Bonsai were first created in Ancient China and Japan. The life force of the plant, and the artists skills, work together to produce an article of great beauty. Bonsai plants are very old. It takes decades to grow a bonsai, but that’s not a good reason for not growing one. When you pass the plant on to your children in future, it will be a constant enjoyment for them, as well as being an object of great value. In Japanese, bonsai can be literally translated as ‘tray planting’ but since originating in Asia, so many centuries ago – it has developed into a whole new form. To begin with, the tree and the pot form a single harmonious unit where the shape, texture and colour of one, compliments the other. Then the tree must be shaped. It is not enough just to plant a tree in a pot and allow nature to take its course – the result would look nothing like a tree and would look very short-lived. Every branch and twig of a bonsai is shaped or eliminated until the chosen image is achieved. From then on, the image is maintained and improved by a constant regime of pruning and trimming
My first upright ficus bonsai.It was created in early 1990s, it stand only 12in high. Photo by: Iymrond Gene Qaboox
For Bonsai enthusiasts, the ficus tree is the tree of choice. It is easy to grow, cultivate, and shape compared to most exotic species and does well when “miniaturized.”
Of course, the ficus is not the only tree used when making miniature Bonsai, but it is the favored one. They just have distinct advantages over other types of tree. They are generally more resilient than other species, they take to “miniaturization” well, and they are fairly easy to trim and manipulate during the art of Bonsai.
Choosing a good ficus to start with is important, whether you’re a master or a beginner. Getting a good tree from the nursery will start your Bonsai experience right. A strong, healthy tree is paramount to success and the people at a reputable nursery can help you. Their job is knowing plants, so if you need a good one, they can point it out. When you’ve got the right ficus tree to being with, you can then start the Bonsai process.
Your first order of business once you have a new ficus tree is to re-pot it. Transferring it to its new, permanent home is where the Bonsai art begins. Find a pot that is the right size for your intended use of the tree (very small for table top use, larger for corner or shelf display). The size of the final container will decide the size of the tree, with a smaller container restricting the ficus tree’s growth to the size you wish it to be. The pot will also need to match the décor of the room it will be in as well as facilitate proper watering and fertilization of the ficus.
Santalia forest grouping bonsai – approximately 6 years old, stand about 13in high-Photo by Iymrond QabooxOf course, the ficus is not the only tree used when making miniature Bonsai, but it is the favored one. They just have distinct advantages over other types of tree. They are generally more resilient than other species, they take to “miniaturization” well, and they are fairly easy to trim and manipulate during the art of Bonsai.
Choosing a good ficus to start with is important, whether you’re a master or a beginner. Getting a good tree from the nursery will start your Bonsai experience right. A strong, healthy tree is paramount to success and the people at a reputable nursery can help you. Their job is knowing plants, so if you need a good one, they can point it out. When you’ve got the right ficus tree to being with, you can then start the Bonsai process.
Your first order of business once you have a new ficus tree is to re-pot it. Transferring it to its new, permanent home is where the Bonsai art begins. Find a pot that is the right size for your intended use of the tree (very small for table top use, larger for corner or shelf display). The size of the final container will decide the size of the tree, with a smaller container restricting the ficus tree’s growth to the size you wish it to be. The pot will also need to match the décor of the room it will be in as well as facilitate proper watering and fertilization of the ficus.
The Flame of the Forest is a medium sized tree, growing from 20 to 4O feet high, but from January to March it truly becomes a tree of flame, a riot of orange and vermilion flowers covering the entire crown. These flowers, which are scentless, are massed along the ends of the stalks–dark velvety green like the cup-shaped calices–and the brilliance of the stiff, bright flowers is shown off to perfection by this deep, contrasting colour. Each flower consists of five petals comprising one standard, two smaller wings and a very curved beak-shaped keel. However it suitable for bonsai growing.
Flame of the forest-approximately 18 years old, it stands 12in high
Flame of the forest-approximately 18 years old, it stands 12in high
