There is no doubt about it. The interest in bonsai and Japanese gardens has been steadily growing (no pun intended) over the years. When I first became interested about twenty five years ago there might be an occasional article in a garden magazine, and it was rare indeed to find a display of tiny trees in a garden centre. Now, specialist bonsai nurseries are quite common.
Books on the subject were also hard to come by, and I found a slim booklet almost
by chance; these days the gardening shelves of bookshops are full of them, quite expensive but they are a specialist publication and generally they are quite well written and beautifully illustrated.
A question often asked is “what does bonsai mean?” I'm often tempted to reply “loving heart in a garden of desire” or something equally daft, but no, it simply means
“tree in a pot or small container.”
Bonsai cultivation seems to appeal most to those who, although having some interest in horticulture, are not gardeners in the true sense of the word. They find they can link up an interest in growing with a spirit of creativity - or art, the art of bonsai.
It has been referred to as living sculpture, and most bonsai artists look upon it as such. They are creating, or re-creating nature in miniature by cultivating a tiny tree as an almost exact replica of the big boys in the wild.
Our little trees have to be specially trained because, as their counterparts in their natural environment are subject to the vagaries of nature such as lightening strikes, wind blast, broken branches, stripped bark and prevailing winds our bonsai have none of this. They are mollycoddled, nurtured and protected. The various methods of training to give our trees a natural look will be explored later, but first of all let us identify the many different ways in which a collection may be started.
One great advantage of this highly absorbing hobby which will delight many is that it need not involve any great expense. One method is to grow from seed, but this can be a long, slow process, but, unless you are an impending geriatric like me, is considered the best. I have two conifers and a Japanese black pine grown from seed, about twelve years old, and being grown and cultivated as bonsai from birth are developing into fine trees.
If using bought seeds or seeds gathered from the wild you will have to simulate their over-wintering conditions, and this is done by placing them in the fridge in a container of damp sand or vermiculite. After three to four weeks move them into a warmer situation, airing cupboard or similar, and after about six weeks you should have seedlings poking through
Pips from fruit are also suitable, best allowed to dry for a few days before planting. These would be indoor bonsai of course if such as lemon or grapefruit. Mine reached a height of ten inches in four years, so satisfactory results can be attained fairly quickly.
In garden centres in recent years we have seen what have been called bonsai kits containing a tiny pot, small bag of compost, and - wait for it - bonsai tree seed! Believe it you will but after all, seed is seed. It is the growing and training that creates bonsai. However, you pays your money etc.
A better way to start is by using cuttings or seedlings, you already have two to four years growth here for you to pot up and start cultivating. For cuttings, spring and late summer are the best times to take these. I'm sure quite a lot of people have trees in their own gardens, or relatives and neighbours gardens from which to take cuttings. Ash, rowan, beech, pine, lilac, sycamore are all suitable, but remember, if tempted to take cuttings, seedlings or trees from what is the wild it may be necessary to obtain permission from some relevant authority. In bonsai No.two we will go further into starting and building your collection. Happy hunting.
