Bonsai: combining horticulture with artistic expression

Bonsai, the traditional Japanese art form of cultivating miniature trees in containers, involves the careful pruning, pinching, and wiring of trees to train them into various shapes

- Linda Piegl

Although bonsai is associated with Japanese culture, its roots (pun intended) trace back to ancient China. The Japanese later adopted and developed the practice into the highly stylised and symbolic art form we know today, which has spread throughout the world.

Each tree is shaped to tell a story, and many shapes mimic what occurs in nature. The formal upright style (Chokkan), for example, reflects when a tree doesn’t need to compete for resources, while the windswept style (Fukinagashi) is a tree trained to grow slanted, with the wind-facing side bare of branches.

These are just two of the many styles to choose from, but of course, there’s no need to be a purist - you can create your own.

GROWING BONSAI AT HOME

From specialist nurseries, online courses and articles, video tutorials, and bonsai clubs, information for growing bonsai is easily accessible. Just add a dash of green-fingered skill and bucket-loads of patience.

The starting point is to understand a species, how it grows, and what its needs are. Here are some cultivation basics: