History of Bonsai

      

Originally a practice of containerising ancient wild trees in China, Bonsai was exported to Japan around 500 years ago where it has become an art form. Regarded as a novelty in the West until the early 20th century, Bonsai has know been embraced as a serious horticultural art form by the Gardening Establishment here in Britain and the West as a whole. Gold Medals are regularly awarded to Bonsai exhibits at Chelsea and Tatton Park flower shows and a number of Bonsai auctions have now been held at prominent auction houses such as Sotheby's' in London.

The word bonsai comes from the Chinese words pun sai, meaning quite literally 'tree in a pot'.

The 'tree' can be a vine, a shrub or a tree. A common misconception for beginners is that the plants used for bonsai are 'dwarf' plants or even 'special bonsai plants'. Quite simply, bonsai are everyday shrubs, trees and vines. For this reason, they go through their normal seasonal phases, flowering, fruiting and shedding leaves.

Bonsai cultivation and propagation basics

A Bonsai tree is not a specific kind of tree, instead, it is a combination of techniques to create and maintain a miniature tree that reflects nature. This means that any kind of tree can be selected to grow as a Bonsai tree; some species however are particularly suitable (as they naturally have small leaves for example). There are several methods of cultivating trees intended to be trained into a Bonsai

• Buying a Bonsai tree. The easiest way to acquire a Bonsai tree is simply to buy one. Most garden centers and a growing number of online Bonsai shops offer trees at affordable prices. Be careful to select a tree that fits your wishes well, i.e. in selecting an indoor or outdoor variety

• Bonsai cultivation using seeds or cuttings. Although cultivating Bonsai trees from seed or from cuttings will take a considerable amount of patience, it can be very rewarding. Seeds are widely available in forests and parks during autumn, but can also be bought online. Cuttings can be collected year-round, preferably in summer. 

• Collecting trees from nature. Another way of acquiring trees suitable for Bonsai purposes is collecting trees growing in forests or parks. Please note that permission in most cases is required. Collecting trees has several advantages over the cultivation techniques described above, most noteworthy the reduced time it takes before you can get started to shape the tree. Similar to collecting trees is buying nursery stock in a garden center. 

• Advanced Bonsai propagation techniques. Two advanced techniques remain; layering and grafting. The principal of layering is to force a tree or branch to form new roots at a certain point by interrupting the stream of nutrients from the existing root system. The grafting technique can be described as “melding” a stump (the root system and a small portion of the trunk) and a graft (the upper portion of the trunk, including branches) together.

Indoor Gardening Herbs

Indoor herb gardening is a great way to go, by this you can bring little more nature in your home.

Basil, Rosemary, Oregano, Parsley, Mint can be easily grown inside. Recycle some containers at home. Find a warm sunny place in your house for herb gardening. A kitchen with southern exposure are the best for herbs to grow, or you can look for any place which have good natural light. If there is any kind of hindrance to natural light, you can buy fluorescent light to act as a supplement. 

Prepare to Grow. 

Once the place is been decided, lay a first layer of gravel in your pot. Then you have to mix the potted soil with sand and some lime. This would give your herb best start. Buy some high quality seed.

Just enough Water:

In indoor gardening just right amount of water is required. Keep an eye on the soil and only water to keep the soil moist.

String Garden

Kokedama - Japanese Moss Balls (String Gardens)

Indoor Gardening is expanding itself form garden to balcony to rooms and to strings, yes String Gardening is a kind of Indoor gardening. 

Thinking of filling the empty corner of a living room or dinning room? If yes! May you would like to add some fancy lamp shape, but before doing so take a look to this Indoor garden master art. This living art would be a vivid charm into your living room, known as String Garden.  This is a simple tutorial to make your own Kokedama using a combination of peat soil and Bonsai Soil.

Materials required:

- Plants                - Soil - Peat soil and Bonsai Soil (In India all the coastal region have peat soil)

- Live Moss         - Dry Sphagnum Moss
- Cotton Thread   - String

 

Procedure:

Step 1: Remove all the soil from the plant,exposing the roots.

 

Step 2: Mix the soil (Peat soil and Bonsai Soil) together. Generally the ratio is 7:3. But do believe on your instinct by making the consistency right.

Step 3: Once the soil is mixed, prepare small balls with help of water. Do not make it too hard, it would be difficult for the roots to penetrate.

Step 4: Tale a bunch of Sphagnum moss and wrap it carefully around the roots in a circular motion. Take a cotton thread to tie the moss.

Step 5: Make a small hole in the soil ball and gently place the plant inside, close the soil ball carefully.  

Step 6: Take small sheets of any moss and press them firmly on the soil. Don't leave any space on the soil. 

Step 7: Choose  a nice space shady space, install a hook and hang your wonder piece of your art.

Step 8: To water your art piece use a mist spray bottle once a day.

 

Indoor Vertical Gardening - Succulent Living Picture Art

Indoor Garden - Plant a Living Picture

Indoor Gardening has entered from corporate house to the favorite wall in your house. Planting a living picture through plants not only add attraction but also provides a soothing charm to your eyes.

If you are looking for a nice picture for your living room... try some indoor gardening in form of a vertical garden. Entire wall can be transformed through vertical gardening or it can be a form of small picture frame with some plants turning it into a live picture. Follow the following step and make your own picture.

Step 1: Assembling of Frame: Buy a pre assembled frame, if you do not get near by. You can make one for yourself by using old plastic trays or wooden box.

Step 2: Gather Cutting: Gather small buds from the succulent plant. Stem of the plants should be at least 1/4 inch long. Set the cutting in a cool place for few days say about 2 days. This allow the stem dry and callus over. You would be needing about 60 buds for 6 by 12 inch frame. 

 

Step 3: Add Soil : Fill the tray first with gravel, sand and then with soil along with the fertilizer. Fix the iron net.

Step 4: Plant the cuttings: Plant the cuttings into the soil. Leave the frame lying flat on a cool place for a week after planting, this would help the plant to take roots in the soil.  Once the plant get well rooted place the frame in the morning sunlight for another a month. Water the soil as when it start drying in every 5-7 days depending upon the moisture condition in soil. 

Step 5: Watering the Picture Frame: Once the Living Succulent picture is ready, to water it remove the frame from the wall, water lightly and wait till water is well absorbed in the soil. 

S

Planters from House Hold Item

Next time if you are planning to throw away your old house hold item........THINK AGAIN ..... make your self creative by planting plants in them...... Share your innovative ideas

Share your ideas and get innovative....................

S

Vertical Gardening - Planter Ideas

Last post has briefed you about the benefit and reason for vertical gardening, here I would be discussing on how to make vertical garden in different containers.

1.Plastic bottles:

This is my favorite way, we have lots of plastic bottles at home, do not throw them from next time, you can use them a planters and with the help of wire or clamp you can hang them on walls. This method is both cost effective and innovative. I also love to paint the bottle, giving them new look.

Plants: You can plant any thing of your choice and make nice patterns on the walls. Your balcony could be an ideal place for this. 

Watering: Watering the plants in plastic bottle is of no worry, as water is inside the bottle and with the help of wick the soil is always moisturized

2. Pockets:

Composed of a breathable, recycled material these pouches are sold individually and in rows of three or five, the best part is they can last for 20 years. They can easily be attached to walls with screws. I found a site name wollypocket.com which provide these pockets.

If you are not interest in buying these pocket online, you can make them at home using old clothes. I would be sharing How to make Pocket planters at home in my other post.

Plants: The standard size of the pocket is 15"*24", which can hold approx of 9 Kg of soil. and this amount of soil can easily accommodate most of the annuals, small edibles, and perennials plants. 

Watering: If the plants are within your reach, you could use watering can. But if pockets are high on walls, you have to install an automatic watering system.

3. Trays:

Similar to nursery, these rectangular plastic trays are divided into planting cells. Cells are slanted at 30 degree angle with bottom holes that promote drainage.

Again I would be giving a detail on how to make trays for vertical gardening at home. 

Plants: Plants like succulents are the best for these, as they have shallow root system. 

Watering: You can use Watering can or install the automatic watering system. Since the tray already has the drainage hole, the moisture will be retain.

 4. Pot Hangers:

The pot are clamped into the walls through screw. Its more like a container plants hanged on the walls. 

Plants: Any plants can be used, which can easily grow in pots. You can have a wall of kitchen garden, where you can plants herbs like basil, mint, tomatoes, spinach, chillies.

Watering: Do not put pots high on wall, it would be difficult for you to water the plants and also watch on the growth and health.

S

Vertical Gardening

Plants are climbing walls and so are the gardeners, Gardening has pushed itself into new heights of vertical gardening. The vertical gardens are very beneficial in terms of rising temperature, they reduce urban heat and improve indoor air quality.

In past vertical places like portico, decks, balconies, were not given more importance, but the time has transformed these spaces into new dimensions. Is not a difficult task to transform a wall into a art piece.

To start, first we need to choose a container system to hold the soil and plant wisely. Container could be a tray system, pocket system, or a solution of your own......

To have success in a vertical garden, you need to monitor moisture levels. Since plants are growing in small portion of soil than compare to a ground. Another choose same type of plants, the plants who need same water level. For example both herbs and succulent works well for vertical gardening but herbs need more water and succulents need little, thus it make them less compatible. 

Growing pattern of the plants are also a concern for the vertical gardening. If you placing the trailing plants place them near bottoms, so that they do not make other die. To have a attractive look do not pot the plants those are showing lot of stem. Add more interest in your design by choose wisely on the textures, color, and aroma. Its give a smoothy feeling when you touch and feel your garden. 

Whether you live in an apartment, town house, mansion, or studio apartment, there is always a vertical spaces waiting for you to exploit.

S

Maintenance of Plants

In my earlier post I have been talking of how to place, where to place and whom to place in your house.  In this post I would be briefing on maintenance of plants.

As we all know, that there are variety of plants available for indoor gardening; some require less attention than others. Hence make your schedule and commitment level before selecting plants for indoor garden.

Recommended Indoor Plants:

Low maintenance plants are the favorite of indoor gardening in this high paced modern world. Where both time and look of a house can be well balanced. Here is a list of well tested and tried indoor warriors.

My Low Maintenance Survivors: I call these plants true survivor - Pothos, Spider Plant,Snake Plant, Bromeliad.

Bromeliad

Pothos

Snake Plant

Spider Plant

 Moderate Care Plants: people who have some feeling for their plants, and for them they are more than only a home decor.  - Dragon Tree, Sword Fern, Jade Plant

Dragon Tree

Jade Plant

Sword Fern

 Highly cared Plants: If you have love for plants, then these are for you and me.....I take care of them like my babies, - Bonsai, Orchids, Arfican Voilets.

African Voilets

Orchids

Bonsai

Take Good Care of your plants:

Plants need constant care, consistent watering, feeding schedule, consistent light and temperature. Another thing you can take care for your plants is; by giving them a stable environment.  Removing dead leaves and flowers, wiping plants leaves from dust will keep them happy and healthy. 

Art of watering: 

Plants would die if they are over or under water. Now the question is HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH? Every Plant differ from each other therefore how much water is required depends upon the type of pot and humidity at home. Although plastic pot can retain more humidity than ceramic. 

If you are not confident about the moisture retain in the pot, purchase a humidifier or a moisture meter, stuck in soil.

Feeding:

The way you feed your infants, you have to feed your plants also. Since indoor plants can only feed from their soil in pot, so it is crucial that regular fertilizing in necessary to maintain health of your plants. Over feeding your plants can make your plant sick, I would recommend to purchase a multi purpose fertilizer.

Repotting: 

If the root of the plant are growing out from the drainage hole or getting coiled around the edge, then its the time to re-pot your plant.

Finally I am proud to say; Indoor gardening is a love affair with my plants, where i cannot live without them. It is an art for you interior designing project, or it can be integral part of purification system of you home. Every garden lover can have there own reason, but there is always a reason to have a houseplant in your house.................. Love green.....

S

Plants for Bedroom........

The modern architecture does not allow to have large spaces for bedroom. But you can always decorate your bedroom with plants, by using tables, corners, windowsills. My bedroom is very small, it has only space for a fitted cupboard, bed and a bedside table. In such a scenario, I prefer hanging  plants at the side of the window.

Ideas for Bedroom:

Place the hanging plant as close to your window, this would help them in growing and nourishing. If you do not have a window or cannot arrange a space for hanging. you can use a narrow table on your bedside to do the double work for by making space for plants.

Choose you Plant:

Whatever is the size or shape of your bedroom, there is a plant for you. below is the list of plants based in the positioning of you bedroom. Follow the list and you would surely have happier and a bright life ahead.

East Facing Bedroom:

• Arrowhead Plant
• Creeping Fig
• English Ivy
• Spider Plant
• Zebra Plant
• Velvet Vine
• Grape Ivy

North Facing Bedroom:

• African voilet
• Aspidistra
• Cyclamen
• Ivy
• Japenese Aralia
• Prayer Plant
• Sweetheart Plant
• Yucca

South Facing Bedroom:

• Jade Plant
• Geraniums
• Passion Flower

West Facing Bedroom:

• Canary ivy
• Devil's Ivy
• Goldern trumpt
• Mother of Thousand  
  
  Myth About Placing Plants in your Bedroom:

Plants produce oxygen during day, which is a part of photosynthesis. During night the photosynthesis does not happen and they also comsume oxygen along with the human beings. If the calculation in made in the consumption of oxygen by plants at night is minimal to the consumption of human beings.  

S

Plants for Kitchen..

People love to decorate their house with various indoor plants but at times they neglect their kitchen. Since kitchen is the place where most of the activity happens at home....... try to make it beautiful and cozier by adding few houseplants. 

No matter how large, small, light or dark is your kitchen, there is always a plant for your space.  Large and airy new style kitchens are ideal for variety of plants; windows, shelves and corners are ideal to display plants.

Whereas in smaller and less natural light kitchen, you can always have a hanging plant on your refrigerator

Atmospheric Condition for Plant Growth:

90% of the time kitchen do not have the ideal condition to grow plants. Temperature tend to fluctuate a lot during cooking and non cooking hours. If your plant is not flourishing in kitchen make sure to do few steps for them:

1. Sponge the leaves with water and remove the dirt deposits from them.

2. Humidity is high in kitchen always choose plants which can sustain them self.

3. Since kitchen is a primarily a working area, place your plants away from stove, oven. Heat can destroy your plant.

Finding Space:

Window pane is the favorite place for indoor plant, where they can have the natural light to flourish.  A group of hanging basket at various height adds decor. You can also add shelves to add row of small plants. display a miniature plant on the table centerpiece.

Plants for Kitchen window:

Choose a flowering plant to add the color, or a bunch of green plants to make a perfect effect of contracts.

Flowering Plants for your Kitchen: In Spring, place the container with Narcissus, Daffodils, Iris, Squill.

Squill

Iris

Narcissus

Dafodills

In north facing kitchen window use African Violet. For a south facing use Blue morning glory. 

Blue Morning Glory

 Green Plants: Artillery Plant, Carex

Carex

Artillery Plant