The word bonsai is a combination of the Japanese bon (tray) and sai (plant). Bonsai is both an art and horticulture. They can be developed from seeds or cuttings from young trees or from naturally occurring stunted trees that have been transplanted into containers.
Bonsai are created from nearly any tree or shrub species. They range from five centimeters (2 inches) to one meter (3.33 feet). Bonsai's are kept small and trained by pruning branches and roots, by periodic repotting, by pinching off new growth and by wiring the branches and trunk until the desired image is achieved.
Tradition holds that there are three basic virtues necessary to create a bonsai. Shin-zen-bi, standing for truth, goodness and beauty. Given proper care, bonsai's can live for hundreds of years.
Bonsai are regular, ordinary trees and plants, they are not special hybrid dwarfs. Small leafed varieties are most suitable, but really any plant can be used, regardless of the size it grows to in the wild.
In Japan varieties of Pine, Azalea, Camellia, Bamboo and Plum are used most often. Grown in special containers, bonsai are mainly kept outdoors, with the exception of some plants suited, trained and grown indoors. Once you have trained or started to train a bonsai into a chosen style, it is vital to keep the plant growing well.
Many consider the two basic types of bonsai style's to be Windswept (Fukinagashi) and Literati (Bunjin). The Windswept style gives the effect of sustained exposure to strong winds. Each of the branches appear to be "Swept" to one side. The Literati style is the most conventional style of them all. They often have long thin trunks which curve back around toward the front at the top. This style imitates trees in nature that have been forced to contort themselves to survive.
The five main bonsai styles are Formal Upright (Chokkan), Informal Upright (Moyogi), Slanting (Shakan)), Cascade (Kengai) and Semi-Cascade (Han-Kengai).
Formal Upright occurs when a plant has grown in the open under perfect conditions. The trunk should be perfectly straight, tapering naturally and evenly from bottom to top. The branches should be evenly spaced so that they are balanced when took upon from any direction. Recommended species for this style are Larches, Juniper, Pines and Spruces are all suitable. Maples can also be used, but are not as easy to train into this style.
Informal Upright should have a slightly bent trunk to either the left or right. Most species of plants are suitable for this style, mainly the Japanese Maple (Acer Palmatun), Beech, almost all Conifers and ornamental trees such as the Crab Apple, Cottoneaster and Pomegranate.
Slanting Style trees should slant naturally as a result of buffeting winds or deep shade during early development. Whether curved or straight the whole trunk leans at a different angle. The stronger roots grow out on the side, away from the way the trunk leans, to support it's weight. most species are suitable for this style, as the style slightly resembles the style of the Informal Upright. Conifers work particularly well.
Cascade Style bonsai have the growing tip reaching below the base of it's container. The trunk has a natural taperand gives the impression of the forces of nature, pulling against the forces of gravity. The winding main trunk resembles that of a stream meandering down the side of a mountain. Many species are suitable, if they are not strongly upright.
Semi-Cascade have a tip that projects over the rim of the container, but does not drop below the base. The style happens in nature when trees grow on cliffs or overhange water. The angle of the trunk should be strongly horizontal, even if the plant grows well below the level of the pot rim. Any exposed roots should balance the trunk. Many species are suitable, except strongly upright ones. Flowering Cherries, Cedars and Juniper work well.
Here are some plants that are commonly used in bonsai: Camellia, Cedar Elm, Chinese Elm, Cotoneaster, Dwarf Pomegranate, English Box (Buxus), Ficus, Flowering Quince, Fuchsia, Fukien Tea (Carmona), Jade Tree, Japanese Black Pine, Japanese Maple, Juniper, Satsuki Azalea, Serissa, Star Magnolia, Trident Maple, Wisteris and Zelkova.
