50 / 64
To write a short note on Bonsai
is similar to a précis of the Iliad!!
It is a living art form, an art that
one continues to develop
throughout one’s life time. I was
fortunate to have been
introduced to it by a friend, who
owns a plant nursery in
Darjeeling and the love affair
has continued since then.
Bonsai are not just works of art,
but also expressions of one’s
ideas, taking any shape or form
chosen by the creator. To Bonsai a plant is to keep it from
growing in its natural form and control its growth. Simple
forms of Bonsai are pruned hedges and rose bushes; slightly
more advanced Bonsai are shaped trees or bushes (topiary),
and, of course, tea. Anyone growing a plant in a pot is
accidentally creating a Bonsai. The Art of Bonsai combines
pruning and growing the plant in a container in a manner
that creates a pleasing shape. It may be a small bush or
a highly advanced 3 foot specimen that resembles an ancient
20 metre high tree. Here are the answers to some FAQs:
Which plants are suitable for Bonsai?
Any easily managed shrub or tree can be turned into a
Bonsai if it can exist in a smaller than normal sized
container for many years. It can be shaped and styled
regularly to resemble a miniature tree. It is essential to
understand the plant first, then the rules of Bonsai. The
important questions are: Can the roots be trimmed and
branches cut? Will the plant survive in a shallow pot? Is
it an indoor or outdoor plant?
My personal experience has been to collect saplings/ plants
growing in tree hollows and on walls of buildings as these
have a head start as far as age and thickening of the stem
are concerned. Bougainvilleas kept in drums for years make
for excellent material, as do plants from old bungalow
hedges and topiary. Basically, the collection depends on
your eye for the subject’s potential. Local plants should be
given preference as they are more suited to the
environment.
Where can a Bonsai be kept?
A Bonsai should be treated in the same way as it would if
naturally grown – outdoors, indoors or in the shade as
required. A pine tree should be in almost full sunlight
except for the hottest part of the year.
Can Bonsai be kept indoors?
An indoor plant needs good direct sunlight, fresh air
movement and humidity. Of all the plants, only Ficus and
Schifflera have stood out as good indoor Bonsai. Other
outdoor tree types can survive indoors for a few weeks and
must be moved back outside to recover. All members of
the conifer family should not be brought indoors into
warm areas over the winter period while dormant. I have
lost many a plant this way.
How is a Bonsai kept small?
Once a plant is chosen, one must decide how big it will be
allowed to grow and spend time in improving the shape of
the plant within that size. Many people create Bonsai
without realizing it. A hedge or a topiary cut every year is
the same as maintaining a Bonsai. Proportions of the plant
should match the pot size, be it in a 10 cm or 60 cm pot.
At these sizes, most common Bonsai species can be kept
for many years. A common term used in Bonsai is ‘sacrifice
branches’.These are particular branches which are allowed
to grow, so that the stems can thicken, and then removed
to allow new branches to take their place.The simplest way
to keep a Bonsai small is to cut back all new growth to a
particular size. This Bonsai, while remaining a small tree,
will have no shape and will eventually take on a ball-like
appearance.To
get the best Bonsai, remove those branches
that look awkward and encourage those that look
proportionate. Basically, the same technique as in plucking
tea, applies here – pinch off the new shoots, even for pines,
to encourage more shoots.
Branches can be shaped by cutting or by bending and
holding them in place for a few months with a safe wire,
though I personally do not prefer this technique, as it is
tedious and time consuming.
g{x TÜà Éy UÉÇát|
Hridayesh is a multi-talented personality, with interests
ranging from gardening to music. Over the years he has
mastered the art of Bonsai and here he shares his expertise.
Gardening
~ Hridayesh Chettri
Dimakusi T.E.
50 July 2016