GWJamaica

There is no guarantee that this idea will work but as folks would say, “nothing beats a try than a failure.”

There are quite a few Garden Shops in Jamaica and believe me, they have some really nice flowers for both indoors and outdoors. If you have traveled around or to Jamaica you may have notice that you can find flowers always everywhere, whether in the wild or in a garden. Many Jamaicans would gather a piece of these wild flowers or ask the garden owner for a piece of which ever flower caught there eyes.

You’re probably wondering “why am I talking about flowers and garden?” Well, this idea has connections with both; the only thing is that we’ll be using trees instead of flowers. But these are no ordinary trees, in fact, they are “little big” trees popularly know as Bonsai Trees.

Before we get started we should know:

1. What are Bonsai Trees?
2. How to care for Bonsai Trees?

What are Bonsai Trees?

Bonsai Trees are miniature versions of larger trees. Depending on the type of Bonsai Tree under consideration, their height can range from a few inches to a few feet. Bonsai can be created from nearly any perennial woody-stemmed tree or shrub species which produces true branches and remains small through pot confinement with crown and root pruning. Some species are popular as bonsai material because they have characteristics, such as small leaves or needles that make them appropriate for the compact visual scope of bonsai. Like regular trees, Bonsai Trees can also bear flowers and fruits. These trees are kept outdoors most of the year, but from time to time they can be kept indoors for display. Only certain tropical trees, shrubs, and vines can be continually kept indoors full time as bonsai.

How to care for Bonsai Trees?

Containers

All kinds of containers are used for training pots: clay saucers, plastic containers, and wooden boxes of many different sizes. Many of these clay and plastic pots are available at garden centers. The size and shape of this pot will depend on the size and shape of the tree. Trees trained in the cascade and semi-cascade styles look best in round or rectangular pots. Plant the trunk in the center of the pot with the branches sweeping down over the side.

Watering

First wet the soil a little, this will improve the soil’s ability to or absorb a larger volume of water, and then you should water thoroughly until the soil is saturated. Make certain that the entire soil mass gets wet every time you water and wait for the excess to run out of the drainage holes to be sure. In the summer, during hot weather when the temperature is over 90 F degrees, water the bonsai plants one or more times a day. If the plants are in an unusually sandy soil, they will require watering three or more times a day.

Fertilizer

To maintain plant growth use fertilizer to supply nutrients. Maintain the nutrient level in the soil mix throughout active growth with monthly applications of a diluted liquid fertilizer. Apply fertilizer only before and during active growth. For a liquid fertilizer you can use a typical house-plant fertilizer (20-20-20 or its equivalent) diluted to one-quarter strength on the label.

Health of Bonsai Trees

The health of trees grown as bonsai depends largely on the care of changing the soil in the pots and the proper pruning of surface roots. A healthy bonsai puts out new surface roots every year. The growth of these roots makes it difficult for vital water and air to penetrate the soil. The surface roots will be nourished but the main root near the trunk will die. Therefore, periodically cut back the main root and thin out the surface roots.

Re-potting of bonsai plants is usually needed when soil insects damage the plants, or when soil is in poor condition. Sometimes, however, a soil condition can be corrected without re-potting and disturbing the roots of the plant. This is done by adding new soil around the outer surface, or by removing plugs of soil and replacing them with a free-draining soil mix.

Now let get back to the business side of the matter (you can do this as a hobby if desired). When trees are halfway into maturity or fully grown you can sell the to business places. I got this idea some time ago while I was in a commercial building. I saw a few large trees (almost touching the ceiling) and this idea just popped into my head, and I keep thinking about it ever since and now I’ll make this one of my hobbies.

One more thing, Bonsai Trees require a lot of care so it would be a good ideas to offer Bonsai Care Service.

Things to know:

Not all plants are equally effective as bonsai. To produce a realistic illusion of a mature tree, look for plants with the following characteristics:

• Small leaves or needles.
• Short internodes, or distances between leaves.
• Attractive bark or roots.
• Branching characteristics for good twig forms.

All parts of the ideal bonsai — trunk, branches, twigs, leaves, flowers, fruits, buds, roots — should be in perfect scale with the size of the tree. Plants used for bonsai should have small leaves, or leaves that become small under bonsai culture. Plants with overly large leaves, such as the avocado, will look out of proportion if chosen for bonsai. Sycamores also develop leaves that are too large. Certain species of both maple and oak trees usually respond well to bonsai culture and develop leaves that are in proportion.

Collecting Plants from the Wild

Finding plants in the wild that will adapt well to Bonsai can be difficult for beginners. At least a year must pass before a plant collected this way can be containerized, and much care is necessary to insure survival during this period. Wild plants, however, often look older than they actually are and make handsome specimens.

Remember the following points when taking plants from the wild:

1. When digging the plant you want, try not to injure the taproots. Get as much soil around the roots as possible. Older trees will require greater care and a slower training schedule.
2. After you cover the roots and soil with wet sphagnum, wrap the root-ball in polyethylene film. Wet the branches with water frequently.
3. Water, and examine the roots of the new plant for several months. Feed the plant sparingly.
   After at least 1 year, the plant can be dug up and placed in a container. (Large trees may have to go into a succession of smaller containers before they are ready.) Trim the roots around the base carefully so the plant will fit into its container.