There happens to be an amazing choice of plants and trees from which to choose which you can train to be a bonsai. One of the first and easiest ways to see whether a plant or tree could possibly be well suited for bonsai is to check if it has a woody stem. If it does it may work for making your bonsai plant.
Exactly where are you growing your bonsai plant? If you live in a temperate climate and will be growing your bonsai outside you will probably choose from a winter-hardy species, and if you are growing your plant indoors or are in a warm climate year-round you could possibly choose a tropical or sub-tropical species.
Take a look at the following list of plants and trees that I regard to be good selections for the novice bonsai gardener. These plants are very commonly used and ought to be reasonably easy to find:
The Japanese Maple (Acer Palmatum) is a deciduous tree that has green foliage in the spring which turn a lovely rich red over the summer and a dazzling red in the autumn. This tree doesn’t require a great amount of upkeep beyond what is required for most bonsai plants. Grow it in full summer sunlight but shield it from excessive cold and severe frost in the winter. As with all bonsai, watering your plant adequately is important. This maple favors small, frequent watering, and make sure you never let the soil dry out entirely.
One more favorite is the Chinese Juniper (Juniperus Chinensis). This coniferous juniper with dark green needle-shaped foliage is hardy and easy to work with. Put it in full sun during summer months but shield the needles from intense cold and frost in the winter. This is a plant that should be kept in moist soil all year round. Don’t overdo it and let it sit in water, and never let the soil dry out totally.
The Chinese Elm (Ulmus Parvifolia) is one of the best trees of all for the beginner bonsai grower. This tree is relatively slow growing and very forgiving of bad cutting and pruning. The glossy, leathery leaves are sometimes still present midway through winter. For the best results make sure you keep the plant inside an area that’s sheltered from the wind, but that’s still pleasant and sunny. Over the winter you can keep it in a cool room that has good light. The Chinese elm, like the Chinese juniper, likes it best if the soil is consistently moist, but only during the summer and fall months. Cut back at the end of fall after which you can keep the soil only barely moist after the tree has dropped all of it’s leaves.
The Weeping Fig (Ficus Benjamina) is a very familiar houseplant, very regularly seen in offices as well as homes because it is comparatively low-maintenance. Commonly sold as a common houseplant it can be successfully modified and trained as an indoor bonsai plant. Due to the fact this plant is accustomed to living in a very warm environment it should only be grown indoors. You should definitely keep the soil moist during the warm summer months. You can actually cut back in winter but never let the soil dry out completely.
These five examples barely scratch the surface of the huge number of options for your bonsai plant. All of these trees and plants on the list should be easy to find at your nearby nursery or garden center.
Getting started in bonsai is easy. A good, practical, step-by-step guide to bonsai gardening is essential to a beginner’s success. And I’m not talking about a picture-book that is better suited for the coffee table. I have a link on my website to what I consider to be the best practical guide, dollar for dollar, that you can find. Don’t wait to get started in this fascinating hobby. Check out this really great book and get started today!
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About the Author:
Bonsai gardening is a hobby that is fascinating, affordable, and easy to get involved in. Bonsai can be enjoyed by people of all ages, and can last a lifetime. Click this link to learn more about selecting a good first bonsai plant, and sign up for your FREE 7-part introductory mini-course on how to grow miniature bonsai trees. Or, to get started growing your own bonsai trees right away check out the highly regarded “how-to” bonsai book “Beautiful Bonsai Secrets”.
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