What is Bonsai?

Bonsai is an ancient Japanese art form of plant miniaturization where as a result of continuous pruning of the plants roots and branches the plant does not grow more than one foot tall. The main purpose behind bonsai is for both deco rational and medicinal needs. Initially the basic reason for bonsai was to transfer trees having medicinal applications from one place to another .however it soon became a deco rational item as the tree in a miniature form became a cynosure to all eyes around it.

Bonsai although looks simple is quite a complex process and it requires lot of regular hard work on the part of the care taker. Different varieties of trees have different forms of growth structure and hence therefore needs different kind of care. The amount of watering, pruning and wiring differs for different varieties of trees. Bonsai can be developed from seeds or cuttings, from young trees or from naturally occurring stunted trees transplanted into containers. Most bonsai range in height from 5 centimeters (2 in) to 1 meter (3.33 ft). The bonsai with its container and soil is physically independent of the earth since its roots are not planted in it, is a separate entity and yet they can be considered as part of nature. This is what is meant by the famous Japanese expression "heaven and earth in one container".

There are also several rules and regulations of how to place a bonsai tree. For example a bonsai tree should always be positioned off-center in its container, for not only is asymmetry vital to the visual effect, this is done because of the Japanese thinking that the center point is symbolically where heaven and earth meet, and nothing should occupy this place. Working with bonsai plants is a very delicate process as even small mistakes might kill a plant. Firstly you need throe knowledge of basic horticultural skills, such as where to place the tree, and how to water and feed it correctly. You should also be aware of the method of cutting the branches, roots, and repot the bonsai periodically. Routine branch pruning is necessary to maintain the shape of the bonsai because the tree always tries to outgrow the pot. Finally, wiring the tree in place and making sure that the wire doesn't bite into the flesh of the tree is also something very important to know about because once the tree is lignified you might not be able to unwire the tree as it would get stuck with the plant thus decreasing its beauty in the process.