Bonsai is popular among gardening lovers who lack space in their garden to grow big trees. These trees are so small that you can grow them in pots just like plants. Bonsais look amazing and can be grown quickly under appropriate conditions.
If you’re planning to grow them in your backyard, there are a few things you must know. This article lists the best Bonsai trees for beginners and how to take care of them for the best results.
Types of Bonsai Trees
First thing first, there are different types of Bonsai trees available to choose from. These vary from one another in “styles.” The three most common ones are:
1. Moyogi
The Moyogi Bonsai trees grow upright with curves back and forth. The trunk, once out of the soil, curves multiple times before reaching the top. These types are also the most common type of Bonsai trees you’re going to come across.
2. Chokkan
The Chokkan Bonsais are completely upright with little to no curving. The thickness reduces as you move from the bottom to the top of the tree, with the trunk being the widest. If you ever find a Bonsai tree in the wild, then it’s perhaps going to be the Chokkan.
3. Shakan
The Shakan Bonsais are also known as slanting Bonsais because of the way it grows. You’ll notice the trunk growing at an angle to the soil surface. So it may seem like they were affected by a storm and hence were blown sideways. The Shankan Bonsais also tend to consume more space but can be an excellent addition to your garden.
With that knowledge, you can move forward with growing Bonsai trees in your backyard.
Consider the Environment
Before you select a Bonsai tree to grow in your garden, you may want to test the hardiness zone in your area.
Whether you want to grow the trees indoors or outdoors also determines which Bonsai to grow.
As a rule of thumb, if you’re growing indoors, then select subtropical trees. If you’re looking to grow outdoors, then go for non-tropical variants.
You do not have to do more guesswork on which Bonsai tree to select. Your local nursery will guide you in this regard.
Pick the Correct Size
Not all Bonsais are miniature. They come in various sizes ranging from 3 feet tall trees to something as small as 6 inches. It primarily depends on the Bonsai species.
You have to consider how much space you can devote to growing Bonsais. You’d have to shop for the containers accordingly. Go through the Bonsai size chart at your local nursery to select the right Bonsai for your garden.
Styling
Once you’ve bought a Bonsai, you need to spend some time styling it. This is where you need to prune and wire the Bonsais to keep them miniature.
After you’ve pruned the Bonsai, it will resemble a fully-grown miniature tree. The best time to prune is the spring season when the plant experiences rapid growth. Cut the extra branches that have unnatural twists and turns. Similarly, cut the leaves into proper shape.
Care and Maintenance
After you’ve styled the Bonsais, it’s all about taking proper care of them. The first thing you need to take care of is watering them properly. These plants tend to dry up quickly. And how much water will depend on the species, pot size, soil mixture, humidity level, and the environment?
If you are growing Bonsais in pots, then make sure to choose the right mixture. Re-pot from time to time if necessary.
Fertilizing will depend on the particular case. If you notice your Bonsais not growing up to the mark, you can apply fertilizers after consulting nursery employees.
Growing Bonsai is a never-ending process. And it also depends on your expertise level. To succeed as a beginner, you must select the right type of Bonsai trees for beginners. Read blogs and guides before investing your time and effort. With patience and practice, you’ll have beautiful miniature Bonsais thriving in your garden.
