BONSAI FROM THE WILD

Bonsai Tree-Taken at the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum


BONSAI FROM THE WILD

Bonsai Tree-Taken at the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum


In years gone by many people in Japan used to take themselves off to the mountains in spring to find suitable bonsai,and they often brought home with them some really lovely specimens.
before collecting from the wild you should gain the permission of the landowner if you intend removing any material,and make sure you are up-to-date with information regarding protected species.Your chances of successfully replanting your find will be good if you go collecting at the beginning of spring;plants will not have begun to grow again and so can still tolerate a change of site quite well.Take with you a small spade,a sharp knife or secateurs,a couple of plastic boxes,newspaper and some water.That way you'll be able to dig up your specimen with as much root and soil attached as possible,and be able to wrap it in damp newspaper to stop it drying out and get it home safely.

Bonsai from the wild


Seedlings about 10-20cm high are suitable material and should present no problems for further cultivation as they still have a compact ball of roots and can be taken out of the ground easily.
At home plant your young tree in loose soil in the garden or put it in a large pot with a good drainage layer and a mixture of equal parts peat/sand.
After one or two years the roots should be cut and the tree repotted into a bonsai dish.

Maple Bonsai Tree, Acer campestre

Bonsai Training

Bonsai Training


The aim of training is to make a good bonsai from your young plant or specimen.In doing this it is usual to look to the centuries-old bonsai tradition of the Japanese for models to emulate.But there is nothing to stop bonsai enthusiasts from going their own way and developing new styles and types that may be latent in the imagination.Nevertheless it is advisable to bear in mind a basic rule of the Japanese masters:the bonsai should look natural,that is to say,you must not lose sight of the tree's growth pattern in the wild.

Bonsai Training


Since a bonsai should be typical of a normal tree,many bonsai growers collect photos or draw sketches of trees or groups of trees to give them ideas for their bonsai.Other sources for ideas include bonsai exhibitions,books on bonsai and bonsai courses which take place regularly in some towns.

Bonsai Training