| Bonsai |
From "Ask DIY"
episode ADI-702 |
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Q: I recently saw a bonsai exhibition and was fascinated. I'd like to do this myself but don't have any idea how to start. Can you help? A: (Walter Reeves, Ask DIY Gardening expert) Bonsai (which in Japanese means literally "tray planting") is an art form that dates back thousands of years. Today, many types of plants can be used for bonsai, but woody evergreens (figure A) are often used. Overgrown plants from the nursery can actually work well in bonsai. - First you need to examine the plant to see whether it has bonsai potential (figure B). If you decide it does, go on to the next step.
- You're going to have to prune off any undesirable limbs that spoil the shape. You can buy special tools for this, but actually fingernail clippers or nippers -- even chopsticks or knitting needles -- work great as bonsai tools! Prune the lower limbs of the plant to give the tree a strong trunk (figure C).
- Use a razor knife to clean up any rough cuts, or apply a small amount of modeling clay if you need to disguise any lighter bark patches.
- Eliminate some soil from the roots (figure D). Remove the plant from its pot and dig through the roots to shake off most of the dirt (this is where a chopstick or a knitting needle can come in handy).
- If there are any large roots that might prevent the plant from fitting on the bonsai tray, use nippers to remove them (figure E). (Don't be scared of this step: you'll have to prune the roots every couple of years anyway, so you may as well start now).
- Use bonsai soil (a mixture of river sand, diatomaceous earth, fir bark, etc.) in the tray to help keep your plant's small root system well drained (figure F ).
There are bonsai clubs and societies in many cities; check to see if there's one near you. Q: What types of edible flowers can I grow in my garden? A: There are several varieties that make tasty additions to the garden, including the following:
- Pansies
- Violas
- Nasturtiums
- Daylily pods.
Incidentally, did you know that broccoli and cauliflower are flowers too? They're the edible blooms or their respective plants. Q: How much sunlight do tomato and pepper plants require? A: They need as much as you can provide -- at a minimum, four hours a day. Remember: the more sun, the more fruit. Q: I have a medium-sized boxwood that I want to transplant from my backyard to my front yard. How much of the root ball should I remove? A: That root ball will be bearing a lot of weight, so you should leave at least 12 inches from the stem in both directions, for a diameter of two feet
RESOURCES :
The American Bonsai Society
Bonsai by the Monastery
101 Essential Tips: Bonsai
Model: 0789410753
Author: Harry Tomlinson
(November, 1996)
To order this title from Amazon, click here.
DK Publishing - Main Office
New York, NY 10016
Phone: 212-213-4800
Fax: 212-213-5240
Bonsai Survival Manual
Model: 0882668536
Author: Colin Lewis
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