The Living Art of Bonsai
Gardening Plants
By Sarah
Mathews
When you think of art, does
your mind conjure up a Van Gogh or Monet impressionist
painting? Or do you think of a Roman sculpture or other
traditional piece of art?
Art can also be living, as in the art of the bonsai
gardening plant, which is a living tree. The art of bonsai
is originally from Japan and the word actually means "tree
in a tray." When one practices the art of bonsai, one shapes
and prunes the tree carefully to produce a beautiful,
meticulous miniature tree.
You may be surprised to
learn that these trees are not genetically developed to grow
small, but are the product of master artists who use years
of patience and skill to shape otherwise ordinary trees into
these unique forms.
It requires delicate care
to keep the bonsai plants healthy because of the manner in
which they are grown and shaped in small pots. After all,
these are naturally large trees such as maple, pine and
similar species.
The gardener, or artist,
must keep the soil and temperature precisely controlled and
measured to ensure it always remains within a healthy range.
As you can imagine, it requires a certain personality to
master this art. Years of training and practice go into
learning the pruning techniques, potting and re-potting
skills.
A science in its own right
is the watering procedures. One must strike a delicate
balance between too much water, which can leave the bonsai
with root rot or fungi from water-logging, and
under-watering, which can quickly result in dry soil and
withering leaves, causing the tiny tree to die.
Potting methods and choice
of soil mix with the watering requirements to address the
vital issue of drainage. Coming full circle with these
critical features are the shaping and pruning techniques. It
is all quite complex to get just right.
Bonsai is perhaps more
difficult than traditional art to create as one is working
with a live organism and the many elements each have to be
perfect for the living tree to survive. One can see why it
is an art form.
On the one hand is the
science of horticulture and the need to learn and master
multiple sub-sciences. While on the other hand is a need to
master precise skills and artistic vision to be able to
produce the intricate styles and shapes of the bonsai.
Mastering the art of bonsai
gardening plants is well worth the effort to those who have
the skill and patience to do so. The beauty of bonsai is
admired as one of the true art forms of our time.
About the
author:
For more information about bonsai gardening and other
gardening tips, visit the Gardening Supply Center at
http://www.gardeningsupplycenter.com.
If you're interested in
more bonsai articles, click here -
Bonsai Articles.
Enjoy!
I wish you all the best on your
bonsai adventure!
Best wishes,
Thomas T :)
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