern tradition, bonsai-style trees are classic elements of interior and landscape design.

Bonsai is a whole language of symbols. Some of the miniature trees resemble the inhabitants of sea coasts, bent under cruel winds, others are alpine plants, fancifully hanging branches from the rocks, while others, on the contrary, look serene and simple - like a meadow tree located in the middle of a sunny island of tranquility.

In nature, the shape of a tree is formed under the influence of wind, sun and relief, and a bonsai master imitates natural forms with his own hands - using a knife, pruning shears and wire guides.

– the age of the tree is about 20 years. The shape of the tree is not ideal - after all, this bonsai was formed by a beginner amateur.

This miniature linden 30 years. This very beautiful bonsai, made by the German Dieter Arndt, has already repeatedly won prizes at various exhibitions.

A classic bonsai is a miniature copy of a life-size tree on a scale of 1:100.

In Japan, they believe that a pine tree looks like an old man, and a deciduous tree looks like a young girl. Therefore, miniature pines and junipers are usually planted in rough, irregularly shaped bowls made of wood or stone. Deciduous bonsai are placed in elegant ceramic vessels.

Bonsai have been grown for decades. And the older and more beautiful the bonsai becomes, the more expensive bowls it is transplanted into, emphasizing the nobility of the composition. In Japan, these bowls are custom-made by hand so that the vessel perfectly complements the bonsai artist's design.

Making a bonsai yourself is very difficult and time-consuming, but also exciting. Let's look at the stages of growing a bonsai tree.

	Choosing a blank tree for bonsai First you need to choose a plant - it is best to take not a street specimen, but a young plant that originally lived in a container and is already adapted to such conditions. You can also grow a seedling specifically for creating a bonsai - but this will take longer. The roots of a young plant are shortened and planted in a flat bowl. The initial bowl is taken as simple as possible, undecorated.
	Trimming the top of a tree In spring, the top and side shoots of the tree are cut off. After this, the tree begins to gain trunk thickness, but its height will remain small. It is better for the plant to spend the summer outside, but for the winter, bonsai are placed in frost-free rooms - their roots are not adapted to frost.
	Regular pruning of branches and roots In subsequent months and years, pruning is repeated many times. Branches, especially thick ones, should be trimmed very carefully. For pruning, you should purchase a special pruning shears with a concave blade and make sure that its blades are sharp. Pruning with such pruning shears causes minimal damage to the tree - the cut areas heal faster. Every year, the future bonsai should be removed from the bowl and its roots trimmed.
	Buds for growing crowns When the trunk of the required thickness is formed, several buds are left on the tree for the development of branches. From this moment, work begins on the shape of the bonsai crown.
	Main branches for the bonsai crown skeleton You need to wait until the branches form. After this, several branches are left in the bonsai for further crown formation, and the rest are cut off.
	Shaping bonsai branches To give shape to bonsai branches, wire - aluminum or copper - is used. The thickness of the wire should approximately correspond to the thickness of the branches. The wire is carefully wrapped around the trunk and branches of the tree, giving them the desired direction. For opposite branches use one piece of wire. The tips of the branches are pinched to improve branching.
	Regular formative pruning of branches Next comes the most interesting part. The tree will gradually grow in the direction that the wire sets it. Adjust the wire as you watch the bonsai grow. Regularly trim young shoots to help the tree branch better and remain compact.
	Transplanting a bonsai into a decorative bowl When the bonsai is ready, you will need to select the appropriate bowl for it and think through the entire arrangement.

Photos of bonsai trees

If a bonsai is made from a fruit tree or shrub, then it continues to bloom and bear fruit at the usual time for its kind - like hawthorn in this photo.	This maple for more than 80 years! A multi-tiered crown has been formed on the tree by the skillful hand of a bonsai master. There is a deep bowl under this bonsai, since the height of the vessel should be proportional to the diameter of the crown.
Bonsai from juniper, the crown of which is formed by a semi-cascade. An irregularly shaped bowl was selected from the tree, which imitates a depression in a rocky slope.
Bonsai trees should be advantageously positioned on stands and well lit - so that a garden visitor can admire them first from afar, and then, coming closer, examine their filigree crown.
Oriental style gardens are often decorated with bonsai. Typical of a Japanese garden is a red bridge, stone lanterns, miniature trees and giant grasses - sedges, bamboo and others. However, if you follow this example and decorate your garden with miniature trees in the summer, do not forget to protect them from frost in winter and autumn. The specificity of the root system of bonsai does not allow it to winter outside in mid-latitudes.

Coriander is one of the most popular spices in the world, and its greens are called coriander or coriander. Interestingly, cilantro leaves no one indifferent. Some people adore it and happily use it in any salads and sandwiches, and they love Borodino bread for the special flavor of coriander seeds. Others, citing the smell that evokes associations with forest bugs, hate coriander and flatly refuse to approach bunches of cilantro even at the market, let alone plant it in their own garden.

Watermelon and summer are inseparable concepts. However, you won’t find melons in every area. And all because this African plant takes up a lot of space, is quite demanding of both heat and sun, and also of proper watering. But still, we love watermelon so much that today not only southerners, but much more northern summer residents have learned to grow it. It turns out that you can find an approach to such a capricious plant, and if you want, you can get a decent harvest.

You can make red gooseberry jam in 10 minutes. However, it should be borne in mind that this is the time required to cook the jam without preparing the berries. It takes a lot of time to harvest and prepare the berries for processing. Cruel thorns discourage any desire to harvest, and you still have to cut off the noses and tails. But the result is worth it, the jam turns out excellent, one of the most aromatic, in my opinion, and the taste is such that it is impossible to tear yourself away from the jar.

Monsteras, anthuriums, caladiums, dieffenbachias... Representatives of the Araceae family are considered one of the most popular categories of indoor plants. And not the last factor in their widespread distribution is diversity. Aroids are represented by aquatic plants, epiphytes, semi-epiphytes, tuberous plants and lianas. But despite such diversity, because of which it is sometimes difficult to guess about the relationship of plants, aroids are very similar to each other and require the same care.

Donskoy salad for the winter is a savory appetizer of fresh vegetables in a sweet and sour marinade with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. The original recipe calls for regular or apple cider vinegar, but with a combination of wine vinegar and light Balsamico it turns out much tastier. The salad can be prepared without sterilization - bring the vegetables to a boil, put them in sterile jars and wrap them warmly. You can also pasteurize the workpieces at a temperature of 85 degrees, then quickly cool.

The main mushrooms collected are: porcini, obabka, boletus, chanterelles, boletus, moss mushrooms, russula, milk mushrooms, boletus, saffron milk caps, honey mushrooms. Other mushrooms are collected depending on the region. And their name (other mushrooms) is legion. As well as mushroom pickers, of whom there are more and more every year. Therefore, there may not be enough for all known mushrooms. And I know for sure that among the little-known there are very worthy representatives. I’ll tell you about little-known, but tasty and healthy mushrooms in this article.

The word "ampel" comes from the German word "ampel", meaning a hanging container for flowers. The fashion for hanging flower beds came to us from Europe. And today it is very difficult to imagine a garden where there is not at least one hanging basket. In response to the growing popularity of container floriculture, a large number of hanging plants have appeared on sale, whose shoots easily fall outside the pots. Let's talk about those that are valued for their beautiful flowers.

Apricots in syrup - aromatic apricot compote with cardamom from peeled fruits. These are very useful preparations for the winter - bright and beautiful halves of canned apricots can be used to prepare fruit salads, desserts or decorate cakes and pastries. There are many varieties of apricots; for this recipe, I advise you to choose ripe, but not overripe fruits, from which it is easy to remove the pit so that the peeled slices retain the correct shape.

Today in pharmacies you can buy many different medications with a general strengthening, tonic effect that are used for colds. Despite this, I always prepare my own nettles and St. John’s wort for the winter, as I consider them indispensable medicinal herbs for the prevention and treatment of colds and many other diseases. Why these plants are valuable, how and when to collect them, dry them, store them and prepare healing infusions, I will tell you in the article.

Among species of orchids, phalaenopsis are real Spartans. And one of the hardiest species is Phalaenopsis four-scutellum, or Tetraspis. He is content with minimal care, is not at all capricious, and easily adapts. And, unfortunately, it almost completely disappeared from the windowsills. Varietal hybrids with their spectacular flowering are found at every step, but you will have to hunt for each species specimen. But if you love the exotic, then Phalaenopsis tetraspis is worth it.

Boiled chicken stewed with vegetables is a delicious hot dish that is very easy to prepare from available ingredients. This dish will appeal to both adults and children; it can also be included in a not very strict diet menu, when you need to eat something satisfying, but not fried or fatty. The recipe for stewed boiled chicken can be classified as “healthy recipes”! Legs or thighs are ideal for cooking, but breast fillet will turn out dry, it is better to make cutlets from it.

I fell in love with roses fifteen years ago. My first roses often upset me: either with multi-colored spots on the leaves, or with a white powdery coating of powdery mildew, or with some other nuisance. What I haven’t done to treat rose bushes and prevent diseases... For the last five years, fungal diseases have only occurred on my site twice and have not caused any harm to the rose garden. I will share the secrets of preventing fungal infection in the rose garden.

Fragrant, aromatic apricots with soft, velvety skin and pulp that melts in your mouth are loved by adults and children. They make excellent preserves, marmalade, pastilles, dried fruits and juices. It is not surprising that apricot trees are grown in almost every garden in regions with a suitable climate. In this article we will tell you which apricot varieties are most suitable for central Russia. In addition, the material will discuss how to properly care for the plant.

Puff pastries with sorrel from ready-made yeast-free puff pastry - crispy, rosy, piping hot, ready for your table. You don’t need a lot of sorrel for the filling; you can even mix it with fresh spinach, it will be delicious! Sorrel adds sourness to the traditional puff pastry filling of eggs and onions. Take the puff pastry out of the freezer 30 minutes before cooking and leave it at room temperature until it thaws a little and becomes pliable.

Among the huge community of indoor representatives of the Araceae family, syngonium is the only plant that cannot boast of an increase in popularity in the last decade. Everyone seemed to have forgotten about this vine. Perhaps due to the rather capricious nature of syngoniums or their similarity to many large-leaved indoor plants. But not a single indoor vine can boast of such variability. This is one of the most modest vines, but non-standard.

For some, a houseplant is a blooming violet or ficus with dark shiny leaves. And someone wants to grow a real forest in a small handful of soil.

Many indoor plant lovers have heard the mysterious word “bonsai”. But they simply don’t understand what bonsai is and how to form a miniature miracle. Meanwhile, figuring this out is quite possible.

History of bonsai

The fashion for miniature trees spread around the world from Japan. But the Japanese are not the founders of a new art form. The idea of ​​bonsai came to them from China. But it was the Japanese who brought it to perfection.

The first mention of growing miniature trees came into the hands of historians in 1972. In the mausoleum of Prince Zhang Hui, images were found detailing the technology of growing small trees. Judging by how carefully the drawings were preserved for posterity, the technique was considered particularly valuable knowledge. The drawings date back to the Chinese Tang Dynasty, which corresponds to 600 BC. e.

The Chinese called the unusual hobby “pensai”. The Japanese read the Chinese character in their own way and came up with the word “bonsai,” meaning “grown in a tray.”

By the way, archaeologists claim that even the ancient Egyptians knew what bonsai was. They grew small plants in special vessels, but called them differently. Unfortunately, the Egyptian version of the name has not survived.

What's the point of this

The Japanese have perfected the art of growing dwarf plants. Each tree requires many years of work, attention and patience from the master. This is the only way to get a green masterpiece that will live longer than its creator. The wonderful plant will go to grateful students who understand well what bonsai is and how much effort the master put into this beauty.

The art of bonsai is a certain philosophy that allows you to accept life and enjoy the beauty of its flow. Each tree in the hands of a master goes through three stages, like all living things on the planet. First, it lives through youth, shining with freshness and vigor, then it enters maturity, achieving the perfection of form and beauty, and the last stage is old age, embodying all the wisdom of the world. And, in addition, bonsai is a symbol because the youngest in the family needs to learn from the experience and be able to preserve what the elders created.

What trees can be grown

Most often, evergreen species are used for growing in containers. It could be Japanese cypress, cryptomeria, five-leaved, black or red. Bonsai from these tree species looks very impressive, but some prefer to grow deciduous trees, finding a special charm in the changing seasons. In this case, apple trees of different varieties, cherry, some rhododendron, wild azalea, various varieties of pears, persimmon, wild grapes, willow and others are suitable.

Bonsai pine looks very beautiful and unusual, as can be seen in the photo below, so most often you can find these miniature coniferous trees.

Bonsai styles: Tekkan and Moyogi

Even the most experienced craftsman will never produce two absolutely identical plants. But all compositions are usually clearly divided into styles. It was the Japanese who brought this tradition to the art of bonsai. They gave a designation to a number of characteristics by which trees are divided into styles. There are more than 30 of them, but we will consider the most common ones.

If you see a bonsai plant with a straight trunk that flares out towards the base, then it is a formal upright style - Tekkan. Another important characteristic is that the plant should narrow towards the top. Any type of tree can be grown in this style. The symbolism of Tekkan is proud loneliness and unbending character.

If the plant is elongated vertically, but its branches do not have a clear structure and are arranged randomly, then this is the Moyogi style. may be curved, but the top necessarily extends in line with the base, forming a perpendicular to the ground. Moyogi symbolizes simplicity and freedom, and also the desire to go beyond limits, resisting circumstances.

Fukinagashi and Shakan

These are bonsai styles that look like they were taken in strong gusty winds. Syakan (sloping style) is characterized by an angle to the ground, but the tree stretches upward. Fukinagashi (wind-bent) can have both a straight and inclined trunk, but its branches are directed in one direction (in the direction of the slope), as if the tree grew in a strong wind. The symbolism of these styles is resistance to the forces of nature and the struggle for life.

Sokan style

Sokan translates as “forked trunk.” This style was suggested to bonsai lovers by nature itself, since very often two trunks rise from one root, one of which is stronger and higher. The tree can be flat or inclined, this is not very important, the main thing is that it must form a common crown. You can create a similar bonsai at home by giving the appearance of a second trunk to the lowest branch. The symbolism of this style is the continuity of generations and reverence for traditions. Sometimes Sokan are called “twins” or “father and son.”

Kengai and Han-kengai

These are slightly similar in cascade and semi-cascade style. Kengai is like a tree growing on a steep cliff. To survive, he had to adapt to difficult circumstances. The symbol of style is flexibility in any conditions.

Han-kengai is distinguished by a more horizontal direction of trunk growth. The trees seem to grow on the shore of a reservoir, trying to reach the water with their crowns. Hen-kengai is a bonsai, the photo of which clearly shows that the branches do not fall below the middle part of the pot, and the top of the plant is always above the ground level.

For these flexible styles, plants with bending trunks are always chosen. Preference is given to pine, cotoneaster, and juniper.

Bundzings

This style is considered one of the most difficult to perform. And he is one of the most ancient. Otherwise, this style is called “literary”. This name is due to the fact that the plants have the schematic shape of “Japanese letters”. Masters seem to write calligraphic signs, growing trees with long curved trunks without lower branches. The crown of this type of bonsai is allowed only at the very top. The style symbolizes airiness and sublimity. Coniferous or broad-leaved species are chosen for cultivation.

Charming Yose-ue

Can you imagine bonsai pots with a small forest growing in them? These are Yose-ue style plants. The composition is made up of a large number of trees with different heights of trunks, with different thicknesses and ages of plants. Usually an odd number of trees are selected, and they are most often of the same species. They are planted without observing symmetry and avoiding equal distances. Thus, the master gets his own park or small forest, as close as possible to a corner of wild nature.

Sharimika style

Enlightened Japanese have learned to see beauty in every moment of life. They proved that old age can also be beautiful. The embodiment of this statement is the Sharimiki style, that is, “dead wood”. The tree is artificially aged, the bark is partially removed from the trunk, and its wood is bleached, creating a contrast between the dead and the living. Areas with dead wood are intricately curved, but they must be clearly visible. For this species, juniper is most often used.

Bonsai planting

When planning to grow the described miracle, beginners are wondering how to plant a bonsai. You can do this in several ways:

1. Misho method. This is an ideal option for novice experimenters. It involves sowing seeds collected from the wild. In this case, you can choose from a variety of sprouts exactly the one you need and start slowing down growth from the very beginning.
2. Toriki method. This is the cultivation of miniature plants from cuttings or layering. To use this method, the bark is cut or trimmed in the right place on the branch and the exposed wood is treated with horse growth stimulants. A piece of wood is wrapped in moss and film and waited for 3 (sometimes more) months. The cut area is not allowed to dry out during this time.
3. Yamadori method. The approximate meaning of this name is “found and dug up.” In the spring, a suitable plant is found in the forest or garden, dug up and left for several months for the formation of surface horses. After this, the powerful roots are slightly shortened, the plant is removed from the soil, and the formation of a bonsai in a pot begins.
4. Ueki method. With this method, a ready-made young plant is purchased from a nursery, then it is trimmed and planted in a flat pot. Or a young bonsai is bought, and then it is grown based on your style preferences.

How to shape a plant

The main task when growing a bonsai is to force the tree to remain small. To do this, you need to slow down the growth and give the desired shape. To inhibit growth, they often cut off the roots and remove young shoots, choose poor soils, use a minimal amount of fertilizer, and choose special bonsai pots in which the root system cannot grow much. In addition, be sure to use a system to weaken the flow of juices by making horizontal cuts on the wood or braiding the trunk with wire.

When the plant is sufficiently rooted, they begin to trim and bend its branches. To do this, use copper wire, which is used to entangle the branches and secure them with pegs in a flowerpot. It is better to start bending in the summer, when the branches are most elastic. To avoid damaging the crown, wrap the bending area with a soft tourniquet or sponge.

Timely pruning of branches helps awaken the necessary buds to grow. If to create an ideal shape it is necessary to direct the branch to the right, then select a bud sticking out in the desired direction and cut the branch above it, leaving no stump above.

By the way, if a pine bonsai is grown, then pruning must be done with extreme caution. Damaged branches may turn yellow. This also applies to other conifers.

How to care for a plant

The plant requires care throughout its life. To grow a decent bonsai, care at home is provided all year round. This includes transplanting, fertilizing, and watering.

Transplantation is best done in the spring. It is necessary to ensure that the roots do not grow and form a tangle. As soon as this happens, the tree is removed from the bowl, the roots are cut and the plant is returned to its place, but in fresh soil.

For planting, make a mixture of 3/5 humus soil, 1/5 peat and 1/5 sand. The soil in the container is carefully compacted so that voids do not form. The height of the soil in the container is approximately 5-6 cm. The top is usually decorated with stones and moss.

Fertilizing is carried out in spring and summer. The interval is maintained for about two weeks. It is most convenient to use ready-made liquid organic fertilizer with bird droppings, which is applied 2 hours after watering.

What else needs to be done to grow a healthy and beautiful bonsai? Home care involves abundant and regular watering. Many people place a container with a tree in a flat vessel with water. Its bottom is filled with small stones or a grate is installed. The water level in the tray is maintained at the same level. This allows you to increase air humidity and reduce watering.

A miniature tree needs water in large quantities. But you need to take into account the type of plant, since residents of different climate zones have different watering conditions. For example, Carmona small-leaved is a bonsai tree, the care of which requires daily abundant watering. But for the fat plant, such watering is detrimental; its root system cannot cope with the abundance of moisture and will rot.

It is important to understand that a miniature tree needs to be watered more often, even if the species does not like wet soil, when the following factors are present:

• the foliage on the branches is large and numerous;
• the plant is planted in a small or flat container, since then there is a large area for moisture evaporation from the surface of the substrate;
• The air in the room is dry and too warm.

In addition, the plant will benefit from regular spraying. However, keep in mind that evergreen species can only be sprayed with distilled water. When using regular tap water, an irremovable whitish coating will appear on the leaves.

Now that you understand what bonsai is, you can try to create your own masterpiece. But think and evaluate your strength. If you are not patient enough, then perhaps you should not take on this painstaking work.

The art of bonsai has developed over many years, and during this time a huge number of styles of creating trees have appeared. Of course, first of all, bonsai is created for decorative purposes. The main role is played by the shape of the trunk and crown. They create that unique appearance of a dwarf tree, which is so valued all over the world.

The most common bonsai styles are:

• Hokidachi. This is a style of creating a crown like a fan. Excellent for trees with thin and small leaves. The tree trunk should be straight, not curly. This crown resembles a ball and looks very beautiful at any time of the year.
• Moyogi. This style is also found in the natural environment. The tree trunk is curved and resembles the letter “s”. Each bend has its own branches covered with foliage. The branches and leaves begin about a third above the base of the trunk. In this case, the base should be wider than the top.
• Bunzings. This is a bohemian style that is designed to show the struggle of trees for survival. In their natural environment, such trees can be seen in dense forests, where there is little light and only very tall trees that can reach the illuminated area survive. The trunk of such a tree should be long, slightly curved and bare. The foliage is located only at the very top.
• Fukinagashi. It is also a fighting and survival style. The tree trunk is curved and slightly tilted to the side. All branches are located on only one side of the tree. Such trees can be seen in places with strong winds that constantly blow in one direction.

Despite the presence of long-established styles, it is not necessary to follow any rules. The crown of a tree can have a completely bizarre and unusual shape that does not fit any style. - This is, first of all, a manifestation of your imagination and creative impulses.

More information can be found in the video:

Bonsai is the national art of Japan. Dwarf trees of bizarre shapes, looking like real ones, with a proportional crown and curved trunks, grow for years and decades, without adding even a few centimeters of growth. Japanese museums tell about different types of Bonsai, display their photos, seeds, cuttings, so that the viewer can see all the stages of growing Bonsai.

In Japan, bonsai is not just a form of national art, aesthetics and worldview. Japanese achievements in the art of bonsai have already become part of museum culture. The Omiya Bonsai Art Museum was opened in the spring of 2010. The museum promotes the art of bonsai both within and outside of Japan through exhibitions and various information events.

Museums say that bonsai have been known since the 9th century. In order to grow a miniature tree, you need to carefully trim it and shape the branches by twisting them with wire. Trees live and grow, so work on bonsai never stops; they require constant care, fertilization and watering.

Masterpieces such as Goyo-Matsu (Japanese white pine) are valued at more than 100 million yen. Nowadays, bonsai is well known outside of Japan; many tourists from all over the world visit Japanese bonsai museums.

The museum is located next to the “Bonsai-mura (Bonsai Village)”, where many bonsai producers and fans live and work. Around Bonsai Mura there are 10 bonsai gardens that present a wonderful display. The village is planted with trees such as maple, keyaki and cherry trees. Visitors can enjoy the atmosphere of all seasons while observing the growth and care of the trees. Japanese museums are a favorite meeting place for bonsai lovers around the world.

Bonsai Museum (video)

Bonsai - Japanese tree: seeds

Many people scoff at the idea of ​​growing bonsai from seed, saying something like, “Look how old I am, I won’t live long enough.” In general, there is no such thing as “bonsai seeds”. Packets of seeds purchased in stores or online sites contain simply ordinary tree seeds, which will later become bonsai. Such seeds are bought when it is not possible to simply go and collect them in the forest or park. Museums usually contain rare and very beautiful tree species grown by specialists.

Seedlings are planted very close to each other, the trees are intricately intertwined with trunks, competing for light and space, caring for them begins immediately after the sprouts hatch.

The seeds of most tropical trees germinate immediately after maturity, but the seeds of temperate plants must be sown after stratification. They need to arrange something like an artificial wintering, keeping them in the cold for 21-90 days and only then planting them.

The seeds can be placed in moist peat moss with fungicide in a ziplock bag. Some seeds even germinate in the refrigerator. After keeping them in the cold, you need to immerse them in water at room temperature overnight to increase germination. Seeds that float after soaking will not germinate.

Seeds with a thick coating (like ginkgo) can be pierced to help them germinate better.

Plant the seeds in a light, loose soil mixture that is well aerated. It is advisable to allow air to circulate above the soil.

Remember that loose soil dries out quickly, and seedlings with a rudimentary root system can die within a few hours from drought or direct sunlight!

You can also treat the seeds before planting:

• Infusion of garlic or a solution of hydrogen peroxide and water (1 teaspoon per 1/2 cup of water);
• Sprinkle a little cinnamon or baking soda into the soil;
• Dissolve 2 caps of household bleach in your irrigation water.

It is necessary to disinfect gardening tools and planting pots, even new ones.

First Bonsai sprouts (video)

White Japanese pine Bonsai: cultivation

Japanese white pine (Pinus parviflora) prefers outdoors and makes a striking landscape feature. It often has a dense, conical shape; young trees reach a height of 8-16 meters. A tall, graceful, irregularly shaped tree with a wide and flat crown. Museums in Japan feature various conifers in their exhibits and installations.

The needles are 2.5-6 cm long, hard, blue-green in color, grow in a bunch of 5 pieces and create a fine texture of the tree silhouette.

The more sunlight and heat your bonsai receives, the more often it will need water.

In general, the most common cause of bonsai death is improper watering.

There is no need to water the tree if the soil is wet or cold. Bonsai trees generally need to be watered every few days once the top layer of soil is completely dry. An old trick for watering a bonsai is to place the entire container containing the tree in 2.5-5cm of water, allowing the water to be absorbed through the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot.

White Japanese pine: fertilization and further care

You should start feeding your bonsai in the spring, when it begins to grow. Use a slow-release organic fertilizer. Fertilizer with chelated iron should be applied 2-3 times a year.

Japanese white pine requires careful root pruning when replanting to develop a strong root system. Branches should be trimmed and wired at the end of autumn, leaving the wire on the tree for a maximum of 6-8 months.

New shoots need to be pinched down to 1/3 of their length in the spring. This causes buds to form in the fall where the shoots were removed. This must be done to form very short internodes on the branches. Use thin wire.

Never wrap a bonsai immediately after repotting. Winding too tightly will lead to scarring on the trunk. Do not allow the wire to cut deep into the bark.

Young trees (up to 10 years old) need to be replanted every 2 or 3 years. Older trees - every 3 to 5 years. Replant in early fall when the summer heat subsides.

Japanese white pine is usually placed in a sturdy rectangular pot, deep enough to prevent wind from tearing it out of the soil. The soil must combine drainage and water-retaining properties.

You cannot fertilize pine trees for 3-4 weeks after transplanting.

How to grow a pine bonsai from seeds (video)

Japanese cedar Bonsai: cultivation

Cryptomeria or Japanese cedar is an evergreen plant up to 40 meters tall, growing in the wet mountains of Japan. Bonsai grows best when its natural conditions are recreated. An ideal bonsai for those who like to water their plants because Japanese cedar will thrive in conditions that would cause other plants to rot. Museums in Japan always contain images of such bonsai or cedar trees in a natural setting.

The dwarf form of Cryptomeria has beautiful light green tiny needles and reddish-brown flaky bark. During cold winters, the needles turn bronze, and in the spring they turn light green again.

Japanese cedar loves cool weather, but it must be protected from icy winds and drying out. If you keep your bonsai indoors during the winter, be careful not to let it dry out. Likewise, keep it moisturized during the hottest, driest summer months.

This bonsai loves bright light. The needles of Japanese cedar bonsai trees can easily dry out and turn brown.

Water daily or as needed, never allowing the soil to dry out completely. In winter, water less often, just make sure that the soil does not dry out at all. It is best to keep it in a sunny bathroom window, on a tray with moistened stones. It is the high humidity of the bathroom that Japanese cedar loves.

To make the needles grow thicker, you need to pinch them.

Pinch the needles only with your fingers, never with scissors!

With frequent trimming of needles, cryptomeria will throw out buds from almost any point. Remove lower branches to allow air to circulate around the trunk, and remove dead needles.

It is best to wrap with wire in the spring; bend the branches gradually, as they tend to break. Curl a little each week until you reach your desired curve.

Caring for a plant involves monitoring and destroying pests. Unfortunately, bonsai are affected by scale insects and red spider mites. Red ticks should be washed off with a solution of 1 teaspoon of soap in 1 liter of warm water. Remove the scale insects with a sharp knife, being careful not to damage the bark.

Replant in mid to late spring, every 2-5 years, depending on age and growth. Be careful not to over-prun the roots and plant your bonsai in slightly acidic soil that is high in organic matter and has good drainage.

Japanese sakura bonsai tree: how to grow

Cherry tree bonsai has many names - Japanese cherry, East Asian cherry, sakura, etc. There are almost 430 varieties, many of which grow in China, Japan and Korea.

In Japan, cherries are called sakura and are widely used in Japanese festivals. There are 200 species that are cultivated only in Japan. One of the most famous species is Somei Yoshino with almost white flowers on pink stalks. They are named after the village of Somei near Tokyo. Almost all plant varieties can be used to grow bonsai. With proper care, you can achieve beautiful looking miniature trees that will bloom and bear fruit just like regular sakura. Museums often display cherry blossom displays.

The trunk of the sakura is chestnut-colored, slender, and the crown is dense. The tree produces black fruits after flowering and pollination. Care for sakura is daily, as the plant is quite capricious.

The winter season for bonsai trees lasts for about three months, during which they are dormant and do not grow.

There are several ways to winter bonsai:

• It is necessary to cover the tree with mulch to the lowest branches, protect it from the wind and sun.
• You can place the tree in a cool, dark place, such as a garage or shed. You need to water your bonsai in winter, but you don't need to expose it to light.

In spring and summer, sakura requires sun in the morning and afternoon. It is best to take it out into the garden, onto the balcony or terrace. There is no need to keep your bonsai indoors in spring and summer as it will suffer from lack of sun.

It is best to replant sakura at the end of winter, when the plant has finished blooming. Repotting will allow the roots to grow in fresh soil.

Sakura can be pruned after the flowers have fallen; new shoots should be trimmed, but not completely removed.

Birds tend to feed on cherry blossom buds. Caterpillars and aphids also damage the tree.

Bonsai after 7 months (video)

Bonsai is a national art in Japan, where it came from China about 500 years ago. Any seeds are suitable for growing bonsai, because the art lies in constantly pruning the tree and replanting it. In Japan, there are numerous museums where tourists from all over the world contemplate bizarre dwarf trees that can be more than a hundred years old. Coniferous bonsai are especially impressive - white pine or Japanese cedar. Japanese sakura is beautiful, because of which Korea is called the Land of Morning Freshness. Bonsai care involves proper watering, pruning leaves and roots, and replanting.

Japanese Bonsai tree (photo)