The History Of The Bonsai Tree

The history of the Bonsai tree is in fact long and steeped in culture. Many of us have just started to notice Bonsai trees. These miniaturized little trees that are oddly shaped suddenly seem to be popping up everywhere. Although they are currently enjoying a sudden burst in popularity the Bonsai tree is hardly a new invention.

The Pun-sai

Although Japan is given most of the credit when it comes to the history of the Bonsai tree, historians believe that the first culture to actually practice growing miniaturized trees were the Chinese. Many historians believe that the appeal of the Bonsai tree to this ancient culture was because the pot grown tree was so gnarled and bare of leaves that the potted tree looked more like a medieval animal than a tree. This gnarled shape would have made a Bonsai garden the perfect place to sit and tell fairytales. When the small potted trees were being cultivated in China they were called Pun-sai.

The Kamakura Period

The Japanese portion of the history of Bonsai started some time during the Kamakura period. The Kamakura portion of Japan’s history was when Buddhism was rapidly gaining appeal throughout Asia. The Kamakura period lasted from 1135-1333.

The Japanese weren’t content to grow a few oddly shaped trees of indeterminate species; they wanted their beautiful and ornamental trees to also be potted. At first the small gnarled trees were only seen in the gardens of Buddhist temples, but as the history of the Bonsai tree evolved the trees gradually appeared in the gardens that were tended by aristocrats and royalty as well. At the end of the Kamakura period the growing of Bonsai trees was a respected Japanese art.

Several centuries after the Kamakura period ended, little had changed in the history of the Bonsai tree. It was still a symbol of Japanese culture. It was commonly found in gardens and some of the aristocrats often brought their small potted trees inside for brief periods of time. Sometime during the 17th or 18th century the Bonsai tree, which until then had been exclusively a luxury that only the very wealthy or religious temples could afford, found its way into the gardens of the lower class.

The next big change in the history of Bonsai trees came in the middle to the 19th century. It was during this time period that Westerners were allowed to enter Japan. For the first time ever travelers were able to appreciate the unusual beauty of the Bonsai tree. Interest in the miniature trees was so great that they were even exhibited in the 1900 World Fair that was held in Paris.

Today Bonsai trees can be found in houses and gardens all over the world. There is nothing quite like a Bonsai, and I for one wouldn’t be without them.

Indoor Bonsai Plants and Their Care

Indoor bonsai plants are very attractive specimens and are an age old practice. Due to their beautiful appearance there are many people who have indoor bonsai plants in their homes.

Indoor bonsai plants will need extra care since they do not reap the full benefits of natural sunlight and natural weather conditions. In spite of their hardy appearances, some bonsai plants may be fragile when it comes to light and water.

Watering Your Indoor Bonsai

The bonsai plant that you have brought indoors will need lights to replace sunlight as well as monitoring regarding how often to water it. Your indoor bonsai plant will also benefit if it is placed in a well ventilated area. The type of indoor bonsai you have will dictate how often you need to water it as well as the state of the soil that it has. Some plants or trees need to have damp soil while others thrive well in spite of a drought.

Misting your plant may be necessary to produce a sort of rainforest humidity in which it will thrive. A humidity tray may be used but make sure that the pot is not exposed to the water but is instead on some pebbles or a stand.

Pruning and Cutting

The indoor bonsai tree will still need to be regularly pruned and cut to maintain appearances. Just because bonsai plants look frozen in time does not mean that they do not grow. Indoor bonsai and outdoor bonsai need to be repotted at least once a year up to three years depending on the kind of tree. The branches will also need to be maintained to keep the style that it has been designed to have.

Depending on what species of tree your indoor bonsai is, you will need to cut back on the fertilizer when it is winter time. This is because some tree species hibernate during the season and do not need as much nutrients as in warmer months. Your indoor bonsai might not fully experience the whole round of season because it is inside an artificial environment.

Indoor bonsai trees also need to be checked for pests and other anomalies that may have appeared. The fact that they are indoors may make them a favorite of spiders and other mites who are used to the great outdoors. It is best to gently clean the leaves and branches of your indoor bonsai plant with a damp cloth or a brush.