Bonsai

Many people associated the art of bonsai purely with the Japanese. However this art form actually originated in China over a thousand years ago and was known as pun-sai. Bonsai developed from this fascinating way of growing small miniature gardens and is still a popular activity in modern times.

Growing Bonsai Trees

Bonsai is most commonly associated with the growing of miniature versions of common trees including pines, cedar, yew and sycamore. A great deal of commitment is required to become a successful bonsai practitioner. This is because the process is quite slow and the miniature gardens require lots of care and attention.

Learning the skills of bonsai can take a bit of practice but the rewards are great for those that put in the time and effort.

Why Bonsai?

Bonsai is an incredible calming and relaxing hobby. There is something extremely satisfying about creating a beautiful miniature garden and the great thing is you don’t need a lot of space.Although many species of trees do thrive much better outdoors you can grow bonsai even if you live in a high rise city flat. You will need to try and recreate a natural environment for your potted bonsai gardens and this includes achieving the right combination of light, heat and nutrients. Finding the right balance for indoor bonsai can be more challenging but is achievable with perseverance.

Many trees lay dormant in the winter and then burst back into life in the spring. These physical signs of the seasons can pass you buy if you have a very busy career or live in a heavily built-up area. Bonsai can bring you back into touch with nature and create a sense of connection that could be missing from your life.

Bonsai Equipment

You will not need to invest a lot of money to get started in bonsai. All you will really require are some good ceramic pots (the right shape and size for your bonsai), a decent pair of secateurs, a small water demister and some compost/soil. You can buy special bonsai composts but any good garden compost should be fine. You will also need to get your first bonsai tree or you could consider growing your own from seed.


When looking for a Bonsai you needn’t look any further than britishbonsai.com as we stock a selection of Bonsai trees, allowing you to pick the perfect tree, for you or a loved one.