Growing a Bonsai tree is one of the most rewarding adventures you can engage in. However, it requires a lot of care and patience. This process is not as challenging as most people think and when you follow the correct procedure, there’s a great chance that you’ll end up with a fantastic little tree that you can be proud of.
Use this guide as your resource to kick start your journey of planting and caring for this wonderful tree!
What’s so good about Bonsai?
First of all, they look amazing! Bonsai increases the aesthetic appeal of interiors – they can really enhance your home décor.
The tree purifies air in interior spaces.
Instils virtues such as patience and hard work as these are required to take care of the tree and keep the plant healthy.
These little trees keep your health tuned – It can help to relieve stress and tiredness, coughs and sore throats.
How long do Bonsai trees take to grow?
The growth rate depends on the species, climate etc., but to give you an idea:
- It will reach approximately five inches after about three years.
- You can start modifying, pruning, and wiring once at around the fourth year.
- Your tree will keep growing for the next ten to twenty years.
Where can I get Bonsai seeds?
Bonsai trees are grown from normal tree seeds. It’s only through the structuring of the grown tree that it becomes a Bonsai tree. It’s only after germination and growth of seedlings that the Bonsai tree is formed. The tree is designed in any desired form through root pruning, branch pruning and wrapping it with a wire.
There are two ways to get the Bonsai seeds: You collect seeds from trees near your home or buy the seeds from online retail shops.
You can get any kind of seeds depending on your preference, but it’s advisable to plant those that survive in your local climate. Buying seeds from Bonsai retail shops is advisable for beginners since seeds sourced from here have a high success rate.
You can also opt to get seeds from a different ecological condition. However, this is best for people experienced in planting Bonsai trees since some special treatment care is needed for successful growth.
Growing a Bonsai tree – Step by Step
Stratification and scarification
These two processes are important in overcoming seed dormancy. Stratification helps break internal or embryonic dormancy by imitating a moist and cold climate, thus inducing germination. On the other hand, scarification involves breaking physical dormancy by removal the seed coat by soaking in water or scratching it.
These processes are only necessary for seeds that survive in different ecological conditions. Normally, the seeds undergo a dormant phase before they germinate. This process goes on during winter and after this cold season, tree seeds naturally germinate.
So, if your seeds were indoors during winter or from a different climate, they need to undergo the same process. The conditions are modified artificially to allow softening of the seeds’ skin.
The stratification process is carried out as follows:
• Soak the seeds in water to soften the outer shell.
• Plant the seeds in soft bedding, e.g. peat moss.
• Add water and place the seeds in a sealed plastic bag.
• Place the bag containing the seed in the refrigerator to imitate the winter condition.
• Immediately the seeds sprout, remove them from the refrigerator and plant them.
The same process is followed for scarification only that at step one, the seed is scratched using sandpaper, or one end of the shell is cut.
Planting Bonsai seeds
• The first step is to prepare the area where you will plant the Bonsai seeds. Put a coarse material such as grit in the bottom layer and then fill the rest of the pot with Bonsai soil.
• The second step is to collect or buy the Bonsai seeds. Determine whether they need stratification or scarification processes. If yes, stratify and scarify them, and if not, they are ready for planting.
• The third step involves placing the seeds in the soil. Place the seeds in the soil carefully and space them enough to give them room for growth.
• Add a thin layer of Bonsai soil on top to cover the seeds. Compact the soil using fingers to ensure the Bonsai seeds are well secured in the soil.
• Ensure the seedbed remains moist throughout by watering thoroughly. Take care not to over water as this can damage the seeds.
• Wait for the seeds to grow into seedlings. This takes about a year and after this, transfer the seedlings into individual pots.
Post germination care
The time taken by bonsai seeds to germinate depends on the species- some will germinate within weeks while others will take months. The first two leaves are noticed after sprouting and you should continue watering the seedlings.
Once the seedlings outgrow the tray, transfer them to individual pots. While doing this, be careful not to break the fragile seedlings. Place them in a point where they can receive direct sunlight. After 5-6 weeks, you can fertilize the trees.
Bonsai styling your seedlings
Now that your seeds have developed into seedlings, it’s about time you start styling them into Bonsai trees. Here are the top things you can do to style your seedlings into Bonsai trees successfully:
• Lightly prune the roots and spread them out.
• Remove the long roots to encourage shorter ones to grow. You should do this around Feb/March of the second year.
• Wrap a wire around the seedlings.
• Use the wire to shape your seedling the way you want your Bonsai tree to come out.
• Prune the seedlings to encourage branches to grow (lateral growth) and discourage the Bonsai tree from growing too tall.
When should I plant my Bonsai tree?
Most species of Bonsai seeds germinate naturally in early spring after a dormancy period during winter. Hence, the best time to plant your seeds is during autumn so that they can remain dormant during winter and germinate in early spring.
Tips for successfully growing a Bonsai tree
• Seeds/species
If you’re a beginner, you should buy seed species that grow within your locality to ensure they successfully grow. Foreign seeds require special treatment conditions and you might not be able to maintain them.
• Soil
Garden soil is normally too heavy for a pot and it’s normally not sterilized. Buy Bonsai soil from Bonsai retail shops as this is perfectly tuned for the growth of these tiny trees.
• Pots
When it comes to planting pots, the most important thing is to pick the right size. Initially, when planting the seeds, the size won’t matter too much. But as your seedling grows you need a pot with a width that’s one-third of the plant’s height. For the depth, it must equal the height of the trunk. You can transfer your tree to a larger pot when it’s bigger.
Conclusion
The bonsai tree is one of the best natural decors to add to an interior space. Since it’s a living life form, you need to completely understand the plant to ensure that it thrives from the point of planting. Taking care of the Bonsai tree won’t go unrewarded – it’ll improve your quality of life mentally, physically and emotionally in return.
Still sounds too complicated? Check out the Bonsai Tree Care System