How to Build a Bonsai Garden

When you build a bonsai garden, you are creating an art form garden that dates back to the Tang Dynasty of ancient China. This type of gardening, known as tray gardening, is the art of growing small and miniature trees in containers, pots and trays. Building a bonsai garden is a very enjoyable and stress relieving hobby. Read on to learn more.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Plants and trees
• Containers, pots and trays
• Coarse sand
• Sphagnum moss
• Clay
• Rainwater or one tablespoon white vinegar per 1 gallon of water
• Garden shovel
• Tablespoon measure
• Non rapid growth fertilizer

1. Decide where you are going to build your bonsai garden. The area should be free of any viewing distractions, and should be planned creatively and artistically.

2. Choose the trees and plants that you want to put into your bonsai garden.

3. Place the plants in a container, pot or tray, making sure to use soil that will drain well.

4. Water your bonsai garden every day during the hot summer weather using rainwater that you have caught. If you do not have rainwater, you can water with a mixture if one tablespoon of white vinegar mixed into a gallon of water.

5. Apply fertilizer but make sure it's not the rapid growth variety.

6. Trim the trunk and branches of your bonsai trees and plants regularly, in order to culture and shape your plants.

7. Remove dead flowers, dried leaves and new spring growth as they appear.

Tips & Warnings

• Good choices for a bonsai garden include Ficus trees, Hibiscus, Jade Plants, Citrus Trees, Podocarpus, Schefflera, Bougainvillea, Serissa and flowering trees are plants such as an Azalea Tree.
• It is important to have well draining soil in your containers. A mixture of equal parts of coarse sand, clay and sphagnum moss will make a good soil for your bonsai plants.
• Adding terraces to your bonsai garden will add a more realistic look to the scenery.
• In the cooler weather, you do not have to water your bonsai garden as often.
• Never spray pesticides on the plants themselves. If you were using pesticides carefully apply them at the root level of the soil.
• The soil in your bonsai garden should never be allowed to completely dry out.

Resources

• Visit this site for more information on bonsai plants and gardens