Making Bonsai
To make a bonsai you need the following:
- An interesting small shrub or tree
- A shallow bonsai pot
- Imagination
It really is that simple to get started with bonsai. It’s so much better to grow it yourself instead of purchasing a “ready-made” bonsai tree.
If you decide to dig up a small seedling, make sure you extract the complete root system intact as it gives the bonsai a much better chance of survival. If the roots are too big for the pot you can trim them a little bit, but the less you do it the better. Use the soil that you found it in to line the pot for now.
If you buy a small tree or shrub, when you remove it from the pot you will probably have to trim the bottom of the root system a bit as it won’t easily fit in shallow pot. Use the same soil from the pot for now.
Once placed in it’s new shallow pot you can trim the branches to get it to your desired shape. This is when imagination comes in handy. Pretend it is a full sized tree when you are pruning it. That’s it, it’s that simple! You now have a bonsai, well done.
You can learn other techniques as time progresses, just stay with us here at bonsai art… Just remember that the art of bonsai teaches us patience. It takes a long time for things to happen just the way you want them to.
