The greenskeeper: The art of crafting bonsai

The greenskeeper: The art of crafting bonsai
As reluctant as I am to admit it, contemplating a beautifully crafted, carefully-placed bonsai is a soothing experience indeed. This millennia-old horticultural technique has received as much flak for being macabre as praise for being beautiful, but the end result is almost always spectacular. The word bonsai literally means tray-planting, and that is essentially what it’s all about. The technique originates from penjin, a Chinese miniature landscaping tradition dating back to the 1st century CE.

The technique captivated the interest of the Japanese emperor in the 6th century, when several samples of the technique were sent to the royal court through emissaries and Buddhist students. By the 7th century, bonsai was an established art form in Japan, so popular and prestigious, that every noble household was required to own some. Techniques evolved over the centuries, with reams of literature written on the precise aesthetics and rules to be followed while creating bonsais. The oldest living bonsai in the world today, a five-needle pine bonsai called the Sandai-Shogun-No Matsu, is thought to be over 500 years old and is part of the Tokyo Imperial Palace collection.


Because of the precise rules governing the creation of bonsai, it’s a complex technique. But with a little know-how and reading, it’s difficult to go wrong when creating a bonsai the traditional way. Most tropical evergreens make good bonsai trees. Pipal, Banyan, even some conifers like Casuarina are easy to grow bonsai plants. Next, choose a bonsai tray for them. Most nurseries have bonsai trays in a variety of shapes and sizes, often imitations of the old Japanese designs. These are good enough, as long as they have holes for drainage. You can fashion wooden bonsai trays yourself too, but be warned that these might rot over time. You and your bonsai are going to be friends for a long, long time after all!
Bonsai planting media are usually quick drain mixes of soil, peat and moss, that need to be adjusted to the plant that you select. You might want to add a small rock or pebble to add to the bonsai-scape before you get planting. There are several styles in which you can plant and train a bonsai: formal and informal upright styles, slants, cascades, all depending on the type of plant you choose. You should also aim for a poignant emotion, part of the bonsai experience. Styles like Sharimiki deliberately train bonsais to look like deadwood, with tiny bits of green peeping out, emulating the struggle for survival. Netsuranari, the raft-style, mimics toppled over trees, while the Fukinagashi style simulates windblown trees on a mountain top.

Read up and decide what you want to do. It’s completely up to you!
Caring for a bonsai is time consuming, but said to be very relaxing. Bonsais need regular trimming, training and root pruning to gradually shape them into perfection. There are specialised bonsai tools available that will make your job easier. Remember, the true bonsai artist leaves no trace of his artistry behind on the plant. So no exposed cuts, wires or mangled branches should be visible in the end result. Be gentle, patient and kind to your little friend, and you will have its company for generations to come!