How to Grow a Bonsai Tree: Tips for Caring for Miniature Flora. We create a real and artificial bonsai with our own hands (2 master classes with step-by-step photos of the progress of work) Bonsai tree made of cardboard mk

Bonsai is a special technique for growing bonsai trees indoors. Essentially, bonsai is the art of creating the kind of tree you want to see. For a plant, you can choose the most common cutting of aspen, birch, pine, oak or juniper. With the help of various tricks, a strong large tree is forced to grow in small indoor pots, due to which a very beautiful small tree grows, which fits amazingly into a modern interior.

In the East, the bonsai technique is equated with the art of creating sculptures or painting. The history of bonsai dates back to the time of the samurai. When warriors went on campaigns, they certainly took small trees with them, personifying eternal youth and life.

How to plant a bonsai

Adult bonsai is an expensive pleasure. In addition, grown by someone else's hands, bonsai will not bring you proper satisfaction and joy. Old-timers of the East say that growing bonsai from scratch gives a person strength, teaches wisdom and patience.

To grow a bonsai at home, you need to go to the nearest park and find a small offshoot of any tree. Remember that bonsai is a prototype of a large tree, so you need to choose those varieties that suit your taste. That is, if you do not want to see leaves falling in autumn and bare branches in winter, you need to choose evergreen tree species. Also pay attention to which trees take root well in your lane. Don't plant a palm tree or banana tree if they don't get enough sunlight.

Walk through the park and decide on the choice of tree. It can be ficus, oak, elm, birch and any other plants. Dig up a small tree cutting. Usually viable shoots huddle around the roots of a large tree. In the same place, in the park, it is necessary to collect land for planting a plant. This is done so that the tree gets into the "familiar", that is, into the soil familiar to it.

To plant a plant, you need to prepare a pot. Bonsai grows very well and takes the desired shape in wide and shallow ceramic pots. The pot should be so shallow that it only covers the roots of the tree. Ceramics, in turn, perfectly retains moisture, which is so necessary when planting a shallow plant. However, for the first time, until the tree has grown stronger and gained strength, it can be planted in an ordinary pot for indoor plants.

At the bottom of the pot, you need to make drainage - scatter expanded clay pebbles or just brick shards. To prepare the soil, you need to mix three parts of the earth brought from the park with one part of sand and one part of peat. Mix the soil and pour it into the pot. Plant a tree in it, after cutting off the long roots. This is another important part of growing a tree. At each transplant, you need to cut the roots of the tree, leaving no more than 10 cm. This allows the plant to grow not up, but in breadth.

Growing bonsai is quite simple. Most trees do not need any special conditions. Immediately after planting a tree, it must be watered abundantly and placed in fresh air - for example, on a balcony or on a windowsill on the outside of a window.

fertilizers
Since there is not a lot of soil in the pot, bonsai need to be fertilized regularly. You need to feed the plant once every three weeks during the period of active growth. In winter, top dressing can be canceled. Usually bonsai are fertilized from a mixture of minerals, which include nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Some crops, such as pine and maple, do not fertilize with nitrogen, otherwise it can provoke the active growth of these trees, which is unacceptable for us.

Watering a bonsai tree
Bonsai should be watered moderately, the amount of water required by the plant depends on its type. However, you should not allow the soil to dry out completely, since a shallow pot does not allow the tree to accumulate moisture. It is best to water the plant as soon as the topsoil dries out. In winter, watering is reduced to a minimum. If the air in the room is very hot and dry, you need to place the plant pot in a pan of water. Bonsai also need regular spraying - so it looks fresher.

Temperature and amount of sunlight
Most cultures are quite unpretentious regarding the temperature in the room where they grow. Try to regularly take your "pet" out into the fresh air - put it on the balcony. Most trees grow normally at temperatures ranging from -10 degrees to +40 degrees Celsius.

But there should be plenty of sunlight all year round. Place bonsai on windows on the sunny side of the house. And only in the middle of summer the tree needs to be protected from direct sunlight, otherwise the crown will simply turn yellow.

pruning bonsai
Pruning is one of the main conditions for growing an aesthetically beautiful plant. Even at the very beginning of growing a tree, you need to decide on the shape that you would like to see in your pot. Trees can be cut in such a way that they are straight and tall, spreading and low, asymmetrical, spherical, etc.

When pruning, it is important to consider some features. If you want to speed up and improve the growth of a plant in a certain direction, you need to cut off only the tops of the branches that grow in that direction. When you remove only the top leaves, the growth of the plant in that direction is accelerated. If, on the contrary, you want to stop the growth of branches in a certain direction, you need to “pinch off” the branches, that is, remove them from the very base of the trunk. Most likely, new shoots will no longer grow from this place.

From the very beginning of the growth of the seedling, it is necessary to constantly form the crown of the plant. This accelerates the growth of leaves, while making them small and decorative. Usually the tree is pruned in spring and summer, using small pruners or scissors for this. It is not necessary to prune the tree during flowering, otherwise it will never bloom again.

Many flower growers who are just starting to grow bonsai do not understand how such a dwarf plant species can be obtained from a large viable tree. Here are a few tips to help you figure out how to shape your bonsai.

  1. Small capacity. If you plant a seedling in a large container, you will get a real garden tree. The small size of the shoots is achieved due to the shallow pot for planting bonsai. There is not much soil to "roam" in growth. And in order to replenish the strength of the plant, you need to transplant the tree into fresh soil saturated with minerals and fertilizers every few years.
  2. Minimum fertilizer. To slow down the growth of a tree, you need to fertilize it, but to a minimum. You must not allow active growth and development of the crown.
  3. Frequent pruning of young shoots. If you constantly cut off young branches, all the growth of the tree will go into the thickness of the trunk, which is what we want to achieve.
  4. Root pruning. At each transplant, you need to ruthlessly cut the roots of the tree, leaving only small branches no more than 12 cm long.
  5. Cuts in tree bark. If a tree stubbornly strives to grow upward, you need to stop the flow of sap under its bark. To do this, incisions are made on the bark or the trunk is simply pulled over with wire for several months.

All these techniques can be carried out only after the final strengthening of the seedling, otherwise it may lead to the death of a fragile tree.

What is sick bonsai

Bonsai can usually get sick with all those diseases and pests that affect large trees of this type. The main pests of the bonsai tree are spider mites, aphids, and worms. Like other indoor plants, bonsai can suffer from mold and mildew. You can cure pests using medicinal formulations for indoor plants, which are sold in specialized stores. You can also rub the tree trunk with garlic tincture, which kills insects. If your plant is sick, it means that you did not observe the temperature regime, the amount of watering and other plant life conditions.

Growing a beautiful, elegant and refined bonsai tree is a real hobby that requires patience and endurance. Bonsai is not just flower growing, it is a true art of creating beauty.

Video: how to grow a bonsai tree with your own hands

Bonsai is a special art when an exact copy of a tree is grown in miniature. The ancient Japanese came up with the idea of ​​growing miniature trees, turning this process into a whole art. Bonsai is a tree in a pot or is translated as "growing on a tray." Artificial bonsai is still popular today.

Artificial bonsai tree: what is it

Usually, work on creating such a tree begins with the fact that they are looking for a good branch for the trunk. Sometimes a slowly growing plant acts as a branch, which, for example, no longer develops. In connection with the wrong growth conditions, the plant has acquired a not quite correct shape - thickening, irregularities, curvature. And these defects can, however paradoxical it sounds, be turned into art.

Crown for bonsai - the most interesting. The use of juniper, foamiran, azalea is widespread.

A certain container serves as a basis, which must be filled with clay, gypsum, even plasticine. In a word, something that will hold a mini-tree.

Artificial bonsai: history of origin (video)

How to make an artificial bonsai with your own hands: instructions step by step

Any master class begins with a list of materials and tools that will be needed in the work. If you take the standard guide, you get a kind of universal list of traditional bonsai.

Materials for making bonsai:

  • Planter or plate (ceramic);
  • A piece of driftwood or, alternatively, a three-wire wire;
  • Gypsum;
  • Glue gun;
  • PVA glue;
  • Acrylic paints for finishing decor;
  • Artificial greenery divided into inflorescences.

This is the basis, that is, the list can be large

For beginners, the best option is a tree with a small amount of materials and fairly simple instructions.

The Art of Bonsai: The Ultimate Guide

So, why three-wire wire? It is not always possible to find the right snag or branch, and the wire is malleable to manipulation. At one end, this wire needs to be stripped to get future branches.

You need to do this procedure with three wires that form a trunk

Now you need to fix the barrel on a plate or in a flower pot. You will need a heat gun and hot glue.

After fixing, the entire structure is coated with PVA glue. Then you can start breeding gypsum.

  • Dilute gypsum according to the instructions, adding to PVA, the solution should look like thick sour cream;
  • The solution is applied to the frame of the tree, with its help form the structure of the trunk and branches;
  • Leave the design to dry for a day;
  • After a day with PVA glue, you need to grease the entire barrel back;
  • When the glue dries well, it can be painted brown;
  • Attention, the paint is also mixed with PVA glue (for three parts of paint, one part of glue);
  • The paint is applied not with a brush, but with a sponge;
  • Many craftsmen prefer to paint over the trunk with ocher as well;
  • It dries all two hours, and then you can make a crown;

Leaves will be attached to the branches with a thermal gun (artificial leaves can be bought at craft stores)

It's just a matter of the stand. Use the following way to decorate the stand: mix the same PVA glue and semolina in proportions of 2: 1, and add green paint there. This mixture is usually applied to the bottom of the plate with a cocktail spoon, beautiful irregularities are obtained.

At the foot of the tree, you can leave a few coffee beans that will imitate pebbles

Bonsai: how to make it (MK video)

How to make pine bonsai: decorate the site

Pine bonsai is garden bonsai. That is, a tree that will delight you not in the house, but on the site. This bonsai cannot be called completely artificial; nevertheless, real pine seedlings are taken. But there are a lot of manipulations, since you yourself regulate the growth and development of the plant.

Pine bonsai is a living copy of a coniferous tree in a reduced form

The main stages of growing pine bonsai:

  • Several pine seedlings should be provided with good drainage and lighting, and in the first year they should not be subjected to any special manipulations;
  • In the second year, the seedlings are already cut to 12 cm, while the remaining shoot should have good needles that are not pruned;
  • Pruning is done at the end of March, at an angle of 45 degrees.

Cropped plants will thicken. If the needles are too lush, it can be thinned out. Then a wire frame is superimposed on the seedling to give the plant the desired shape. When the wire cuts into the barrel, it will be removed.

Bonsai pine: planting seeds (video)

Do-it-yourself New Year's bonsai: skillful decor for the long-awaited holiday

New Year's bonsai - these are the same artificial leaves or needles, which is more appropriate, only snowy. The question is how to make snow. Take into service how other crafts “get out”. There may be snow from broken foam, snow from PVA glue and sea salt, beads, white sequins, etc.

New Year's bonsai can be made from any small tree, decorating it with Christmas tree decorations

But you can make a New Year tree in a different way: for example, create a bonsai from a money tree with your own hands. Since the money tree is grown for the sake of financial well-being, this will be the best wish in the New Year. Well, the New Year's atmosphere will be created by festive decor - tinsel, cones, decorations.

How to make a bonsai from plastic bottles: a piggy bank of ideas

And in this case, there are many variations on how to use plastic as a decor.

The two most common options:

  • Leaves from plastic bottles. Leaves are cut out from a green bottle, which are melted over the flame, taking the desired shape. Many of these leaves form a crown.
  • Squares from plastic bottles. Small squares or rectangles are cut, which subsequently need to be put on the wire. These pieces are also heat treated. The wire is folded in half, forming branches. Not a quick job, but you can also imitate a coniferous tree.

A similar do-it-yourself bonsai topiary looks good if you successfully decorate the trunk and stand

DIY bonsai in an aquarium

And you can put an artificial mini bonsai in the aquarium, which, by the way, looks healthy. An important step here is to choose a suitable snag. It has to be cooked.

Features of making bonsai in an aquarium:

  • Take a whole bucket of water, throw in at least ten tablespoons of salt, put the water on fire;
  • Throw a snag into this water;
  • You need to cook a snag for five hours, and then keep it in a bucket of cold water for another two days;
  • Plant the dried snag “head down” in a clay flower pot;
  • Put several large stones around the formed trunk, pebbles and sand will also be needed;
  • On the branches of a tree, you need to put Javanese moss disassembled into pieces, and you need to fix them carefully with a thin fishing line;
  • At the very base of such a tree, you also need to put moss.

Instead of driftwood, you can make a trunk from a fat woman, such a plant often vegetates on window sills

The tree can be placed in the center of the aquarium. There are instructions where all the manipulations are described in more detail, but a lot is thought out by the master himself right in the process. For example, you can make a mountain out of sand and pebbles right in the aquarium, where the tree will grow, it looks exotic and very Japanese.

Bonsai in the aquarium (video)

Bonsai is an oriental decor that has long been loved in our latitudes. Such a tree will decorate a greenhouse, living room, office, loggia. If you love Japanese culture, then a mini bonsai will harmoniously complement your bookshelf with volumes of Japanese authors.

Bonsai is a kind of gardening art form. This art form originated in China between the 8th and 10th centuries. Its essence is such that trees that grow in nature, and eventually become large enough, are planted in pots and various kinds of coasters. Due to the constant pruning of the crown and the fact that the root system becomes flat, such dwarf trees are obtained.

In order to grow pine bonsai, it will take a lot of time and effort, but the result is worth it.

You should start by collecting seedlings. It is best to take more than one, so that in the process of their growth you can choose the tree you like the most, and it is easier to experiment with the crown on several samples. An important point when growing pine bonsai is that it has 2 growth phases per year: late summer and late spring.

In the first year of bonsai growth, there is no particular trouble with it, since the tree is just beginning to take root, and buds appear, that is, nothing needs to be cut. In late spring, in the first phase of growth, the branches of the pine lengthen, but at the end of summer, in the second phase, the branches of the tree become thicker and the roots begin to accumulate the substances necessary for growth. Therefore, in the second phase, the roots of the tree should not be cut. Another important detail is that young pine seedlings need a lot of light, as well as good drainage, otherwise the roots will simply start to rot. A pot of pine should be placed away from drafts, as the plant is very afraid of the wind.

In the second year of growth, first of all, the seedlings are cut to 7-12 cm, but it is very important to ensure that healthy needles remain on the shoot after that, which, in no case, can be damaged. Pruning should be done at an angle of 45 ° and always at the end of March. Before you get a finished bonsai, its root system needs to be pruned every year.

But if suddenly the needles of your tree grow above the desired level, then it is better not to touch anything yet, and come up with another way to grow the bonsai crown.

After cutting off the shoot, the pine trunk will begin to thicken. Also, the needles can become very lush, so you need to thin them out so that each needle receives sunlight. Most importantly, don't overdo it. For pruning, you need to purchase a special pruner, which will bring the plant much less harm.

After these manipulations, a wire is applied to the seedling to form the shape of the trunk. The main thing is to make sure that the frame does not grow into the trunk, because as it thickens it will crash into the trunk, and as soon as this starts to happen, the wire should be removed and changed. The tips of the branches during this period are pinched, then they begin to branch better.

Now the tree will grow the way you want, guiding it with the wire. During this period, you need to regularly shorten the young shoots, then it will remain the correct shape and will continue to branch.

After you need to continue in the same direction, but without a wire. All that is needed is to regularly monitor the formation of the crown, removing the excess. Now the tree can be transplanted into a permanent bowl, decorating it to your liking.

Your bonsai is ready!

Bonsai are a wonderful piece of decor in your home, but as you know, it takes a lot of time to create such beauty. But you want to decorate your house with a decorative tree in this style right now. Of course, such a problem can be solved within a day - to buy it, but it's much more pleasant to create such a tree with your own hands. This is where numerous ways to create such an object of decor from artificial materials come to the rescue.

The material we need to work

  • Any ceramic plate or flowerpot, they will become a tree stand.
  • Three-core wire three pieces, 40 cm each. It will be needed to form the frame of the trunk and branches of the future bonsai.
  • Glue gun.
  • Gypsum, which will be needed to form the trunk and branches on the frame.
  • PVA glue.
  • Acrylic paints for the final design of the work.
  • Artificial greenery, which will need to be divided into inflorescences.

Creation of the trunk and branches

Take a three-core wire and strip 10-12 cm from one end, there will be future branches on this side. Do the same with the other two.

Now fix all three wires on the future stand with a heat gun. Connect them together and also fasten with hot glue, then coat the entire structure with PVA glue.

Next, you need to dilute the gypsum, as indicated on the package, also add PVA to the mixture. The consistency of the solution should be like thick sour cream. Apply to the frame of the tree and form the trunk and branches. Leave the tree for a day, it should dry thoroughly.

After a day has passed, take PVA glue and coat the whole tree again. Once the glue is dry, paint the barrel brown. The paint must be mixed with PVA in a ratio of 3: 1, and applied with a sponge. After that, ocher can be applied on top. It takes two hours to dry.

Creation of the crown of the tree and its design

After the trunk is completely dry, you can begin to attach the leaves to the branches. This is done with a thermal gun.

Now the last step remains - beautifully decorate the stand. To create grass on it, take semolina and PVA glue and mix in a ratio of 2: 1, add green paint to this mixture until the shade you need appears. You can apply the mixture to the bottom of the stand with a cocktail spoon, this method will help create natural bumps and relief. After glue the coffee beans at the base of the trunk - these will be pebbles. And in the finale, attach any toy in the form of an animal or whatever you like best to the grass. Leave it all to dry overnight.

Everything is ready, and using this master class, you have created a bonsai that looks like a living thing in record time.

And for those who want to see more clearly how to create an artificial bonsai and grow a real one, there are video tutorials:

It is known that Bonsai is a special art of growing miniature trees at home. Not everyone can take care of a living plant on their own, because you need a lot of patience and experience. Not everyone will buy a real bonsai either, due to its high cost. The last option remains - to create an artificial copy of the mini-tree with your own. In the article, you will learn several ways to make an artificial bonsai yourself.

The advantage of an artificial bonsai over a natural plant is obvious. It will take you a couple of dozen hours of work to create it, but it will take more than one year to grow it. It is not necessary to water the artificial tree, only occasionally brush off the dust from it. Before you start work and choose the material from which you will compose the composition, decide on the shape of your tree. Different styles of bonsai differ in the shape of the trunk and the density of the crown. In some trees, the branches are arranged symmetrically and “grow” evenly, while others twist and roll intricately, as if from a breath of wind. Once you have decided on the style of bonsai, go in search of a trunk. In the forest, in the park or in the garden, look for a stick that matches the shape and silhouette. In the same place, find branches of coniferous trees to decorate the crown. Now it needs to be prepared in a special way to make it safe and durable. To do this, prepare a solution for preservation: one part of acetone and denatured alcohol, add two parts of glycerin to them. In this solution for exactly a week, place the twigs of plants and needles cleaned of dirt. After the expiration of the conservation period, take out the parts of the future product and hang them in the fresh air to dry. Then you can paint the elements and assemble them into a whole composition, as will be described below. If you have not found a branch suitable for the trunk, then make it yourself. The material for the base can be a wire frame. Bend it in the position you want to see the future trunk. Then make a papier-mâché solution, stick it around the wire, and then complete the process with plaster. This material will create the texture and texture of the tree bark. Coloring will bring its appearance to perfection. The tree stand is also filled with plaster and dried. Heavy and dense material will ensure the reliability and stability of the entire composition.


What can a bonsai crown be made of if there is no natural needles at hand or it is not possible to preserve it? The masters use the most diverse and sometimes even unexpected materials. The artificial pine looks very attractive. For work, get a couple of twigs and separate segments with needles from them. Each bundle will be attached to the tree separately. Plant needles on hot glue, just be careful not to burn your hands. Adjust the density of the crown at your discretion. Keep in mind, in order to bring the look of the tree as close to natural as possible, the needles on the branches should “grow” in the same direction.

To create a bonsai crown, you can also use artificial leaves from purchased bouquets. To do this, separate the stems and individually glue each leaf to the branches. Take elements of different style and shade, this will add an unusual texture to your creation and in no way worsen its appearance. A beaded crown is made by stringing several beads onto a piece of copper wire. Then the wire is bent into a ring and dozens of the same bead-wire rings are added to it. Together, these elements make up the crown bundle and are attached to the trunk. Beaded bonsai are more often made in the reverse order than other types of artificial trees. First, leaves are made, then they are collected into twigs, from which the trunk is then constructed, and it is placed on a stand, or the base of the plant is poured with gypsum. Then it is decorated with additional elements.

The stand of the bonsai tree deserves special attention, because it sometimes takes more time to create than the entire composition. You can make a backlight or place miniature animals at the roots of a tree. It all depends on your imagination and courage!

midori tsumi- pinching the point of growth. By shortening the shoot, you provoke the laying of new buds below the pinching point, thus obtaining dense paws with many branches. Depending on what kind of trees you are working with, the time of work changes:

  • for hardwoods - pinching begins during the period of active growth of shoots and lasts until mid-summer. On the remaining branch there are 2-3 leaves (buds). They finish work at the end of July, so that the regrown branches prepare for the winter;
  • for conifers - pinching begins when the branch is in the “candle” mode, but the needles have already moved away from it at an angle of 45 °.

Kiri modoshi- pruning all the shoots of the last year to form dense brushes. It is produced at the beginning of sap flow, before the buds open.

Hamu-siri– thinning needles – is used only for pines. All the needles of the previous year are plucked, and the remains are thinned out by half or less (depending on how many shoots you want to get).

Fuse-zukuri- special techniques for changing the shape and direction of growth of shoots.

For these purposes, the branches are bent in the right direction to the required angle and fixed.

When bending, the main task is not to damage the tree, therefore, at the slightest crackle, the slope is reduced, and the branch is fixed. Bamboo spacers, soft copper wire, twine, burlap are used to protect branches from damage. They carefully monitor that the strapping does not grow into the bark - as soon as the branches thicken, they are tied up. Full fixation of the branch occurs after 2-3 seasons.

Shitate- barrel bending technique. Such niwaki styles, like mogi, kengai, syakai require that the barrel is not located in a vertical plane. To give shape, use spacers, stretching, bending to the ground, followed by fixation with pegs.

The trunk can be formed in two ways:

  • setting the right direction for a young seedling from year to year (for example, planting a plant at an angle);
  • changing the shape of the rootstock in a mature tree (usually used to reinforce existing bends).

There is a risk that the unnatural position of the trunk may cause the root system to not hold it, so the extensions are installed as follows:

Where to start?

We advise a novice bonsaiist to first practice on trees and shrubs growing on the site. Nivaki can be formed from both a young and a long-growing tree. They begin work in early spring, before the buds open. At this time, the shape of the tree, natural curves, strong and weak shoots are clearly visible. For bonsai, choose a healthy plant that can survive the stress caused by drastic interference in its life.

Operating procedure:

  • at a tree or shrub, cut off all diseased, broken and dry branches;
  • choose the style in which nivaki will be formed, paying special attention to the age of the tree and the natural shape of the trunk;
  • decide where the front side of the composition will be, mark the branches of the first order (bases) and the topmost branch crowning the nivkai.

Skeletal branches should emphasize the levels as much as possible - for this they are placed in a plane parallel to the ground, using the techniques described above.

After that, all excess shoots are removed, leaving on the skeletal branches those that will later form the crown. If necessary, stretch marks are installed, directing the growth of shoots in the right direction.

The next stage starts only next year:

Examples of elementary niwaki

Jasmine. The shrub gives abundant shoots, and without corrective pruning after a few years has an unsightly neglected appearance. What can be done? Remove all excess growth, leaving a few of the strongest vertical shoots. Pull them together with a soft wire - at the top you will get a compact “hat”, which in the spring will turn into a wonderful white cloud with a delicate aroma.

Spirea. The lush blooming "Rich Bride" is an excellent material for bonsai. Leaving a few skeletal branches, weave them together, and cut off all excess at the root. Give the stems the desired height, form the side shoots in the form of a ball.

Lilac. An ordinary bush can become a garden barefoot masterpiece if you work a little:

  • cut out all the shoots and remove the stem branches under the root, leaving one, the strongest or crooked shoot;
  • cut it to a height of no more than 1.5 m;
  • using the fuse-zukuri technique, form a crown from young shoots in the form of a bowl, shell or cap at the top of the main branch;
  • try to direct the growth of young upper shoots parallel to the ground, tying a load to them;
  • be sure to remove all excess growth at the root and adjust the top growth point.

After flowering, be sure to remove all dry candles - this stimulates an increase in peduncles for the next year.

Holly maple. The bright red leaves of this plant are good on their own. But if you give the tree the desired shape, you will get a unique composition that will decorate the shore. artificial reservoir or alpine slide. Plant two young seedlings side by side, which can later be intertwined with each other, or you can grow a tree in the sokan style - with a forked trunk.

Don't be afraid to experiment! For an enthusiastic person, there is no such plant that could not be turned into a masterpiece to the envy of all neighbors.

Bonsai is a kind of gardening art form. This art form originated in China between the 8th and 10th centuries. Its essence is such that trees that grow in nature and eventually become large enough are planted in pots and various kinds of coasters. Due to the constant pruning of the crown and the fact that the root system becomes flat, such dwarf trees are obtained.

Creating a real bonsai tree with your own hands from pine

In order to grow pine bonsai, it will take a lot of time and effort, but the result is worth it.

You should start by collecting seedlings. It is best to take more than one, so that in the process of their growth you can choose the tree you like the most, and it is easier to experiment with the crown on several samples. An important point when growing pine bonsai is that it has 2 growth phases per year: late summer and late spring.

In the first year of bonsai growth, there is no particular trouble with it, since the tree is just beginning to take root, and buds appear, that is, nothing needs to be cut. In late spring, in the first phase of growth, the branches of the pine lengthen, but at the end of summer, in the second phase, the branches of the tree become thicker and the roots begin to accumulate the substances necessary for growth. Therefore, in the second phase, the roots of the tree should not be cut. Another important detail is that young pine seedlings need a lot of light, as well as good drainage, otherwise the roots will simply start to rot. A pot of pine should be placed away from drafts, as the plant is very afraid of the wind.

In the second year of growth, first of all, the seedlings are cut to 7-12 cm, but it is very important to ensure that healthy needles remain on the shoot after that, which, in no case, can be damaged. Pruning should be done at an angle of 45 ° and always at the end of March. Before you get a finished bonsai, its root system needs to be pruned every year.

But if suddenly the needles of your tree grow above the desired level, then it is better not to touch anything yet, and come up with another way to grow the bonsai crown.

After cutting off the shoot, the pine trunk will begin to thicken. Also, the needles can become very lush, so you need to thin them out so that each needle receives sunlight. Most importantly, don't overdo it. For pruning, you need to purchase a special pruner, which will bring the plant much less harm.

After these manipulations, a wire is applied to the seedling to form the shape of the trunk. The main thing is to make sure that the frame does not grow into the trunk, because as it thickens it will crash into the trunk, and as soon as this starts to happen, the wire should be removed and changed. The tips of the branches during this period are pinched, then they begin to branch better.

Now the tree will grow the way you want, guiding it with the wire. During this period, you need to regularly shorten the young shoots, then it will remain the correct shape and will continue to branch.

After you need to continue in the same direction, but without a wire. All that is needed is to regularly monitor the formation of the crown, removing the excess. Now the tree can be transplanted into a permanent bowl, decorating it to your liking.

Your bonsai is ready!

Master class on creating artificial bonsai with your own hands

Bonsai are a wonderful piece of decor in your home, but as you know, it takes a lot of time to create such beauty. But you want to decorate your house with a decorative tree in this style right now. Of course, such a problem can be solved within a day - to buy it, but it's much more pleasant to create such a tree with your own hands. This is where numerous ways to create such an object of decor from artificial materials come to the rescue.

The material we need to work

  • Any ceramic plate or flowerpot, they will become a tree stand.
  • Three-core wire three pieces, 40 cm each. It will be needed to form the frame of the trunk and branches of the future bonsai.
  • Glue gun.
  • Gypsum, which will be needed to form the trunk and branches on the frame.
  • PVA glue.
  • Acrylic paints for the final design of the work.
  • Artificial greenery, which will need to be divided into inflorescences.

Creation of the trunk and branches

Take a three-core wire and strip 10-12 cm from one end, there will be future branches on this side. Do the same with the other two.

Now fix all three wires on the future stand with a heat gun. Connect them together and also fasten with hot glue, then coat the entire structure with PVA glue.

Next, you need to dilute the gypsum, as indicated on the package, also add PVA to the mixture. The consistency of the solution should be like thick sour cream. Apply to the frame of the tree and form the trunk and branches. Leave the tree for a day, it should dry thoroughly.

After a day has passed, take PVA glue and coat the whole tree again. Once the glue is dry, paint the barrel brown. The paint must be mixed with PVA in a ratio of 3: 1, and applied with a sponge. After that, ocher can be applied on top. It takes two hours to dry.

Creation of the crown of the tree and its design

After the trunk is completely dry, you can begin to attach the leaves to the branches. This is done with a thermal gun.

Now the last step remains - beautifully decorate the stand. To create grass on it, take semolina and PVA glue and mix in a ratio of 2: 1, add green paint to this mixture until the shade you need appears. You can apply the mixture to the bottom of the stand with a cocktail spoon, this method will help create natural bumps and relief. After glue the coffee beans at the base of the trunk - these will be pebbles. And in the finale, attach any toy in the form of an animal or whatever you like best to the grass. Leave it all to dry overnight.

Everything is ready, and you, using this master class , created a bonsai that looks like it's alive in record time.

And for those who want to see more clearly how to create an artificial bonsai and grow a real one, there are video tutorials: