Flower Garden Care » Bonsai

History of Bonsai

admin — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:09:36 +0000

Many consider Bonsai an ancient hobby or form of art, originating to allow the bonsai tree or plant to live independent or apart from the earth. It is a plant considered complete, capable of sustaining life on its own. This is one-reason bonsai plants or trees often live in a potted area or in a special place separate from other forms of vegetation.

The ancients believed bonsai held many mystical and magical powers. Today, many believe the bonsai plant provides good energy, truth, goodness and beauty into the homes and lives of those that care for this life-providing plant. Most bonsai plants live for hundreds of years, outliving many other plants and species of similar size. This is one reason people can pass their bonsai plants from one generation to the next.

bonsai Foemina junipers

Many people do not realize most bonsai are everyday trees and plants that people shape and create into a specialized form, creating the typical appearance one associates with a bonsai plant. Bonsai come from maple trees, elm trees, cedar, pine and many other common trees and evergreen shrubs. The distinguishing feature of bonsai is that bonsai is a plant that one modifies to grow in a distinct shape and size. The goal of someone growing bonsai is to create something that looks natural in most cases, with few exceptions where bonsai tree shapes represent something symbolic. This is more common among those where the practice of bonsai first originatedâ€¦

The first bonsai plants originated in China several thousand years ago. Many consider the first bonsai plants primitive when compared to their modern-day counterparts. Early bonsai, often called punsai, typically consisted of small plants with little foliage. The trunks often represented twisted and gnarled edges. Many Chinese artists shaped bonsai to look like dragons or other mythological creatures. Some did this for fun, while others believed these symbolic bonsai might bring good fortune to their homes.

The Japanese soon followed the Chinese in their love of bonsai. It was during the time Zen Buddhism arose that bonsai became a popular pastime in Japan. For a short time, only Buddhist monks practiced the art of bonsai, believing it was a sacred form of art reserved for spiritual purposes of enlightenment and meditation. Some time later, the monarchy took up the idea that having bonsai trees stood for aristocracy, power, luck, and honor. Thus, bonsai became popular among the wealthy.

Today bonsai is a popular pastime of the wealthy and ordinary alike. Anyone can enjoy this calm, relaxing and peaceful pastime, whether for profit or personal fulfillment. You do not have to have a degree in horticulture; you do not have to know a thing about landscaping. That is the beauty of professional and amateur bonsai todayâ€¦ anyone can enjoy it!

Bonsai Trees Miniature Plants

BrandiYates — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 04:16:48 +0000

If you are reading this website, you are probably familiar with the bonsai plant or tree, or at least have an idea of what â€œbonsaiâ€ looks like in your mind. If you do not, refer to the photographs throughout this website. Bonsai trees resemble a â€œdwarfedâ€ or “miniature plant”, and many often mistake the tiny plant for something that is indeed, improperly grown when realistically, the plant is shaped and pruned to grow into a distinct yet small shape and size.

It is important you recognize this practice does not harm the plant, and when done correctly, can actually expand and enhance the quality of life enjoyed by the plant. Most ordinary plants require routine maintenance and care. The same is true of bonsai, only the type of care needed to maintain bonsai is often more intense than the care one need offer an ordinary plant or tree.

Sawara Cypress Chamaecyparis pisifera

Some people refer to bonsai as the act of dwarfing trees, to create an aesthetically appealing plant. This really makes bonsai sound like something aggressive, wrong or unpleasant. So again, it is important you realize no harm befalls any plant created for purposes of bonsai. Bonsai is a form of horticulture that is popular the world over, though it originated in the East. Bonsai owners care for their trees and shrubs more diligently than most people care for their own flower gardens or landscaping.

Bonsai owners are much like pet lovers. They nurture, protect, groom, feed, water and care for their trees and plants year round. Many owners pass their bonsai from generation to generation, as bonsai may outlive the lifetime of the owner.

Plants used for bonsai remain small so they can grow and thrive, receiving ample supplies of water and other nutrients necessary to grow. While small, bonsai are actually a normal size for the type of plant they represent. Some plants are only 2 inches tall while others grow to over three feet, depending on the type of tree used and the cutting style adopted by the hobbyist or planter.

There are plants ideally suited for outdoor bonsai and some plants that can serve as indoor bonsai. Those interested in creating indoor bonsai will find by reading this website a greater challenge lies ahead, however indoor bonsai can provide an aesthetically pleasing and very natural living environment.

Bonsai Plants an Introduction

BrandiYates — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 03:24:30 +0000

Many people consider bonsai a form of art. Bonsai can be an art, or for many, a hobby. Bonsai is also a form of horticulture and landscaping. Many interpretations of bonsai exist, something you will learn in this introductory guide to bonsai.

Before you learn how to engage in the art or hobby of bonsai, you have to know what â€œbonsaiâ€ means. Most people think â€œbonsaiâ€ is a simple term used to describe a type of plant. This definition is only partially correct. To understand bonsai, first understand the foundation for the term, â€œbonsai.â€ The word bonsai when literally translated means â€œtray plantingâ€ or â€œpotted plantâ€. Bonsai is much more however, than buying a tree or a plant and growing it in a pot or tray.

Acer buergerianum Bonsai Trident Maple

Bonsai is in fact, an ancient practice involving the shaping and pruning of trees and shrubs into a structured form. The practice of bonsai for many can be quite peaceful and relaxing. Many engage in bonsai as a form of meditation or stress relief. Others enjoy the challenge of creating the perfect bonsai.

If you know anything about bonsai, you may fear the art is difficult to master. The good news is by using the tips on this site; you will find bonsai is much easier to master than you think. In fact, you can start creating your own bonsai within a day of reading our artilces.