Plants for the Oriental Decorating Style

The decorating trends for 2007 are re-introducing the simplicity and beauty of the Orient to American homes. The natural colors and textures are adding an earthy atmosphere that is letting homeowners explore the boundaries of home decorating like never before.

This has brought about a resurgence in the popularity of the bonsai tree. Many people choose the tree for its seamless blend of man’s intervention and nature’s dominant ability to survive almost anything, even having a naturally large tree potted and stunted.

While many commercial bonsai trees are made from hearty plants like the juniper, there are some beautiful bonsai trees available to those who take the time to look.

Miniaturization is accomplished through rigorous regulation of a bonsai tree's growing conditions. Scaffold branches are allowed to prosper. Excess branches are pruned away. As Bonsai trees grow, they become root-bound in their containers. The roots are pruned slowing the tree’s growth.

Branch pruning is performed in spring, removing most of the new growth. Wires on the Scaffold branches control their shape and direction of growth. Bonsai tree wiring is an art, and should not be attempted by people who have not spent some time learning the skill from one of the manuals provided by bonsai tree clubs.

Bonsai trees take years to grow. Never consult with the ‘how to’ books that are written by ghostwriters and sold by ‘mass market’ companies. Instead, look for websites dedicated to the growth and nurturing of Bonsai trees.

Fertilize bonsai trees with a water-soluble fertilizer once or twice per month during the growing season. It is important to choose a good quality sterile fertilizer. Apply fertilizer when the roots are wet, but do not use too much.

Replace the Bonsai every two years. The roots are then carefully brushed clean and checked for mold or disease. All weak and thin roots are trimmed away at this time. The tree should be repotted in a new pot, to avoid the risk of any contaminant continuing to grow in the old pot, and infecting the tree’s new roots.

The best way to water a bonsai is by weighing it. Keep track of the weighing process so you’ll learn how much water weight is optimal for your trees growth. It is also important to remember that seasonal and dry air can alter a tree’s demand for watering.

When it is time to water, soak the plant thoroughly making sure that all the roots are dampened. Weight the tree before and after watering, and then weigh it once a week. The soil should not be saturated as over-watering causes as much damage as under-watering.

One mistake some people make is over-watering when the plant sheds leaves. This is natural in a tree’s life cycle and should be expected, even in a pot grown plant.
While it may be tempting to transplant to an outdoor garden in the summer it is not advisable. The bonsai tree has trimmed roots that will not go down deep enough to draw water. The roots may turn, and grow to the surface, where they will become sun scorched.

These tips will help an amateur bonsai tree grower keep their tree thriving and healthy for many years.

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