Gardenia
Container: Size: 4 ft. X 1 ft.
Fragrant and becoming
One of the gardenia’s few visitors is the garden lily, Gardenia pauciflora. A native of Japan, it is obtainable in many colors from white to pink to crimson. The flowers of the gardenia are covered with small dots that radiate from pink to blue and all of which seem to have the ability to combine into a spiral pattern. This specimen is an economically important bonsai tree, therefore many gardens centers in the U.S. carry it and it sellsalongside other bonsai.
The Gardenia obtusa ‘Nanital’ is also a popular bonsai along with the ‘Kofugen’ gardenia. The shape of the trunk and branches is the same as the ‘Nanital’ however the foliage is shinier with a tingy feel to it.
Bonsai Techniques
A bonsai artist can use a number of different styles in creating a bonsai tree. The main styles used are slanting (kokyuh), semi-cascade (bingsun) and cascade (dinghyuh). Slanting is a form of bonsai in which the tree slants to the right or left, arching gracefully to one side of the container. Semi-cascade is similar to the slanting style but the trunk is fuller with branches reaching out on both sides. The cascade style is a symmetrical, perfect cascade. Junipers, oddly, are seldom used in bonsai art; however, it is an ideal style for the ‘Vase’ style. One distinct style is the semi-cascade, in which the right or left side of the tree is cascaded down through the center onto the right or left side of the container.
Seeds
Japanese beetles, commonly known as ‘celrenheit’s’ are little maples with yellow and black stripes that attack junipers. They feast on the plant’s roots and stunt its growth. The best way to get rid of them is to remove them and they do not harm the tree. Japanese beetles are common in well-drained, cool soil of new plantings. Overwatering may cause the soil to become sour so adding some peat moss to the soil may help.
Fertilization
A bonsai tree requires the right type of fertilizer. The fertilizer should be proportionate to the type of tree and the amount of fertilizer used. Easiest to fertilize are the Japanese beetles, to which feeding with a fertilizer containing 20 percent nitrogen, 10 percent phosphorus, and 10 percent potash is recommended. More experienced bonsai enthusiasts use a fertilizer mix that is a combination of all the above. For example, a beginner might find the following combination of fertilizer ingredients useful: 20-20-20, 0-20-20, and 10-10-10.
Pruning
A bonsai tree needs to be pruned regularly to prevent it from becoming this top-heavy and thin. Remember, the goal of pruning is to remove the dead, diseased, and rotted wood and control the size of the branches and roots. Pruning is usually done in the spring after the tree has been dormant over the winter. Cut back the dead branches right up to the base of the trunk and remove any new growth that shoots from the stub. This will keep the tree from getting “infected” by disease and insects. One technique to keep the roots from growing too close to the trunk (and therefore the tree) is to monotequely (partially shade) the roots during the spring and summer months.
Changing the varieties of the Japanese Maple Bonsai
It’s possible to have a Japanese maple bonsai that is Juniper and not Chinese or Japanese. Just check out the differences in the branches, trunk, and leaves. There are different cultivators of the tree and they change the form and color of the leaves during the year. A cultivator is a tool that fits into the bonsai to change the form of the tree or to trim the roots. There are five categories of cultivators. Half moon,pee, star, semi-double, and full moon are the basic cultivators. The “half-moon” cultivator allows the roots to be slightly spurged into the soil. The “pee” cultivator is a little simpler. This cultivator would allow the plant to have a small root structure, but not too many. The “star” cultivator is a little like the “half-moon” cultivator except the ends of the branches are clipped as well as the roots. The “full-moon” cultivator is by far the most popular for growing Japanese maples.
