When you first get started in the world of Bonsai, you will probably feel a bit overwhelmed with the choices you have. Literally, hundreds of different trees are available that make excellent choices for Bonsai, all of them good options.
CHOOSING YOUR TREE
To help you through the process of choosing the right tree for your Bonsai, we have gathered information on the top choices. Now keep in mind that you can obviously choose whatever you like but the following trees have been proven time after time to be perfect for Bonsai. They have the characteristics needed, are trainable, beautiful, and hardy. Therefore, if you are just getting started, you might at least consider one or more of these recommendations.
Dwarf Pomegranate
The Dwarf Pomegranate is an extremely popular choice for Bonsai. In addition to fulfilling all the requirements for being a great Bonsai, this particular tree also produces wonderful flowers and fruit.The Dwarf Pomegranate is very much like your traditional Pomegranate with the exception of size. The leaves tend to be thinner and the flowers and fruits smaller. The flowers have a trumpet shape that is stunning yellow/orange. Additionally, the trunk of the Dwarf Pomegranate twists, which is what make this such a favorite choice for Bonsai.
If you think about it, growing Bonsai involves significant effort in training the trunk and limbs to twist and turn. With the Dwarf Pomegranate, the gnarling comes naturally, which means training is a breeze. This ancient look is something most Bonsai growers look for and with this tree; you get it without any effort.
The leaves are dark green with subtle shades of bronze. This further enhances the rich look of the Bonsai. Once the Dwarf Pomegranate has bloomed, the fruit is produced, which looks like small red balls the size of golf balls.
If you want an informal style of Bonsai, one that would fit well into the Cascade, Root over Rock, Forest, Literati, or Informal Upright categories, then the Dwarf Pomegranate would be perfect. This particular tree handles hot very well and loves the sun.
Care
- Dwarf Pomegranate can be propagated easily. Therefore, if you want group plantings, you can get them by taking thickbranches from the parent tree.
- Pomegranates need to be kept damp at all times
- To encourage flowering shoots, you can keep this tree in shade and a little on the dry side prior to mid-season
- You do want to keep the Dwarf Pomegranate where it can receive good light
- Always place the Bonsai so it has adequate shelter from warm, drying winds or frost
- Do not plant the Dwarf Pomegranate in a pot that is then placed in a shallow container or dish
- To encourage flowering, keep this Bonsai well watered and choose a deeper pot when developing its root system
- The Dwarf Pomegranate does not handle cold weather well and will not tolerate frost
- If you live in a region where extreme heat or cold are common, then you might considering growing this Bonsai in a greenhouse
- The branches tend to break easily so extra care needs to be taken when wiring
Serissa
The Serissa species comes from a massive family consisting of up to 5,000 species. The plant has a shrub like appearance with thick leaves that are oval in shape, dark green, and about 18 inches tall. When the leaves become bruised, they produce an unpleasant odor.Most people will choose the Serissa because it has a neat, polished look with dense branch coverage and flowers that bloom for long amount of time. The trunk of the Serissa is gray in color and very rouge. As the Bonsai ages, the trunk will begin to change shades of gray,
becoming lighter and lighter.
With blooms all year long, primarily from spring to fall, this makes an excellent choice if you were looking for color. The flowers are shaped like a funnel and almost completely white. You can find species that develop double flowers and if you want color other than white, you will find a number of options in this family such as the Pink Snow Rose, which produces leaves that are off-white with soft, pink flowers.
Care
- This particular plant should only be used for indoor Bonsai. Additionally, the Serissa requires a lot of light and needs to be placed where it can get plenty of air and temperatures ranging from 55 to 65 degrees. However, you want to make sure the Bonsai does not sit in front of any drafts and if you want to give it some outdoor time in the summer, just make sure you set it under shade.
- The best time to prune the Serissa is after the flowers have gone through the final blooming and new shoots have several nodes developed. To ensure you have healthy re-growth for the next season, you do want to leave about five leaves.
- Then about every other year during the springtime, you will need to repot the Bonsai and prune the roots.
- This Bonsai will require plenty of water and often
- Choose only organic fertilizers that are slow yielding
- This plant is easy to propagate simply by taking small branchesin the spring and replanting them in a heated box kept under glass
- The only drawback of the Serissa is that when you prune and repot, you will probably get a whiff of an unpleasant odor
Bonsai Gardening Secrets
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