Little by Little: Why Growing a Bonsai Could Change Your Life
Tap into the gentle and intriguing world of bonsai and let it teach you the joy of patience
A bonsai is more than a tiny tree in a pot. The word means ‘tree in a tray’ and the skill was adapted by the Japanese centuries ago from Chinese penjing, scaled-down potted landscapes often with figurines. Bonsai focuses on growing a single tree and is more formal and minimalist. The leisurely craft mingles horticulture, art and sculpture with the ability to slow down and work with nature. See why you should bring a little bonsai serenity into your life, and how to get started.
It brings spiritual energy to a space
Bonsai and feng shui have much in common. Bonsais are trained to grow in forms representing natural balance. The principles of feng shui also foster harmony through balancing yin and yang forces in an environment. Bonsai brings the elements of wood and earth, two of feng shui’s five elements of life, into a home, increasing the flow of positive energy.
A practical guide to feng shui
Bonsai and feng shui have much in common. Bonsais are trained to grow in forms representing natural balance. The principles of feng shui also foster harmony through balancing yin and yang forces in an environment. Bonsai brings the elements of wood and earth, two of feng shui’s five elements of life, into a home, increasing the flow of positive energy.
A practical guide to feng shui
It’s an ever-changing art form
A bonsai is sometimes called ‘art without end’, evolving constantly in response to its environment and the grower’s thoughtful intervention. A bonsai is a miniature mirror of the seasons, as its foliage changes colour and falls in autumn and emerges again in spring and summer.
A bonsai is sometimes called ‘art without end’, evolving constantly in response to its environment and the grower’s thoughtful intervention. A bonsai is a miniature mirror of the seasons, as its foliage changes colour and falls in autumn and emerges again in spring and summer.
It’s a great hobby for urban gardeners
A bonsai is the tree you can have if you live in a concrete jungle. It takes very little soil, water and space, can grow on a balcony or inside, or a mixture of both. High-density urban living often leads to feelings of alienation and isolation – connecting with other bonsai hobbyists creates a social circle of friends for sharing experiences and tips.
A bonsai is the tree you can have if you live in a concrete jungle. It takes very little soil, water and space, can grow on a balcony or inside, or a mixture of both. High-density urban living often leads to feelings of alienation and isolation – connecting with other bonsai hobbyists creates a social circle of friends for sharing experiences and tips.
It creates unique natural sculpture
Bonsai is a collaboration between grower and plant. Each contributes their individuality and essence to create a unique entity. Bonsai speaks to our inner gardener and artist and there’ll never be another tree like the one you observe, nurture and nudge into a living work of art.
Bonsai is a collaboration between grower and plant. Each contributes their individuality and essence to create a unique entity. Bonsai speaks to our inner gardener and artist and there’ll never be another tree like the one you observe, nurture and nudge into a living work of art.
It’s a hobby for a lifetime and beyond
Bonsai history is peppered with astonishing claims about the age of trees. An 800-year-old specimen owned by bonsai master Kunio Kobayashi stands in his bonsai museum in Shunkaen, Japan. A rare white pine nurtured for six generations of the Yamaki family is said to have survived the 1945 atomic bomb and is now in a Washington museum.
A bonsai cherished over a lifetime may become a family heirloom, a living reminder of the people who have cared for it. Traditionally, when you give a bonsai, you make a gesture of love and respect and a wish for long life and happiness for the recipient.
Bonsai history is peppered with astonishing claims about the age of trees. An 800-year-old specimen owned by bonsai master Kunio Kobayashi stands in his bonsai museum in Shunkaen, Japan. A rare white pine nurtured for six generations of the Yamaki family is said to have survived the 1945 atomic bomb and is now in a Washington museum.
A bonsai cherished over a lifetime may become a family heirloom, a living reminder of the people who have cared for it. Traditionally, when you give a bonsai, you make a gesture of love and respect and a wish for long life and happiness for the recipient.
It’s an emotional commitment
Grow a bonsai and you have a companion for life. Many hobby bonsai growers say they feel they are embarking on a journey with their tree, and develop a deep sense of attachment and responsibility towards it, not unlike that felt towards a pet.
Grow a bonsai and you have a companion for life. Many hobby bonsai growers say they feel they are embarking on a journey with their tree, and develop a deep sense of attachment and responsibility towards it, not unlike that felt towards a pet.
Bonsai FAQs
Can a beginner do it?
Bonsai is studied and practised all over the world by both experts and novices. Japan has several bonsai masters who have trained and refined the art all their lives, and the trees they have created are honoured and displayed in gardens and museums. You can start your own with very little outlay and some basic knowledge, and enjoy a leisurely learning experience as you go.
Can a beginner do it?
Bonsai is studied and practised all over the world by both experts and novices. Japan has several bonsai masters who have trained and refined the art all their lives, and the trees they have created are honoured and displayed in gardens and museums. You can start your own with very little outlay and some basic knowledge, and enjoy a leisurely learning experience as you go.
How do I get started?
Bonsais can be grown from seed, cuttings or container plants. Many nurseries sell ‘pre-bonsai’ specimens, a good option for novices. Begin your research by reading up on bonsai principles and looking at photographs of renowned bonsai examples. Visit or contact a specialist bonsai nursery, search internet sites for online courses and tutorials and take advantage of the dozens of bonsai hobby clubs Australia-wide.
The beauty of bonsai is that you don’t have to know it all to get started. While your tree acclimatises, take a pause to study it, learn about its care, get to know it and decide how you will approach the task.
Bonsais can be grown from seed, cuttings or container plants. Many nurseries sell ‘pre-bonsai’ specimens, a good option for novices. Begin your research by reading up on bonsai principles and looking at photographs of renowned bonsai examples. Visit or contact a specialist bonsai nursery, search internet sites for online courses and tutorials and take advantage of the dozens of bonsai hobby clubs Australia-wide.
The beauty of bonsai is that you don’t have to know it all to get started. While your tree acclimatises, take a pause to study it, learn about its care, get to know it and decide how you will approach the task.
What varieties are suitable?
Bonsai suits a vast number of trees and shrubs. To name just a few, quince, persimmon, pomegranate, juniper, jade trees (Crassula ovata), fig trees, Chinese elm (Ulmus parvifolia), olive, Japanese maple (Acer palmatum), jacaranda, box, pines, crepe myrtle (Lagerstroemia), plum and cherry blossom are attractive and easy. Cotoneaster (cotoneaster horizontalis) is excellent for novices. Your climate and the environment where you plan to grow your tree will influence your selection, however. Most importantly, choose a plant that you feel drawn to and love to look at.
Less traditional candidates are Australian natives. Enthusiasts are experimenting with acacias, grevilleas, bottlebrushes (Callistemon), tea-trees (Melaleuca) and eucalypts, among others.
Bonsai suits a vast number of trees and shrubs. To name just a few, quince, persimmon, pomegranate, juniper, jade trees (Crassula ovata), fig trees, Chinese elm (Ulmus parvifolia), olive, Japanese maple (Acer palmatum), jacaranda, box, pines, crepe myrtle (Lagerstroemia), plum and cherry blossom are attractive and easy. Cotoneaster (cotoneaster horizontalis) is excellent for novices. Your climate and the environment where you plan to grow your tree will influence your selection, however. Most importantly, choose a plant that you feel drawn to and love to look at.
Less traditional candidates are Australian natives. Enthusiasts are experimenting with acacias, grevilleas, bottlebrushes (Callistemon), tea-trees (Melaleuca) and eucalypts, among others.
What equipment do I need?
Basic equipment is minimal. Many garden suppliers sell specially designed pruning shears for clean cuts and delicate snipping jobs, bonsai wire and wire cutters. Nurseries also sell bonsai soil, fertiliser and suitable pots. As you and your tree progress, there are many other tricky tools, but until you become hooked on bonsai, start small.
DIY project: vertical pallet garden
Basic equipment is minimal. Many garden suppliers sell specially designed pruning shears for clean cuts and delicate snipping jobs, bonsai wire and wire cutters. Nurseries also sell bonsai soil, fertiliser and suitable pots. As you and your tree progress, there are many other tricky tools, but until you become hooked on bonsai, start small.
DIY project: vertical pallet garden
Where should I grow my bonsai?
There’s a popular notion that bonsais are indoor plants. Just as most trees grow outdoors, their smaller versions do too. That’s not to say that they can’t be grown indoors (ficus does well indoors) or in a semi-outdoor area, or that outdoor trees don’t benefit from periods out of extreme weather.
A bonsai can be started off planted directly in the ground and moved to a pot at a later stage. This technique results in a thicker main trunk that is less prone to damage than a slender one.
There’s a popular notion that bonsais are indoor plants. Just as most trees grow outdoors, their smaller versions do too. That’s not to say that they can’t be grown indoors (ficus does well indoors) or in a semi-outdoor area, or that outdoor trees don’t benefit from periods out of extreme weather.
A bonsai can be started off planted directly in the ground and moved to a pot at a later stage. This technique results in a thicker main trunk that is less prone to damage than a slender one.
Do bonsais flower?
Just as trees and shrubs in gardens are prompted by the seasons to change colour, drop leaves, set buds and flower, you can watch your bonsai do the same.
Popular flowering plants for bonsai are azaleas, magnolias, gardenias, camellias and wisteria. Bougainvillea makes a stunning flowering bonsai.
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Just as trees and shrubs in gardens are prompted by the seasons to change colour, drop leaves, set buds and flower, you can watch your bonsai do the same.
Popular flowering plants for bonsai are azaleas, magnolias, gardenias, camellias and wisteria. Bougainvillea makes a stunning flowering bonsai.
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How big does a bonsai get?
This is a choice for the grower. From thimble-size to over two metres, the grower can manipulate the bonsai to fit any decor or garden. In Japan, bonsai classification reflects the number of hands needed to move a tree in its pot. Mame bonsai are artfully shaped seedlings 2.5-7.5 centimetres high and can be lifted with two fingers. Sizes range upwards to two-hand chumono and four-hand omono, between 750 centimetres and 1.5 metres. Head and shoulders above the rest are majestic 2-metre eight-hand Imperial bonsais found in palace gardens, requiring four strong men to move them.
This is a choice for the grower. From thimble-size to over two metres, the grower can manipulate the bonsai to fit any decor or garden. In Japan, bonsai classification reflects the number of hands needed to move a tree in its pot. Mame bonsai are artfully shaped seedlings 2.5-7.5 centimetres high and can be lifted with two fingers. Sizes range upwards to two-hand chumono and four-hand omono, between 750 centimetres and 1.5 metres. Head and shoulders above the rest are majestic 2-metre eight-hand Imperial bonsais found in palace gardens, requiring four strong men to move them.
How do I display my bonsai?
The container you choose is like the frame for an artwork – an elaborate one detracts from the sculptural intricacies of the tree. Deep trays and vessels in earthy tones and organic textures play against the forms and colours of your miraculous little tree. Accessories such as moss and stones can be arranged in the container, but don’t overdo them – it’s all about the tree.
The container you choose is like the frame for an artwork – an elaborate one detracts from the sculptural intricacies of the tree. Deep trays and vessels in earthy tones and organic textures play against the forms and colours of your miraculous little tree. Accessories such as moss and stones can be arranged in the container, but don’t overdo them – it’s all about the tree.
Does a bonsai work with modern decor?
A bonsai sits perfectly in a Japanese-style garden or a room or entrance that contains elements of Japanese design, but is suited to literally any indoor space and decor. Can you spot the clever play on scale in this modern room? A tiny bonsai looks all the more exquisite juxtaposed with the giant scale and colour blocks of the adjacent painting.
A bonsai sits perfectly in a Japanese-style garden or a room or entrance that contains elements of Japanese design, but is suited to literally any indoor space and decor. Can you spot the clever play on scale in this modern room? A tiny bonsai looks all the more exquisite juxtaposed with the giant scale and colour blocks of the adjacent painting.
Bonsais work best in simple uncluttered spaces where their unique perspective can be appreciated, so give them some air. A small bonsai can be moved indoors to decorate a space for special occasions. Placed centrally on a dining table, it makes a conversation starter and could be your chance to gain some converts to the gentle craft. In this dining room, there’s a subtle reference to tree forms in the artwork and the contemporary branching pendant light.
Is bonsai cruel to trees?
Some people believe bonsai is torturing a tree. Coaxing certain characteristics from a plant is no crueller than the European taste for espaliering, topiary, pleaching, hedging or standardising. Every time we pot or prune a plant its natural growth is altered. A bonsai may thrive better than a tree in the wild at the whim of natural forces, and reaches its potential – in a small way – while giving immense pleasure and artistic expression to its grower.
Tell us
Do you like the concept of bonsai? Perhaps you have one in your home or garden? Tell us in the Comments section.
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Some people believe bonsai is torturing a tree. Coaxing certain characteristics from a plant is no crueller than the European taste for espaliering, topiary, pleaching, hedging or standardising. Every time we pot or prune a plant its natural growth is altered. A bonsai may thrive better than a tree in the wild at the whim of natural forces, and reaches its potential – in a small way – while giving immense pleasure and artistic expression to its grower.
Tell us
Do you like the concept of bonsai? Perhaps you have one in your home or garden? Tell us in the Comments section.
More
Browse more outdoor ideas
Consciously connecting with nature is an antidote to the speed and artificiality of many modern lifestyles. In gardens and homes, the presence of plants, with their calm unhurried pace, is therapy for stress and guides us to a slower and more meditative state.
These beautiful lines from American writer and nature poet Hal Borland say it all: “If you would know strength and patience, welcome the company of trees.” Nothing we do will speed the growth of a tree, but with bonsai, its strength and perseverance can be closely observed as we gently care for it.