How to Grow and Care for a Bonsai Tree

The Karate Kid. Man, what a movie. Remember Mr. Miyagi and his bonsai trees? Bonsai, being a Japanese word, can literally be translated as “tray planting," but any fan of Mr. Miyagi knows it’s a lot more than that. Crafting and cultivating bonsai, an art that has changed dramatically over time from its ancient origins, requires not only artistic talent but a decent knowledge of horticulture.

Popular belief aside, bonsai began in China, not Japan. After learning the art of bonsai from the Chinese, the Japanese adopted bonsai to their own culture. Over the decades, Japan elevated the art of bonsai even higher and morphed it into an industry all in itself. Bonsai are now globally popular and appear in various cultures and grow in conditions found the world over.

Obviously, growing a bonsai tree is more than just planting a pine tree in a shallow tray. Growing bonsai demands a know-how of pruning and shaping the correct species of shrub or tree in order to achieve the shape you desire. To begin cultivating a bonsai tree, you must first choose a young tree or shrub. Good trees for bonsai are Crepe Myrtle, Fig, She Oak, Ironwood, Bottlebrush, and Silly Oak. Try to pick a tree that has a lot of branches and a wide trunk. Also look for a tree with naturally small leaves and branches that begin low to the ground.

Choosing the proper pot is also important. When you start your tree, it should be placed into a large pot or into the ground until it reaches maturity. This gives the tree an opportunity to develop good roots and speeds up the growing process. Once the tree has reached maturity, transfer it to the bonsai pot.

This final pot should be chosen with care, making sure it has drainage holes and the sides are not glazed as this will prevent the tree from breathing. Also take note of the colors and design of the pot so that you are sure that it will complement your bonsai in its final form. Prior to transferring the plant, cover the drainage holes with some type of screen so the soil does not clog up the output after you have finished watering.

After you have transplanted into the new pot, decorate the top of the soil with pebbles or moss.

The manmade bonsai is not naturally an indoor plant... once again, do not keep your bonsai indoors.

The trunk of the tree and its branches can be shaped by using wire that has been wrapped around the trunk and the branches so that the tree is made to conform to the shape you’re trying to create. The wire can be removed when the tree no longer springs back when the wire is removed. Continuous pruning and trimming will allow you to create and maintain the shape you want for your tree and will allow your artistic talents to fully be utilized.