DIY bonsai - grow plants at home

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Bonsai art - an exact copy of a tree, grown in miniature - is a complex process that requires a lot of time, as well as experience and attention. You need to choose a plant taking into account the characteristics of the climate before making a bonsai. Avocado, lemon, fir are not suitable for the climate of the Middle zone.

DIY bonsai

Experts and landscape designers recommend growing bonsai with their own hands from both coniferous and deciduous trees, the most common representatives of which are pine and maple, lilac, rose, wisteria are slightly less common. Growing bonsai from such crops is a simple matter, with minimal care.

Bonsai from the money tree is perfect for growing in the Middle lane

Seed selection

Many growers are interested in how to grow and form bonsai from seeds at home in order to get a beautiful tree. The cultivation process takes several years, first, proper care is provided for the seeds, seedlings and only then for the tree, and it is not always possible to grow it from seeds the first time.

When growing bonsai on the balcony, you should choose tropical plants: coffee tree, laurel, dragon tree. Without experience, getting bonsai from ficus will still work out in view of the unpretentiousness of the plant. If you have even the slightest idea of the essence of the procedure, you can plant a pine tree that grows slowly, but in the end you get a beautiful tree.

Pot selection

Any container can serve as a pot for a bonsai plant - wooden, stones with a depression, clay, but it is better to give preference to ceramic pots. The basic rule when choosing the shape of a container for bonsai is that it should not be more beautiful than a plant. For tree crops, earthenware with various shades is suitable, for flowering crops - ceramics or earthenware of the appropriate color.

Note! Watering depends on the material of the pot, for example, in earthenware, the plant needs to be watered more often than in ceramic.

Bonsai planters made of any material should be spacious. The diameter of the round container should be 3 times the diameter of the trunk, and the depth should be about half the height of the tree. In irregular pots, the width is about 2/3 of the crown of the tree. Moreover, strict adherence to the size of the pot is required only for adult plants.

Priming

For coniferous trees, the soil is prepared with a drier content of sand, flowering and indoor varieties - an organic substrate. In any case, the soil for bonsai varieties should be easy to pass moisture and have a drainage system.

Sand from the shores of reservoirs, fine and crumbly, is well suited.Building sand with a high lime content is not suitable for planting bonsai.

Important! To neutralize the soil from the fungus, you need to warm it up in the microwave for about 5 minutes.

Do I need to fertilize bonsai

In view of growing trees in relatively small pots, they need additional feeding, especially during the growing season. The optimal fertilizer for bonsai should contain nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, which are contained in almost all fertilizers, but for different plants it is worth considering their proportions.

Fertilization begins in early spring and continues until mid-autumn. Indoor species can be fertilized all year round.

Step-by-step algorithm for applying dry dressing:

Spread over the surface of the soil around the plant.
Pour plenty of water on top.

Important!Fertilizing bonsai is necessary, but given the limited amount of soil, strictly in recommended doses, so as not to harm the plant.

Where to begin

Growing begins with germinating seeds for bonsai, which should be treated against pests and diseases. The term depends on the plant, some will take more than five years. Germination time can be shortened by breaking the seed coat to facilitate germination.

Crown shapes

Do-it-yourself autowatering for indoor plants

Shapes (styles) of crowns for bonsai:

fan-shaped;
formal vertical;
informal vertical;
inclined;
cascading;
semi-cascading;
Bohemian;
a tree bent by the wind;
double barrel;
multi-barreled;
grove or group planting;
roots on the rock;
wood on stone;
fallen tree;
dead wood.

When the plant needs to be replanted

Do-it-yourself drainage for indoor plants

If the bonsai grows in the open field, it may not be transplanted, but in a limited amount, transplanting is necessary so that the roots do not intertwine. Such a procedure is considered planned, that is, it occurs regularly at the scheduled time and depends on the age, size of the tree and pot, as well as the type of plant and nutrient soil.

For your information! Young plants, not older than 4 years, are transplanted every spring when the growing season begins, an adult - once every 10 years. The signal to transplant is the roots sticking out of the drainage hole and the leaves beginning to fall off.

There is another type of transplant - emergency, it is carried out when the plant is sick or the roots have rotted.

Juniper bonsai

Available for cultivation by both experienced growers and beginners. Such a bonsai in winter does not need frequent watering, and there are no special requirements for humidity, temperature and lighting. Unpretentiousness is its advantage.

DIY drip irrigation for indoor plants

In winter, the tree needs more rest than watering, and therefore the soil should dry out during this period. Despite the unpretentious maintenance of juniper bonsai, the tree requires a little attention and minimal watering.

For your information! The soil is checked every day with toothpicks. By lowering the stick 1.5 cm into the ground and holding it for 10 minutes, you can determine how dry the earth is. If the removed stick becomes wet, watering should not be carried out, dry indicates that it is time to water the plant.

Juniper soil for bonsai is no different from soil for other species, but the plant, even during the winter period of inactivity, cannot do without sunlight. In winter, 4 hours of exposure to the sun will be enough for the juniper.

Juniper feeding

Juniper, like many representatives of the Cypress family, is unpretentious to the soil, but in some cases it needs feeding. Young trees, as well as transplanted trees, due to their weakening and susceptibility to diseases, need fertilization, which is applied throughout the season, starting a month after transplanting. Different varieties of juniper require different types of soil. Peat and sand with an admixture of wood chips are introduced into an acidic medium, and slaked lime into an alkaline medium.

Fertilization

How to make a juniper bonsai: crown formation

The crown is formed using a wire. The main rule is not to get carried away and remember that the tree is constantly growing, therefore, you need to boldly remove interfering shoots and watch the wire on the soft structure of the trunk.

Ficus bonsai

The choice of ficus is quite justified, because it is distinguished by branched roots, a massive trunk with a curvature or ornateness, beautiful smooth or textured bark and fast growth, and therefore is well suited for growing in miniature and is easy to shape. Ficus is not picky about sunlight, morning sunlight is more suitable for it, while daylight can cause leaf burns.

Ficus Benjamin Bonsai

What types of ficus are suitable for bonsai

Of the varieties of ficus, Bengal, rusty red, dull and Benjamin are suitable for such growing. It is best to grow bonsai from the latter species, which has all the characteristics for obtaining a bonsai: small leaves, fast growth, beautiful roots and bark.

Shape selection

Bonsai differs from an ordinary plant not only in its miniature size, but also in the shape of the trunk, giving the impression of a century-old tree. The classical form, without branches at the bottom and bends, grows upward. The irregular upright style features a small crown that does not extend beyond the pot and a curved trunk. The tilted shape can tilt at any angle and have roots on the surface. The bifurcated form of bonsai involves the growth of two trunks from a single root.

A practical guide to shaping ficus

The process of shaping a ficus bonsai consists of treating the roots, crown and trunk. In order for the tree to grow in width, the roots of a young plant must be cut off until there is a noticeable thickening of the trunk. Then, armed with sharp scissors, you need to cut the leaves along with the stems. Pruning is carried out in spring and summer, and in winter, when the plant is gaining strength, it is better not to disturb it.

Further, with the help of a wire, the trunk is formed. The garter is suitable for tilting the tree, and the frame wrapping helps to strengthen the branches to the desired shape.

Note!When making a frame that lasts for two months, the wire should not be wound very tightly to avoid it growing into the trunk. It is not recommended to put on the frame immediately after planting the plant; you need to wait a few weeks.

Bonsai from the money tree, or fat woman

It is possible to make bonsai from a fat woman, which is large in size, even in small rooms. This plant is well suited for the bonsai technique, which can be used to obtain a compact plant with an original shape.

Description of the fat woman and species for bonsai

The fat woman, or money tree, reaches 1.5 m in height. It has thick stems about 20 cm in diameter. The plant is valued for its low care and decorativeness of gray-green leaves of various shapes.

Hydators are located over the entire surface of the sheet. In nature, there are 350 species of bastard, indoor trees are divided into treelike and creeping. In the technique of miniature trees, tree-like bastards are used.

Preparation of planting material

Trees in height do not exceed 200 cm and have a thick trunk, like an adult tree, with curvatures, therefore, before planting, the money tree must be properly trimmed, and then maintain the shape of the crown.

Planting a plant in a prepared substrate

For a money tree bonsai, the land must be well-drained, contain peat and fertilizer for rapid leaf growth. The soil can be bought ready-made, a substrate for cacti is perfect.

A container for bonsai must be chosen wide and shallow in view of the preliminary trimming of the roots in the shape of the pot. When planting, do not deepen the root collar. At the end of the transplant, the plant must be well watered.

Crown formation

In order for a tree from a bastard to become a real decoration, it is necessary to pinch correctly, protect it from sunburn and form a trunk in a timely manner. It is better to grow a fat woman for a miniature from a sprout, then it will be easier to create the desired style. But in any case, the plant is subject to certain rules for the formation of the crown, giving it the necessary harmony, combined with a natural look.

Formation of the crown of the fat woman

Bonsai carmona is the most popular plant

Carmona is most widespread among plants formed using the miniature tree technique. The popularity of this tropical plant is facilitated by the lack of specific methods of keeping at home and its attractive appearance.

Why is karmona suitable for beginners

Bonsai carmona is an evergreen shrub or tree with shiny dark green leaves that blooms several times a year, bringing bright small berries, great for beginner bonsaists due to its simplicity and ease of growing.

Unpretentious plant for bonsai

Carmona can grow in shady places, only a few hours of sunshine a day is enough for it, and with the right lighting it blooms all year round. Due to its resemblance to the tree, many bonsaists choose carmona.

Temperature control and lighting

Carmona is a tropical plant, and therefore is thermophilic, but withstands temperatures up to 10 ° C. In winter, the karmona needs at least an hour of sunshine.

Growth rate

Along with azalea bonsai, carmona will grow for several years and with proper care it will be possible to get a beautiful bush.

Bonsai carmona

Earth mix

You can transplant carmona into bonsai soil by choosing a clay substrate made yourself from garden loam, as well as using heather, turf, leafy soil, or buy ready-made.

Note! Carmona can grow in an inorganic substrate, but under the condition of constant feeding. It is important that the soil does not contain lime, which can lead to plant diseases.

Types of karmona for indoor breeding

For miniature equipment, the cultivation of highly branched small trees, reaching a height of up to 4 m and growing up to 70 years, is excellent, of which the most popular are small-leaved carmona or large-leaved carmona. Keeping such plants blooming year-round at room temperature is no different from caring for myrtle bonsai.

Ammania - bonsai in the aquarium

Ammania, or rotala indica, is a plant with green leaves with pink tops. The aquarium serves as a pot for bonsai - a mix of breeding indoor fish and house plants. For cultivation, both a regular and a nano aquarium are suitable. Ammania bonsai often looks like a thick carpet and is a favorite among plants for aquarium design.

Conditions of detention and care for ammania

Ammania is a fragile plant that is not recommended for planting in an aquarium with large fish, otherwise they can damage the bonsai. How to accelerate growth? The solution is to supply more carbon dioxide.

Bottom substrate

Sand of fine and light fraction no more than 3 mm with a nutritious substrate, which is ideally fertilized with iron, is suitable as soil for ammonia. You can take ready-made nutrient soil for bonsai. Ammania will bloom singly in four tiny cups.

Water temperature, hardness and lighting

The annual plant is adapted to the usual parameters of fresh water, where the pH is 6.0-7.5, and the hardness is from 3 to 8. The ideal water temperature is not more than 28 ° С, but not lower than 22 ° С. For normal growth, it is necessary to organize lighting with a full spectrum, and with weak light, the stem and leaves will elongate. The bonsai branch needs to be provided with a strong light of 1 volt per liter of water.

Ammania cuttings

Bonsai seeds from Ammania are not grown due to the special growing conditions, so it requires special care and reproduction.Further growth depends on competent cuttings, therefore it is necessary to pinch off the fleshy main trunk of the plant with narrow leaves located on it. By carefully cutting off the stalk and placing it in the substrate, roots will appear on it, after which it can be planted in the prepared soil. Planting takes place with compaction into the substrate, but without crushing the roots.

Ammania cuttings

Growing living decor is fun but challenging. Sometimes it takes several years. That is why, in the first couples, it is important to determine the type of plant and the features of its care, so as not to overnight ruin many years of work with wrong actions.