Bonsai–(盆栽) is a Japanese word, “bon” meaning small pot, “sai” meaning plant (a plant planted in a small container). Bonsai is the Japanese art of growing miniature trees using special techniques. Through this technique, the tree remains small in size while taking on the appearance of a natural, mature tree.
Bonsai is not just gardening. Working on a bonsai requires great attention, time, knowledge of care, and, most importantly, patience, because achieving a perfect and beautiful plant takes more than three or four years. With proper care, the lifespan of a bonsai can exceed a century. However, the actual age of the plant is not of decisive importance. In bonsai culture, what matters most is the plant's unique, impressive appearance, expressed in its natural, proportional form. Every detail of the small tree must be natural and should not show signs of having been shaped by human hands. Work on a bonsai never ends. It requires attention and care throughout its entire life.
"Bonsai is a living sculpture, idealized nature in miniature" - this is how one of the specialists describes bonsai.
There is a lot of misinformation about bonsai, which in itself hinders its understanding and proper perception.
1) Bonsai is not a genetically dwarf plant, which doesn't grow tall. Bonsai is an ordinary tree or shrub (maple, pine, cherry, lime, spruce), which, through special care, remains small and has the same beautiful and natural form as its larger counterparts growing in nature.
2) In the process of working on a bonsai, the so-called "dwarfing" of it does not use any harsh or rough methods to "miniaturize" the plant. These methods are well-known to anyone who has any contact with gardening.
3) Some people think that the smaller the bonsai, the more valuable it is. Bonsai does not have to be only a few centimeters tall. In fact, a classic bonsai is considered a plant with a height between 5 and 130 centimeters and its aesthetic value is never judged solely by its size.
4) Bonsai is not a houseplant. It should be outside all year round and only on special occasions, for a few days, can it be placed indoors for decoration.
Working on creating a bonsai can be considered a passion, but it is probably more than just a hobby or a way to spend free time. Bonsai, for the enthusiast, is a way of life: calmness, composure, attention, patience - these are the qualities necessary for someone who truly wants to grow a beautiful tree.
Creating a bonsai is all about achieving a beautiful shape: the trunk of the tree, the arrangement of the branches and surface roots; the proportional alignment of leaves, flowers, and fruits to the miniature plant, and most importantly, the "finished" bonsai should appear naturally refined.
To bring a small sapling to "perfection" usually takes more than 2 or 3 years, so attention and patience are the qualities needed by anyone who seriously decides to work on creating a bonsai.
Growing a bonsai independently brings great joy to a person, much more than buying a prepared specimen and taking care of it. In the beginning, things won’t always turn out as planned. Every task requires experience, and gaining experience takes time and passionate work. During the process of working with bonsai, no beginner is immune to small or large failures. Even the greatest specialists have had such moments. So, if you want to achieve serious success, even a few failed attempts should not be the reason to give up on creating a bonsai.
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