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Bonsai Care

September 30th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

Often considered an art form, Bonsai Care can be a meditative and enjoyable activity for anyone. The Trees used can be one of many popular Bonsai species such as juniper and black or white pine as well as some tropical Tree varieties. How you Care for your bonsai is the most important aspect of this activity.

What is Bonsai?Originally practiced in China over a thousand years ago, bonsai constituted the growing of a single tree in pots. Early specimens often resembled animals, dragons and birds. The Japanese adopted the art for in the 12^th century by means of Zen Buddhism. First practiced only by monks the art form soon spread to include the aristocracy.

The term, bonsai, literally means tray planting or tree pot. The term specifically refers to the training and artistic vision applied to the trees. For the Japanese, bonsai care represented a fusion of ancient beliefs with the eastern philosophies of harmony between man and nature.

Caring for Your BonsaiA fun and rewarding activity, bonsai care requires diligence and practice. As noted above, the species of tree may vary depending on personal taste. The type of care your bonsai will require depends on the tree species you choose to grow. You should follow the general growing guidelines outlined for this particular tree. To dwarf the plant to a workable size you may employ a number of techniques. The main methods used are use of a small ceramic pot, foliage pruning, root pruning and direct sunlight exposure.

Your individual bonsai care will determine the form that your tree will take. There are several different main styles of bonsai, which include formal upright, informal upright, slanting, cascade, windswept and forest. Remember this is not a strict list of styles; you may work with another, lesser-known style, or provide a variation on one of the main styles.

Growing Guidelines

One of the most important aspects of bonsai care is watering. Requirements will vary by species, but it is important to note that regardless of the species of the tree you must be sure that your tree never dries out. Generally, you will need to water the tree when the surface soil appears dry.

You will not be required to immediately prune your bonsai upon purchase. However, this is a main point in any bonsai care, since pruning will help to bring the desired shape to your tree. You can accomplish most pruning by simply pinching the new growth between your thumb and forefinger.

Also be sure to consider lighting requirements and fertilization. As with watering, lighting will depend on the type of tree. Fertilization, utilizing a good balanced fertilizer, should be restricted to the growing season.

Art & Mediation

Bonsai care can be an artistic, meditative, and horticultural experience. With correct bonsai care, you can be sure to guarantee your success and the continued growth of your tree.

Rock Gardens: Creating Breathtaking Garden Vistas

September 29th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

Rock gardens really offer some of the most spectacular garden vistas. Along with extensive usage of rocks and stones the Plants native to the rocky or alpine environments are featured in the rock gardens or rockeries. Usually nowadays the rock gardens are designed by homeowners as a measure to make advantageous use of the rocky tract lying in their yards.

Creating a rock garden and looking after its upkeep can be a good hobby. The retired persons can especially take this up as a pastime and spend many a leisurely moment in the rock garden.

Origin of rock garden concept and aspects of rock gardens

Originally it were the travelers to the Swiss Alps who got impressed by the flora that grew among the snowy heights and rocky terrain out there and introduced the exotic flora and feel in their homelands. The rock gardens can come in various shapes and sizes. They may be small and simply done as also vast and elaborately set up. Every rock garden can be set up in a unique way. While simple rock gardens may include only flowers, foliage and rocks the exotic ones can also be made having ponds and waterfalls in them. Your landscape can indeed be wonderfully transformed by making use of a worthy rock garden idea.

The rock garden is usually observed as a pile of rocks of different sizes that are aesthetically arranged with small gaps being introduced in between them for planting of flora. Bonsai may also be incorporated suitably in rock gardens. Rock gardens can also be styled in the Japanese rock garden way. In such case the rock gardens are also referred to as Zen garden. These are special rock gardens with hardly any Plants. Rocks and affine, light colored gravel are what make up such Zen gardens.

Going about with setting up of rock garden

While proceeding with setting up of rock garden the rock that is available in the locality is primarily considered for building up the garden. This also gives a natural look to the garden. Often there are a number of rock types to choose from. Any native rock that helps create a natural look should be selected. After placement of the rocks they ought to be allowed to settle down for a few weeks for judging their stability and effect on soil conditions.

While selecting the flora type for rock gardens, though there are no rules or conventions as such, choices of plants need to be made judiciously. Plants that will be able to withstand and thrive in the climatic condition of the garden should be the ones that are to be naturally selected. Personal favorites among such plants can be opted for of course keepingwith your ideas of a rock garden setting.

Using of the right kind of soil -rich, light in texture, and well drained to avoid water stagnation -is much needed in the rock garden. Usage of strong fertilizers should be avoided and natural soil enriching material should be preferably used. Watering is also a very important thing to take Care of. Using a watering can for watering purpose is the best way out. Alongside, Care must be taken to ensure that the garden is not overshadowed by large trees. The garden must get exposed to the sun, wind and other natural elements.

The Art of Growing Bonsai Trees

September 28th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

The art of cultivating Bonsai Trees is a Japanese tradition for hundreds and hundreds of years. Translating literally to “tray planting,” growing a bonsai tree involves actively shaping a tree into a dwarfed, artistic version of itself. A bonsai tree is not a special dwarf or hybrid species of a common tree; theyre genetically identical to their much bigger relatives. Its the Careful cultivation that keeps these trees small. Surprisingly, the trees are not damaged by this process, however. In fact, given the proper Care, the bonsai version of a tree can live longer than the same tree if it was allowed to grow in the wild.

Bonsai trees can either be grown from seeds or from cuttings of trees, and they normally range in height from two inches to three feet. Through pruning both roots and branches bonsai trees are kept small. Theyre also repotted periodically, and new growth is often pinched off.

There is a much about art as there is about horticulture in the growing and cultivating of bonsai trees. Bonsai trees are not only kept small, they are also formed into pleasing shapes. They frequently follow a number of different growth patterns, from elaborate waterfall shapes cascading down over their pots to simple triangular pattens. The shapes are usually a result of both the pruning of the tree and through the use of wrapping the branches and trunk with wire, shaping the tree into its desired form. Chosen to compliment the shape and color of the tree itself, the pots are also part of the art of bonsai. Rocks and mosses are frequently added to the base for aesthetic appeal.

Taking care of a bonsai tree is more complicated than maintaining most housePlants. Since the bonsai, by definition, has has a smaller root system than most Plants, it needs water and fertilizer more often than most garden-variety houseplants. Pruining is also essential occasionally, since the bonsai tree would grow into just a normal big tree without pruning. Also, if wire is used to help mold and form the tree, it is important to take care that the wire doesnt dig into the bark of the tree, scarring the branches permanently. Depending on the type of bonsai tree and your climate, you may be able to keep some bonsai trees outside year round, while others will need to be kept inside for at least part of the year. Moisture is also important, not only in the soil but in the branches and leaves of the bonsai. They need to be misted occasionally for the bonsai to remain healthy.

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