• by liz_davidson
• 24/07/2009 At 11:30

Oh I am sorry for your Bonsai paki :( .  Take a look at this video i found really usefull in case you want to plant one again! :)

• by paki
• 16/07/2009 At 14:09 (Comment edited 16/07/2009 at 14:21)

I had a Bonsai, it's like a pet you have to be all time with it. During holidays I let it to a bonsai nursery and later it died coz I forgot sometimes to let the sunshine come in my bedroom :(

But I know that some species are really easier than others, like the ficus is the easier with big leafs and the serissa is the most difficult one.

And be careful if you finally buy it, go in specialize shop to have a strong and alive bonsai

a word to the wise is enough

cheers

Ficus                                                       

Serissa   

• by liz_davidson
• 01/07/2009 At 10:27

Thank you Travis! I will send you pictures of my trees :)

• by Travis T
• 29/06/2009 At 09:52

Hi Liz,

I found the perfect article in wikihow it gives you all the steps for planting a Bonsai tree.

The concept is that basiclly you can make almost any tree into a bonsai. Just follow this steps and Good luck!!

1. Select the species of tree. When selecting a tree species its important to consider your geographic location. Some trees lose their leaves in the winter and require the temperature to drop below freezing so that they can enter a dormant state and prepare for the spring. Other trees will not survive long in the freezing weather. Some trees will require a lot of water during a hot summer while others are heat hardy. Research the kind of trees that do well in your area.
2. Select the size of your bonsai. Bonsai trees can be as anywhere from miniature (6 inches tall) to large bonsai (up to 3 ft tall). Decide what size bonsai you would like before actually going out to select the plant.
3. Select the plant. Once you have decided which kind and what size bonsai you would like, you can go to a nursery or a bonsai shop and select the plant that you will use to make your bonsai tree. When choosing a plant, look for leaf color to make sure that the plant is healthy. Then look around at the selection of plants and imagine what each plant would look like after it is pruned. It's important to visualize the bonsai before you buy the plant and bring it home. You do not want to bring a plant home only to decide that it isn't immediately suitable to be a bonsai.
4. Select a pot
   Selecting the right pot has a lot to do with the desired size and style of the plant. Select a shape and color that you personally find aesthetically pleasing. The pot must be large enough to allow enough soil to cover the roots of the plant. You do not want to have such a small amount of soil in the pot that the tree roots can not retain moisture. You will kill the plant if you do not have a large enough pot. At the same time, you want to maintain the illusion of nature and select a pot just large enough to support the tree. The idea of a bonsai is to balance the pot with the plant and make the plant look like a miniature tree. Some bonsai pots do not come with pre-drilled drainage holes. If you do not have a drill that will cut through ceramic, then make sure you purchase a pot with pre-drilled drainage holes.
5. Prepare the tree. Prune the tree to the desired shape. Wire any branches that need to be wired. Remove the plant from its existing pot and water the roots. Most of the roots will be cut before the plant is repotted into the bonsai pot. Cut away enough roots so that the root system can fit securely in the new pot with the proper amount of soil.
6. Pot the tree. Install mesh screens over the drainage holes to prevent soil erosion. Add some soil to the pot and then place the tree into the pot. Before covering the top of the roots with soil position the tree in the desired orientation. Run a heavy gauge wire from the bottom of the pot through the drainage holes on the bottom of the pot. Tie the wire around the root system in order to hold the plant in place. Finish adding soil to the pot. If it is warm out, make sure to keep the newly planted tree watered well until the roots get established in the new pot.