First of all, let me give you the definition of a bonsai tree. Bonsai is the art of growing a tree in a miniature.
A bonsai tree is basically a tree in a pot. The “bon” is Japanese for “pot”. If you can imagine a tree trunk growing in a pot, then you have an idea of what bonsai is about.
Bonsai trees are beautiful and very therapeutic. They are known to reduce stress and help with depression. Plus, growing them is so much fun. It is something you can do with your kids and they will besuper excited about!
Let’s get started! The firstdoors are the best examples of bonsai. They are small enough that they can be placed in your window sill and dosomething you can grow on your desk. No, not a plant. A bonsai is not a plant, but a miniature tree. Bonsai trees are named after the way they look. They are named after the way they are shaped.
There are two main styles of bonsai trees. The first looks more like a shrub. The bottom of the tree is wider than it is tall. If you have ever seen a bonsai, please tell me I’m not wrong. The more compact the growth, the better. There is a huge variation in the way each tree is shaped and trimmed. What youcan learn is the general shape of the tree including what branches are left.
There are four basic styles.
formal upright
indented or not
imate
informal upright
indented or not
BiG?
Just be aware of what style of tree you started with. Often, people are not sure which one they want.
What is the general rule of thumb to achieve the same shape on the same tree?
You will need to take a look at some pictureues of bonsai and try to get an idea of what the future bonsai will look like. Keep in mind that the bonsai may not be finished as you see in the pictures. There is always work that goes into it.
Start with one or two stems. I usually put a small flagstone at the base of the stem. This way, in the uphill sleep, the stem will not rot. If you start with two stems, the leaves and the flowers will have a chance to settle in at the bottom of the stem. Once the vine reaches the top of the stem, trimming it back to one stem is necessary. It sounds hard, but it is something that you can learn.
The leaves will all have the tendency to settle on the bottom of the stem and create that “quarter inch” mixture. You may want to instill in your vines a habit of growing against a vertical element. The vine is young and needs all the support it can get.
As the vine gets bigger, you will find that the majority of the weight is now toward the end of the stem. Do not be afraid to trim them back. They are trying to reproduce with out having a solid structure. When they are small, they will settle against the solid structure and grow very low. As they get older, they will be able to “lean” on their supports and they will even create a natural trellis.
Your grapevines will have to be watered on a regular basis. You do not want them to be too dry. If you can see the soil moisture level is too low, then it is time to water. When you water, you do not water the leaves but the root because the leaves are simply too high to get a chance to capture any water. If you start to water them too frequently, you may also stifle the fruit that is forming.
Having a grapevine trellis will not only help in producing nice large grapes, but it will also encourage proper growth of the vines as well. The supports keep the vine sturdy and allow the grapes to get proper air exposure. Proper air exposure will keep the grapes free from disease.
Many people see grapevines as a once a year activity. This is not the case. Grapes are a once a year activity. You can choose to let your grapevines grow wild or get a starter plant at a nursery. I got my starter plant from a neighbor, instead of trying to find a nursery to buy locally grown grapes.
Your soil will not be ready to use if you do not get air into the soil. The pH level of the soil needs to be between 6.0 and 6.5. The soil can be above 6.0 if you are looking for more acidity. However, if you are looking for more alkalinity, you will need to add some lime to the soil.
