Bonsais for Beginners
Raising a bonsai tree is a process that takes a long time and a lot of practice. If you are an absolute beginner, you should be aware that no matter how hard you try, chances are that your first bonsai wont make it. Bonsais are delicate little trees, which are sensitive to the slightest mistake, According to Brent Walston, a proper bonsai will take you at least five years to raise. Does this Spark an idea?
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Think Before You Act
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If you want to raise a gorgeous bonsai, you need to get an appropriate plant to work with. When buying a nursery plant, pay attention to its trunk. According to Walston, you should get a shrubby plant first, because this will give you more to do at the beginning. When picking out your nursery plant, pay attention to the trunk line of the plant. Select a plant with a curved but flowing trunk line. It is up to you to pick the best looking trunk to build the bonsai around. Also carefully envision which branches you wish to cut before actually cutting anything away.
Trim Slowly
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If you cut too much of a bonsai plant, it will quickly wither away and die. To prevent this, only cut little bits of at one time: you can always cut some more of, but you will not be able to help a dying bonsai if you trim it too much. As a rule of thumb, you should never remove more than about a third of a leaf you are cutting. After you trim the bonsai, you have to let it recover for a few months before cutting it again.
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Don't Repot Too Quickly
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A very common mistake of first-time bonsai growers is repotting the nursery plants too quickly. A bonsai shouldn't be put into a bonsai pot until it is almost finished, so don't repot the plant until the trunk is the size and shape you want. Walston says the best bonsais don't go into bonsai pots for 20 years. Instead of rushing the repotting of the bonsai, work on your trimming and wiring techniques, so that when the day comes and your bonsai is ready for it's very own bonsai pot, you will know how to handle the roots.
Keep it Outdoors
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Contrary to popular belief, most bonsai growing is an outdoor activity, and the bonsai plants generally thrive outside, with the exception of some tropical species. The plants must be protected in winter, but are a bit more resilient than the indoor bonsai nonetheless. An outdoor bonsai will not grow inside.
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References
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