http://articles.wholesalebonsaitrees.com/rss.xml A blog about wholesalebonsaitrees.com daily 365 1901-01-01T00:00+00:00 http://articles.wholesalebonsaitrees.com/?a=35397 <p>by Gregg Hall</p><p>Though when people first think of the Bonsai tree they think of the Japanese, in fact the bonsai goes back thousands of years with the small trees even being found in the tombs of Egyptian Pharaohs. The bonsai that we know of today first appeared in the Tang dynasty of China in the 8th century which is how the Japanese found the art when they were bringing back a lot of the Chinese culture.<br /><br />There was some rekindled interest in the miniature trees in the 1300's with the introduction of east and west trading and then once more in the 1600's but it was not until the exhibition in Paris in 1878 that the Bonsai became famous internationally with people all over the planet taking up the art today.<br /><br />When choosing the type of bonsai that you want to grow you have a choice of two basic types, tropical and temperate. If you are growing the plants indoors this is not a critical decision but if you are raising your bonsais outside then it can be a critical one. Tropical bonsais are susceptible to freezing and cannot tolerate hard frosts like the temperate kind can. Even though the temperate bonsais are able to tolerate the lower temperatures they still need to be protected from severe cold.<br /><br />The best treatment for all bonsais is to allow them to remain outdoors as much as possible, this will keep them the healthiest possible. If you must bring them in due to inclement weather conditions make sure that they have access to plenty of natural light and water them fervently. Temperates actually need the dormant cycle that they get from the fall and winter, if they don't experience a period of dormancy they may just wither away.<br /><br />There are also different styles of bonsai in regards to the trunk with the main categories being single or multiple trunks. In the single trunk you will see four subcategories which are Bankan, Kengai, Chokkan, and Shakan. In the multi trunk you have the Soju, Yose, and Korabuki as the main styles. <br /><br />The bonsai displays that you see shown as a landscape with other features added to them are called Bonkei. Suiseki displays are virtually like a small hillside and are usually designed to resemble a real mountain or hillside in miniature complete with rocks and other trees and sometimes even include buildings. If you are getting into bonsai as a hobby and do not intend to compete just practice the style that gives you pleasure.</p><h3 class="popup">About the Author </h3><p>Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about Bonsai and get Bonsai Trees Online at <a href="http://www.wholesalebonsaitrees.com/">http://www.wholesalebonsaitrees.com</a></p> 2006-08-10T00:59-04:00 http://articles.wholesalebonsaitrees.com/?a=35396 <p>by Gregg Hall</p><p>As with many trees and plants, watering your Bonsai properly is crucial to keeping it healthy. The existence of dehydration due to lack of water or low humidity is the leading cause of death among Bonsais. <br /><br />There are many different variables in place that affect the amount of water each individual plant needs. All soils have different water retention properties, the different species of Bonsai differ in individual water requirements, and even the different styles of pots can affect the rate at which the soil dries out. Drying out isn't the only problem, over watering can cause serious damage as well, the key is to find the right balance of soil, water and air that you will develop a healthy root system and as a result, a healthy bonsai.<br /><br />Water does much more than simply provide moisture for your tree, it also carries nutrients your plant needs and flushes out the excess salts that might build up otherwise. Another thing that water does that is an unseen benefit is to push out old gasses and pull in a fresh atmosphere. <br /><br />Most people falsely think that the transpiration process happens only in the leaves but if this were true then plants that were completely cut back would not be able to grow back from the roots. It is the topsoil or first few inches that are the most important to the functions of any plant or tree, even huge oak trees get the majority of their nutrients from the top portion of the soil around them. This is actually the factor that makes the growing of Bonsai trees in shallow pots possible. The soil of a Bonsai has to be very porous to allow for better gas exchange and water flow which helps the root system grow to support the huge foliage mass you see on Bonsais.<br /><br />According to Japanese custom you should water once for the pot, then for the soil, and finally for the tree itself. This assures that there is enough water for the tree after water has been absorbed by the pot and the soil. You should also pour water on the foliage as it also absorbs water and the process removes dust and pollutants. <br /><br />Don't rely on rain, water your plants anyway and just make sure the pot is draining properly. If you are watering with a hose, make sure you have an adjustable nozzle that can be set to mist and check the temperature before you put the water on the plant. Remember that watering is the most critical part of raising Bonsais.</p><h3 class="popup">About the Author </h3><p>Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about Bonsai and get Wholesale Bonsai Trees at <a href="http://www.wholesalebonsaitrees.com/">http://www.wholesalebonsaitrees.com</a></p> 2006-08-10T00:56-04:00