Let me begin by explaining the title of this article
- There is no such thing as a bonsai tree. There isn't It
is not a genetic strain of plant life, you cannot buy seeds
of bonsai trees', add water and compost, and then sit back
and watch a seedling emerge, and shape itself into a mirror
image of a tree, such as seen in the film 'Karate Kid'.
Think of it more as a technique whereby the grower, over a
period of time, trains the seedling through pruning and
wiring, into the desired shape. Growing from seed gives you
more control over the end result, but has inherent in it
all the problems associated with raising anything else from
seed, such as damping off, drying out, heavy footed pets
and fluctuating conditions. However, it can, and is done,
and not only can it give a great deal of personal
satisfaction, but it is cheap!! Sycamore, chestnut, oak,
pomegranate, lemon, orange, etc can all be collected by
strolling through the local park or supermarket.
Growing bonsai is cruel. You stunt their growth...don't
allow the roots to grow, bind their branches with wire,
like the feet of Japanese ladies.OK, cruel? Well, it may
appear so at times. However, trees/shrubs that are
'bonsai'ed when looked after correctly, will extend their
lifespan by, on average, 25%. Their growth is not so much
stunted, as controlled. The idea is to slow down the
vertical and encourage sideways growth to give you more
material to work with. It is easier to shape a shrubby
plant than it is to coax a long thin stick into anything
looking like a small forest........
continue to bonsai
techniques..
