Learning the art of bonsai
Bonsai is not a species of tree and numerous species of trees and bushes can be used.
MEMBERS of Johannesburg Garden Club were treated to an extremely interesting talk on the art of Bonsai, by guest speaker Byron Dance, at the March meeting.
Byron explained that ‘bon’ means low sided pot or tray, and ‘sai’ means planting. “I’ve been involved in bonsai for about 12 years and although it’s a deep and complex form of art, I just love it. There are so many rules to bonsai, far too many to discuss at this meeting. The Chinese myth of bonsai is a Chinese emperor, who enjoyed his garden, became so fat he couldn’t leave his bedroom and he asked his servants to miniaturise his garden so it could be brought indoors for him to enjoy. Within 200 years, the art of bonsai moved from China to Japan, where the art was further refined and they have set the benchmark with bonsai,” said Byron.
There are many species and styles of bonsai, “Bonsai is not a species of tree, and numerous species of trees and bushes can be used. Styles include; formal upright, informal upright, semi cascade, full cascade, slanting, windswept, broom, twin trunk, literate, root over trunk and forest, and each of these styles represents trees growing in nature,” he added.
According to Byron, bonsai fruit trees can still bear fruit and the size of the fruit can never be reduced, so you could end up with a miniature (bonsai) orange tree, with an orange as big as the tree.
“Techniques used to maintain bonsais include root pruning and re-potting, rules of art apply, ratios (pot to tree and off centreness as well as lack of symmetry). If a tree is left to grow on its own, without pruning, it will grow into a bush.
“It’s advised 90 per cent of looking after bonsai takes place in spring when you can re-pot and use fresh soil as this will encourage new growth. The younger a bonsai, the more often you will re-pot and the older, not so often.
“To test when and how often a bonsai should be watered, if the surface of the soil is dry, water the bonsai. During the summer months watering will often be every day but in winter every few days will be sufficient. Bonsais are meant to be outside in full direct sun. Elms and pine bonsai can even tolerate frost,” said Byron.
If you are interested in the art of bonsai, Byron offers individual lessons which will include a tree and a pot. For more information phone him on 073 137 1804.
You may also be interested in : https://comarochronicle.co.za/108695/knra-autumn-walk/
Or: https://comarochronicle.co.za/106925/learning-about-pot-plants/
