The art of bonsai has been around for at least a thousand years. It has developed into an artistic hobby that facilitates honing skills of patience, concentration and attention to detail. In contrast to other forms of art such as painting, pottery and music, to name a few examples, it incorporates nature. The world we live in makes connection to nature somewhat difficult. Living in an apartment in a large city would make it difficult to connect with nature very often. Busy lives with demanding jobs make it challenging to go for a walk in the park enjoying the wind rustling in the leaves of trees from time to time. The art of bonsai has evolved to both practice art and connect with nature with the goal of promoting overall well being. In its simplest form, just an excellent addition to your home.
Choosing the right bonsai for your living situation and life demands. Consider light, humidity and temperature.
- Easy Bonsai: Maybe you don’t describe yourself as having a green thumb or maybe you just don’t know if you have one or not. The following options might be good starting point:
- Hawaiian Umbrella, Jade, Juniper, Ficus, Money Tree, Norfolk Island Pine, Palm
- Indoor Bonsai: Perhaps you live in accommodations with only indoor options for a potential bonsai.
- Azalea, Pomegranate, Brush Cherry, Jasmine, Olive, Jade, Ficus, Palm, Money Tree, Plum, Hibiscus, Hawaiian Umbrella, Gardenia, Norfolk Island Pine
- Outdoor Bonsai: You might be one to have a nice outdoor area that you would like to cultivate with a bonsai or two.
- Dawn Redwood, Japanese Green Maple, Trident Maple, Bald Cypress, Weeping Larch, Pin Oak, Paper Birch
Many bonsai trees don’t require that much care, despite popular belief. I, personally, have a Pachira aquatica that requires only a little water every week and trimming every 2-4 weeks. It just depends on how much you want to put into it.
Here are some resource links if you want an established, trained bonsai tree with detailed, custom instructions for proper care for each:
Easy bonsai: Hawaiian Umbrella, Jade, Juniper, Ficus, Money Tree, Norfolk Island Pine, Palm
Indoor Bonsai: Azalea, Pomegranate, Brush Cherry, Jasmine, Olive, Jade, Ficus, Palm, Money Tree, Plum, Hibiscus, Hawaiian Umbrella, Gardenia, Norfolk Island Pine
Outdoor bonsai: Dawn Redwood, Trident Maple, Japanese Green Maple, Butterfly Maple
Here are some resource links for creating your own bonsai tree with all required materials:
Basic starter kit – make your own bonsai tree