How to Grow a Bonsai At Home
Grow a bonsai and you have a companion for life. Find out how to grow a bonsai with this beginner's guide
Our small city flats might lack the large spaces required to create lush green havens, but they do have window-sills, balconies and terraces. These spaces are ideal to create bonsai gardens. So how does one grow a bonsai at home and just what goes into its caring? Read on to know more.
Bonsai and feng shui
Traditionally, when you give a bonsai to someone, you make a gesture of love and respect, and a wish for long life and happiness for the recipient. It is believed to bring spiritual energy to a space.
Bonsai and feng shui have much in common. Bonsais are trained to grow in forms representing natural balance. The principles of feng shui also foster harmony through balancing the yin and yang forces in an environment. Bonsai brings the elements of wood and earth, two of feng shui’s five elements of life, into a home, increasing the flow of positive energy.
So, if you are looking forward to honing your bonsai skills, here are a few pointers:
Traditionally, when you give a bonsai to someone, you make a gesture of love and respect, and a wish for long life and happiness for the recipient. It is believed to bring spiritual energy to a space.
Bonsai and feng shui have much in common. Bonsais are trained to grow in forms representing natural balance. The principles of feng shui also foster harmony through balancing the yin and yang forces in an environment. Bonsai brings the elements of wood and earth, two of feng shui’s five elements of life, into a home, increasing the flow of positive energy.
So, if you are looking forward to honing your bonsai skills, here are a few pointers:
Pots and containers
Bonsai pots made from terracotta, ceramic and semi-ceramic are good options. Avoid cement and concrete pots as they heat up much more and impact the soil mix. Pots made from fibreglass, wood and plastic can be used temporarily, but don’t last long.
A good bonsai pot should:
1. Drain water properly and easily
2. Be large enough to hold the plant and allow for growth
3. Be small enough to confine and control the growth so it is limited to the container for a long time.
4. Have feet, as feet allow for movement of air underneath the pot and remove moisture from the soil
5. Be shallow and flat, but at least 3 inches deep.
Bonsai pots made from terracotta, ceramic and semi-ceramic are good options. Avoid cement and concrete pots as they heat up much more and impact the soil mix. Pots made from fibreglass, wood and plastic can be used temporarily, but don’t last long.
A good bonsai pot should:
1. Drain water properly and easily
2. Be large enough to hold the plant and allow for growth
3. Be small enough to confine and control the growth so it is limited to the container for a long time.
4. Have feet, as feet allow for movement of air underneath the pot and remove moisture from the soil
5. Be shallow and flat, but at least 3 inches deep.
Soil and fertilisers
Ideally, find a soil mix which drains quickly, but can still retain moisture. It is also imperative to add fertiliser to your soil during the growth season (which is typically early spring to mid-fall). The three main components of fertiliser are nitrogen (N), which takes care of the stem and leaf growth, phosphorus (P), which promotes root growth and health, and potassium (K) which is responsible for flowering and fruiting.
Additionally, you can mix organic manure such as bone meal and cow dung in the soil.
Browse through more images of bonsai plants
Ideally, find a soil mix which drains quickly, but can still retain moisture. It is also imperative to add fertiliser to your soil during the growth season (which is typically early spring to mid-fall). The three main components of fertiliser are nitrogen (N), which takes care of the stem and leaf growth, phosphorus (P), which promotes root growth and health, and potassium (K) which is responsible for flowering and fruiting.
Additionally, you can mix organic manure such as bone meal and cow dung in the soil.
Browse through more images of bonsai plants
Positioning
When choosing your bonsai, look for specific information regarding light requirements. Outdoor bonsai species love spots that get plenty of sun in the day but also get ample shade. Bright corners and window sills are good locations for indoor bonsais.
Bonsai made from conifers such as pine and cypress are not recommended as house plants and will very likely not live for long. If you are planning on growing your bonsai inside, you may want to consider a tropical variety such as a species of Hibiscus or Schefflera.
When choosing your bonsai, look for specific information regarding light requirements. Outdoor bonsai species love spots that get plenty of sun in the day but also get ample shade. Bright corners and window sills are good locations for indoor bonsais.
Bonsai made from conifers such as pine and cypress are not recommended as house plants and will very likely not live for long. If you are planning on growing your bonsai inside, you may want to consider a tropical variety such as a species of Hibiscus or Schefflera.
Ideal species for bonsai
Fortunately for us, many native Indian trees are suitable for making bonsais. For example, our very own banyan tree (Ficus benghalensis) is excellent as a bonsai plant to grow at home. Another tree from the same family is the weeping fig (Ficus benjamina). Both species need plenty of sunlight and a soil mix containing sand for good drainage. Other species include Indian tamarind (Tamarindus indica), white mulberry (Morus alba), orange jasmine (Murraya exotica), and Indian crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica).
Fortunately for us, many native Indian trees are suitable for making bonsais. For example, our very own banyan tree (Ficus benghalensis) is excellent as a bonsai plant to grow at home. Another tree from the same family is the weeping fig (Ficus benjamina). Both species need plenty of sunlight and a soil mix containing sand for good drainage. Other species include Indian tamarind (Tamarindus indica), white mulberry (Morus alba), orange jasmine (Murraya exotica), and Indian crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica).
Watering
Regular watering is essential, since bonsai pots are shallower than regular pots, causing the roots to dry out more quickly. On an average, water the plant approximately once a week or when the topsoil feels completely dry. The soil should always be moist but not over-saturated, as this can cause the roots to rot and decay. Pay special attention to the watering needs according to the seasons and according the the location of the plant (indoors or outdoors).
Tip: Watering the bonsai before sunrise and after sunset is beneficial to plant growth.
Find a landscape designer to help you design your garden
Regular watering is essential, since bonsai pots are shallower than regular pots, causing the roots to dry out more quickly. On an average, water the plant approximately once a week or when the topsoil feels completely dry. The soil should always be moist but not over-saturated, as this can cause the roots to rot and decay. Pay special attention to the watering needs according to the seasons and according the the location of the plant (indoors or outdoors).
Tip: Watering the bonsai before sunrise and after sunset is beneficial to plant growth.
Find a landscape designer to help you design your garden
Pruning
Pruning a bonsai on a regular basis is the most important way to train it to the desired form. There are two different techniques:
Maintenance pruning, which maintains and refines the existing shape of a bonsai by cutting off the new growth on the top and outer parts of the tree to promote growth on the inner parts.
Structural pruning, which involves more rigorous pruning of the bigger branches to give a tree its basic shape and style.
Another method of pruning is defoliation, which is the removal of leaves in summer to promote growth of new leaves. This ultimately leads to a reduction in leaf size.
The best time to prune the bonsai is during the growth season (usually between March and September).
Tools and equipment
Many garden suppliers sell specially designed pruning shears for clean cuts and delicate snipping jobs, bonsai wire and wire cutters. Nurseries also sell bonsai soil, fertiliser and suitable pots. As you and your tree progress, there are many other clever tools, but until you become hooked on bonsai, it’s good to start small.
Pruning a bonsai on a regular basis is the most important way to train it to the desired form. There are two different techniques:
Maintenance pruning, which maintains and refines the existing shape of a bonsai by cutting off the new growth on the top and outer parts of the tree to promote growth on the inner parts.
Structural pruning, which involves more rigorous pruning of the bigger branches to give a tree its basic shape and style.
Another method of pruning is defoliation, which is the removal of leaves in summer to promote growth of new leaves. This ultimately leads to a reduction in leaf size.
The best time to prune the bonsai is during the growth season (usually between March and September).
Tools and equipment
Many garden suppliers sell specially designed pruning shears for clean cuts and delicate snipping jobs, bonsai wire and wire cutters. Nurseries also sell bonsai soil, fertiliser and suitable pots. As you and your tree progress, there are many other clever tools, but until you become hooked on bonsai, it’s good to start small.
Repotting
Regular repotting is essential to ensure the bonsai does not starve and get pot-bound. Repotting depends on both the plant species and type of pot. Fast-growing species such as suru or Australian pine (Casuarina equisetifolia) and white mulberry (Morus alba ) require repotting once every two years; while more slow-growing species such as the Ficus varieties can go without repotting for three to five years.
Tip: In the case of bonsais, repotting means taking out the plant and replacing it in the same pot after cutting its excess roots and filling the pot with new soil.
Regular repotting is essential to ensure the bonsai does not starve and get pot-bound. Repotting depends on both the plant species and type of pot. Fast-growing species such as suru or Australian pine (Casuarina equisetifolia) and white mulberry (Morus alba ) require repotting once every two years; while more slow-growing species such as the Ficus varieties can go without repotting for three to five years.
Tip: In the case of bonsais, repotting means taking out the plant and replacing it in the same pot after cutting its excess roots and filling the pot with new soil.
Emotional commitment
Grow a bonsai and you have a companion for life. Many hobby bonsai growers say they feel they are embarking on a journey with their tree, and develop a deep sense of attachment and responsibility towards it, not unlike that felt towards a pet.
Grow a bonsai and you have a companion for life. Many hobby bonsai growers say they feel they are embarking on a journey with their tree, and develop a deep sense of attachment and responsibility towards it, not unlike that felt towards a pet.
Read more:
How To Make Your Small Garden Look Bigger
Little by Little: Why Growing a Bonsai Could Change Your Life
Tell us:
Share your ideas for growing bonsai at home. Write in Comments below.
How To Make Your Small Garden Look Bigger
Little by Little: Why Growing a Bonsai Could Change Your Life
Tell us:
Share your ideas for growing bonsai at home. Write in Comments below.
A bonsai is a tree or shrub that has been dwarfed by pruning the roots and is grown in a pot or container. It is trained to produce a desired shape or effect. The current name ‘bonsai’ has evolved from the Japanese ‘bon’ meaning ‘shallow pot’ and ‘sai’ meaning ‘tree’. Bonsai combines science, art and horticultural technique to miniaturise a potentially huge tree.