Bonsai is a Japanese art form where trees are cultivated in such a manner to produce small trees in containers that mimic the shape and scale of their larger counterparts. It is indeed an art form because the trees are very beautiful and it must take a lot of skill to keep them growing and thriving.
Besides being amazed at their beauty and size, the ages of some of the ones on display at the conservatory are astonishing! I neglected to catch the age of this umbrella tree but one tree was 25 years old while another was 54!
While these trees are very beautiful and make for trees that you can keep inside of your home, I think I much prefer the outdoor kind that can reach it’s roots down and it’s limbs up. Maybe this opinion has some of it’s “roots” in the fact that I’ve already sent one I had been given as a gift to the great beyond. Either way, they do make me think that magical little creatures could live in their branches or roots.
What’s your opinion on bonsai? And if you have one (that’s still thriving) how do you care for it?
Teri 📷
It’s an amazing art form. Personally I don’t have the dedication and skill for it.
Maybe that’s why mine left? 😉
I agree with you. As much as I admire a Bosai and them time and diligence it takes to produce one, I much more like “natural” trees outside in their proper environment.
Well we humans have modified the heck out of nature so a tree indoors isn’t that odd but you can’t climb in a tree in a pot indoors nor sit under it… well depending on what size you may have 😉 I do like both sizes of trees.. until one falls on my car or house.
I wouldn’t want the latter either. 😀
Bonsai is a very special art form. Pines, firs, junipers and many other trees cannot be kept indoors for long, and need to be kept outdoors most of the time. We got rid of all our outdoor bonsais when health issues made it difficult to care for them. We still have a cold frame were we would keep bonsais from freezing in the winter. Ficus do fine indoors. We still have three Ficus bonsai. We’ve had them for 18 years, but they are all much older than that. One is quite large and super gnarly, another looks like a normal tree in miniature, and the third is short with a thick, sinuous trunk.
Very cool, Tim. Would you recommend a Ficus for one who has killed a bonsai? I will admit the one I killed was supposed to be an outside one. And how do you care for yours?
If you are interested in bonsai, you should find a local club so you can learn about the watering, proper trimming, proper soils, etc. Ficus are pretty easy once you have them in a good bonsai soil.
I don’t see myself as serious a bonsai person as joining a club, I’d just like to have one not die on me.
A Ficus would be good. They are pretty easy and have a lot of character.
Thanks, Tim. Will look into one of those. I’m great at keeping pothos and aloe plants alive and that’s about it.
I wish to have one. But I do not know how to take care of Bonsai
I think I will go and get a book on the care of bonsai so that I won’t kill another one.
It will be great if you can share information or tips on bonsai caring.