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Bonsai for Beginners - Getting Started With A Tree That's Right For You
Often people starting out in bonsai cultivation don't have a sufficiently clear picture in their mind of exactly what kind of bonsai plant or garden they want. This article will summarize for you the main characteristics of some bonsai trees that are ideal for beginners, and cover a few essential points that sometimes get overlooked.
Many bonsai enthusiasts are introduced to the art through a book given as a present, or by someone who themselves has only limited knowledge of bonsai gardening. Be careful as to what advice you follow, for even an expert author can mislead you inadvertently if he lives in a different part of the world and assumes all his readers share the same kind of climate and soil conditions as him.
The first thing to decide is which kind of plant you wish to have. Don't be tempted to buy a bonsai plant on impulse, without consideration for where you are going to keep it or how you are going to look after it properly. All that is needed is a little thought before you start in order to avoid disappointment later on.
Take note of the kind of plant life that thrives in your area. By sticking with your native fauna, at least to start with, you can be fairly sure the soil and climatic conditions will suit the development of a healthy plant. If you live in a warm or hot climate then it may be best to avoid something like pine, which is more at home in cooler climates.
The Japanese Snowdrop and the Japanese Pagoda tree are excellent choices for bonsai beginners. The Snowdrop is a hardy tree and loves to be outdoors in a spot where it gets substantial direct sunlight. It only needs pruning every other year, but be careful not to let the roots dry out. The Pagoda is easy to grow and produces attractive blue or violet blossom when in season. It too likes plenty of direct sunlight, although a partially shaded area is also ideal. Avoid extremes of sun or cold and, again, make sure the roots don't dry out. And you will probably have to prune every year.
You might like to choose from the following trees as well -
The Japanese Maple tree. There are many varieties offering different sizes and leaf shape and color. This tree is most notable for its autumnal hues, ranging from burnished gold to deep red. It needs shelter from the wind, and some shade in summer, though it can take all-day sun the rest of the year. Prune in the spring and allow only 3 to 5 nodes per shoot, with half an inch of shoot left at the top. You should also trim the leaves before the summer.
The Chinese Elm. This is ideal for beginners as it doesn't seem to mind the occasional over-pruning, and is frost resistant, though it should be given protection in severe weather. You should prune after the growth period of early spring, leaving one or two nodes on each separate branch. Water it every day in spring and early summer and check throughout the rest of the year to make sure the soil doesn't dry out. Re-potting is required every one to three years in spring, but not too close to pruning so as not to place too great a strain on the plant.
The Azalea bonsai. Also known as the rhododendron, this is the most common form of bonsai tree. There are many species of it but generally they all need the same kind of care. It does not like direct sunlight, and should be kept in the shade at all times, particularly in the summer. Water when necessary with rainwater if available. Fertilizer should be applied in the spring every two weeks until it starts flowering. Resume once the flowers are off in the autumn, when pruning and wiring can be carried out. This tree is quite tolerant as to how far you prune it back - another reason why it's suitable for beginners.
The pine bonsai. This seems a contradiction in terms, as normal pine trees are so huge. Nevertheless, pine trees make superb bonsai, and produce beautiful green-blue pine needles that grow in packs of five from a tiny bud. They are hardy trees, and can take a certain amount of mis-watering, though you should preferably water them every day or every other day. Make sure, though, that both the pot and the soil drain water away efficiently. Only feed every three weeks during the spring and from late summer to early autumn to match the seasonal growing pattern. The best results seem to be obtained using a soil mixture of 50 per cent soil, forty per cent coarse sand and ten per cent peat. Repot either side of the summer, when the temperatures are not too high.
Other trees and shrubs that lend themselves well to bonsai for beginners are beech, boxwood, ginko, hawthorn, heather, ivy, oak, wisteria, yew and zelkova.
We have an eBook available for you, if you would like to have a look. It is free to download here but you may have seen it elsewhere on the web for a small fee.
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