Hello everyone!

I’ve been feeling it in the air, and I know you have too…spring is about to peek its head out of the ground to delight us all! Now is the time to start planning your spring time bonsai gardening to do list!  For most bonsai’s, early spring is the best time to re pot, root trim, and shape for the upcoming gardening extravaganzas of beauty.

Do you have everything you need?  New sharp shears?  Concave cutters?  Root Rakes?  Plenty of high quality bonsai soil?

You will want to be sure to get everything together so that when the awakenings of spring begin to stir, you are ready and waiting…because with Bonsai, timing is everything. You can easily locate everything you need and want at our sister site, Bonsai Outlet.com;  And while the excitement is building for an incredible bonsai season, let me request that you share your stories with us…we want to hear about what you are doing with Bonsai!  Tell us your secrets, share your adventures, and ask us your questions!  If we all pool together, we can provide each other with a wealth of experience that will enhance our gardens, and the gardens of our neighbors which not only equates to bountiful karma…it’s also just plain fun!

Happy Spring everyone!

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As January comes to a close, another holiday is on the horizon!

Valentine’s Day marks a moment in our busy lives that is purely designated to honor the loved ones that make our world a more joyful place to live in. Shops are filled with decorations and giant chocolate hearts meant to sweeten the occasion and flower sales spike at an all time high. In this pink and red swirl of color and lace enhanced emotion, I was reflecting upon the traditional gifts of Valentine’s Day and started to wonder why it is that we often give “disposable” items like roses and chocolate to the ones we love most.  I smiled as I began to think about Bonsai trees…because unlike roses that simply wilt, and chocolate that is quickly eaten, a lovingly tended Bonsai tree can last a lifetime…or more.

At Bonsai Outlet, we have a wonderful assortment of Bonsai that are perfect symbols of love everlasting; the perfect gift for someone you love to express that your relationship is something beautiful, unique and special that will never cease growing and never stop offering joy.  This Valentine’s Day, offer your loved ones something that will last…inspire stability and nurturance…give the gift that keeps on giving.  Bonsai…it’s an inspiration!

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Another year has come and gone and everyone is reflecting upon what they might like to incorporate into 2010. For some of us, resolutions of ending old habits are high on the list…for others, bringing new things into our lives is the priority.

Whether you are getting rid of something or adding on to your life, one thing that experts agree about is that everyone can benefit from adding activities that ensure stress relief. Studies show that doing activities that are stress relieving can add years of healthy living to your life, and that stress reduction is a vital component to improving an individual’s quality of life as well.

For those of us that enjoy the meditative quality of bonsai, this comes as no surprise. We already take time in quiet introspection communing with the soothing, healing energy of plants, and are well aware of the peace it instills within. Understanding this kind of healing is a gift in and of itself and gives a semblance of serenity and balance that is more than “talk”, providing stability as we move forward into an abundant 2010 with confidence, enthusiasm and a renewed sense of wellbeing.

It is with this outlook that I’d like to wish you a Happy New Year! May 2010 inspire each and every one of us to be the best we can be… inside and out!

Ashley

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For many of us, winter is a season of chilly toes and longingly looking out into the piles of snow that are all that is left of our beautiful gardens for the time being. The tradition of indoor bonsai allows ample opportunity to enjoy working with our hands in the therapeutic and soul satisfying occupation of gardening that is usually cut off in the winter.

For thousands of years, human beings have enjoyed indoor plantings that provided them with medicinal and food based needs. Royalty enjoyed more elegant decorative plants, formed into topiaries or the miniature tree forms of bonsai.

Like these traditions of old, a Christmas or solstice tree during the holiday season is an attempt to bring nature into our homes, providing a space where nature and man meet and celebrate the darkest time of the year.

Yesterday, when I was out enjoying the winter weather, arms full of packages for my loved ones, I noticed a small store with a decorated interior that exclaimed the holiday spirit that was bustling about in warm winter coats and mittens;  Its warm environment beckoning us all in from the cold outdoors with its cheerful window decorations. In the center of the window, on a beautiful stool, stood a perfect Rosemary bonsai bedecked with tiny glittering lights and lovely ornaments no bigger than my thumbnail. I stood in that window in admiration for the tiny bonsai tree, which unlike a traditional Christmas tree whose life ends with the season, would live on to see Christmas after Christmas after Christmas. A perfect miniature replica of the trees that stand tall in the forests of our world. Instead of ending life, instead of having been chopped to the ground…this bonsai Christmas tree was a message of life enduring.

A true Christmas tree.

Written by a guest blogger.

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The beauty of Bonsai is found not only in the balance that comes from an aesthetically formed trunk, but also in its proportions of size in comparison to their natural, unbound ancestors.

To truly achieve the proper look of bonsai, leaf size is important to consider. While some trees have naturally small leaves, others need to be trained to reduce their leaf size. Because the growth of plants is directly dependent upon the size of their environment, the manifestation of what is above the soil mirrors what goes on below.

Restricting the growth and development of the bonsai by keeping it in a small pot allows nature to do the hard part. Trimming roots annually allows for new, healthy growth at a pace contained within the same sized pot, and the trimming of branches of leaves during the growth season ensures that the leaves will grow in smaller with an abundance of buds.

It is important to remember that top pruning a tree while dormant removes buds that receive food in the spring which over stimulates the plant, and leads to large leaves. Pruning a tree while dormant without top pruning removes part of the food supply for stimulating new growth and buds, which results in smaller leaves.

Top pruning a tree that has already leafed out removes the energy that has been put forth by the roots of the tree and puts a great deal of strain on the plant, though the new leaves will be smaller, as such, this technique should only be practiced on a strong, healthy plant and no more than three times a year.  With careful pruning and attention to light, fertilizer and water needs, you will enjoy years with your lovely bonsai, complete with the dainty leaves that make this art so appealing.

Guest Writer

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How to raise miniature Bonsai

Miniature bonsai are called Maine bonsai (pronounced mah-nay bone-sigh); they are the delightfully tiny, miniature bonsai—of bonsai! Do you know how to classify your bonsai by its size? Take a look at our Bonsai Size Classification chart.

Just as traditional bonsai artists strive to create graceful lines that mimic those found in nature on their giant full sized relatives, miniature bonsai artists achieve the same grace …only at much, much smaller scale than their bonsai cousins!

These tiny plants are grown with the minimum amount of soil in the smallest bonsai pots (sometimes called accent pots) in which they can live. Needing water several times a day (3+ times) in the warmer months to ensure that their roots stay moist, Maine bonsai requires excellent drainage to prevent root rot.

Excellent drainage is achieved through placing fine netting over the drain hole of the pot – just like you would with larger pots. Next, add a layer of bonsai soil. This granulated soil is great for drainage needs, preventing excess water from stagnating around the roots.

Maine bonsai will benefit from being fertilized with organic fertilizer once a week, and will benefit from being placed on humidity trays layered in tiny pebbles to help the bonsai maintain its moisture.

To train a Maine bonsai, use fine aluminum (or copper) wire very carefully to shape your bonsai. My personal preference is aluminum bonsai wire – it’s easier to work with and more forgiving. Pinch off branches with fingernails or use sharp bonsai shears while they are very young to acquire desired shape. The pruning process takes precision and patience. Leaf Trimmers is a tool often used to prune Maine Bonsai Trees.

You will likely want to repot miniature bonsai annually. The bonsai roots will be lightly trimmed, and the entire plant can go back into the same pot with fresh soil. You will need to pay special attention to them for several weeks, ensuring that they have an abundance of water to remedy their root loss.

With proper care, miniature bonsai trees will thrive, often living through three or more generations of man. Some trees of only 1 ¼ inches tall can live through several decades which is a particular kind of irony when something so fragile and delicate shows such tenacity and determination for life. As such, Maine bonsai are poetry in action and are sure to delight all who encounter their delicate and intriguing presence.

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As winter starts to show its chill to our outdoor gardens, the soothing presence of indoor Bonsai gardening shares its delights no matter what the seasonal weather changes happen to dish out!  Bonsai is an ancient tradition that can be practiced year round, and is unlimited in its ability to satisfy and interest any plant lover.

From master Bonsai artists to beginners with limited Bonsai knowledge, there are huge benefits and satisfactions that will come from working with Bonsai that can be obtained throughout the year, making it not only a great hobby, but a fantastic and unique holiday gift idea for a special friend or loved one!  Even teens, who are increasingly hard to please in our material world, find the beauty and intrigue of Bonsai to be something they cannot deny.  Giving the gift of Bonsai communicates that you believe the receiver is capable of nurturing, and being responsible for life, which is the highest compliment one can give. 

Having Bonsai as a hobby is sure to give a lifetime of satisfaction and enjoyment as there is always something new to learn from this ancient art.  Eliminating the boredom that can come from hobbies that can be mastered easily, Bonsai offers every individual new challenges and insights from beginning stages to master levels. In addition to the joy and meditative quality that caring for a living Bonsai offers, there are plenty of wonderful bonsai books, including Pocket Bonsai by David Prescott which features helpful tips and full color pictures of dozens of fantastic bonsai, and Indoor Bonsai by Paul Lesniewics which is an excellent guide with detailed specifics for successfully growing Bonsai indoors. There are tiny mud figurines to add fun, charm and perspective, websites like Bonsaioutlet.com that allow you to obtain the best soil combinations and pruning shears, and fun clubs to keep you busy no matter what the weather dishes out! 

From childhood to becoming an elder, there are holistic benefits, mental and personal lessons, skills to be learned, beauty to be enjoyed, and a connection with nature year round to be found from working with Bonsai that no other activity can offer.  With minimal research and a hardy Bonsai like the Chinese Elm, the Fukien Tea or the dwarf Hawaiian Umbrella (to name only a few of my personal favorites…), the tradition and stimulation of Bonsai is sure to enchant and satisfy all who embark on its journey!

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Do you See a Trend?

Recently, bonsai gardening has increased in popularity. Bonsai trees make a great hobby for people who want to de-stress and re-connect with themselves and nature.  Bonsai gardening does not require classes, discussion or instructional DVDs.  All you need is the right kind of tree and a few basic tools.  This is exactly why we think bonsai enthusiasts shop with Bonsai Outlet. I like to think it's our ability to match the right tree to the right person.

Takes the Stress out of Gardening
For years, people have been purchasing their bonsai gardening supplies from our little bonsai shop. Our shelves are well-stocked, we have a great  selection of good quality bonsai tools, bonsai pots, pruning accessories and fertilizers to make shopping for your bonsai gardening needs as quick and convenient as a click of the mouse. 

We Also Move the Bonsai Tree from the Nursery directly to your Door
Once you have satisfied your thirst for knowledge, decided on your beginner tree and selected a few basic tools (or starter kits), we will take care of the rest.  The bonsai trees are wrapped carefully and shipped over ground.  If the weather is inclement, Bonsai Outlet will hold your tree in the nursery until it is safe to be shipped.

Tools and accessories are carefully wrapped and shipped in a different container in order to protect your new bonsai tree.  Bonsai Outlet has a toll-free number and accessible email contact to answer any questions you may have as you get started on your new journey.

Bonsai Outlet wants you to be happy with your tree.  Relax and enjoy your new hobby!  Take the stress out of your day with bonsai gardening. Please consider our little bonsai store the next time you need supplies - www.BonsaiOutlet.com.

Thank you

Ashley Carrier

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Why I Grimace When I See “Mallsai”

The other day I was at one of those ever-present big-box discount retailers, when I saw two or three different species of plants (ficus, palm, and abricola) being sold as bonsai trees, for just $20.  Clearly these “mallsai” were low quality and even had the look of mass-production to them (e.g. the rocks were glued in place).

To make things worse, there were no care instructions. I played dumb and asked an employee if she knew how to take care of it. She shrugged and told me “it’s just like a house plant. It will do fine in almost any room.” I couldn’t help but think an experienced bonsai gardener could actually save these trees, but if someone new to bonsai bought one, the tree would most likely die in just a few short days.

It’s a lose-lose situation: a frustrating experience for the shopper and one that only damages the overall reputation of bonsai today. It would be great if stores would stop selling “mallsai,” but we have to do all we can to spread the word so people will know the proper place to purchase a bonsai tree – and one that’s right for their home.  It’s our only chance at turning a negative situation into a positive experience, and one that can help bonsai’s reputation improve.

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What Does It Takes to Run the Learning2Bonsai Community: Your Participation!

The other day I was reading some research related to managing online communities like Learning2Bonsai. One stat that jumped out at me – and one I’m hoping that we can beat! – shows that in the first year, 90% of all contributed content comes from the site owner (unless you’re extremely lucky).

I was disappointed to learn this to say the least. We already invest considerable time, energy, and resources running Learning2Bonsai, and I was hoping it would take off much faster than that.

The good news is that I think it can.  Just a few short weeks after launching the site, we already have hundreds of members – proof positive of the interest and bonsai expertise that you all share.

The next step is to encourage sharing and knowledge transfer by participating in the community. Remember, we originally developed the community to help novice bonsai enthusiasts learn more about bonsai and to create a place where we could all share our collective experiences.

So let’s get it going! Please send us articles, links to videos, how-to guides, or other resources. Or answer a lingering question, post one of your own, or jump into a discussion. All it takes is one compelling article or thought provoking question, and I’m confident we’ll pick up all the speed we need to make this THE authoritative site for all things bonsai.

And who knows, someone out there may be able to help you with your bonsai question at the same time. Give it a try!

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