How to Make a Bonsai Garden

It is said that in Japan that there are Bonsai that are hundreds of years old, passed down from generation to generation. Bonsai gardening is more than just a hobby. It is a commitment. These little trees need constant care and watering on demand, which mean you can't go on vacation and just leave them full of water, hoping they will be okay until you get back. Just as you need a pet sitter, you will need a Bonsai sitter. The Bonsai will teach you patience and in return give you peace and tranquility.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Bonsai trees
• Containers
• Bonsai potting soil
• Bonsai tool set
• Concave clippers
• Copper wire
• Plastic dish pan

1. Pick out your trees and containers. Ideally you would go to a nursery that specializes in Bonsai to buy your trees. If you don't have any of those close by you can go to a regular plant nursery. Start with only a couple if you are a beginner. The trees come in variety of size, shapes and kinds. Buy the kind you like the best. The nursery should also have the containers there, too. They are shallow pots or trays and should compliment the color of the tree. The best colors are brown, gray and green. You will also need to pick up your Bonsai potting soil and tools. The potting soil is not your average soil. It is intended to hold the water and nutrients needed for the tree since it is confined to a small container.

2. Get your pot or tray ready for your Bonsai. Bonsai trays or pots come with holes in the bottom. You may need to put a small piece of screen over the holes so the dirt doesn't come right out the bottom. You will need to feed some wire up through the screen and pull it out towards the sides. This will be used to hold the tree root ball into place. Put a small amount of soil in the bottom of the tray.

3. Repot your Bonsai. Take your tree out of the pot you purchased it in. With your hands pull the roots apart gently and get the old dirt out of them. If your pot is smaller than the one you bought for it, you can cut a small amount of the roots off. Place it in the new container and pull all the roots in. Try to get the top of the root ball about even with the lip of the container. Put in some more soil around the sides and pull your wire across and twist to keep your tree in place. Cut off any extra wire and push the rest down. Using a flat stick, chop in the soil to allow the soil to get down through the roots. Fill with soil to the top. Place the new potted tree in a pan of about an inch of water and let it soak up the water for about 20 minutes and then remove it from the water.

4. Take care of your Bonsai. Bonsai's were not intended to be kept indoors. They like sunshine and rain water, although too hard of a rain can wash them out. They don't like to be soaked and they really don't like to be dry. They may need to be watered once a day or twice a day, you have to watch and feel the soil a couple times a day. Prune your tree with the concave clippers to train it to look the way you want it to. The concave clippers will prevent little stubs from being on your tree. You may want to look at pictures or books to get an idea of how you would like your tree to look.

5. Join a Bonsai gardening club in your area. If there are no specific Bonsai clubs maybe someone belonging to a regular garden club has Bonsai. You can get tips and answers to questions from these people that have already been through the beginning stage. There are many sites online that can help you with everything you need to know about Bonsai, also.

Tips & Warnings

• You can decorate your containers with moss, statues and rocks. They are all available at Bonsai nurseries and in most craft shops.
• Bring your Bonsai trees indoors when the weather is very cold or windy.