by Rahajeng Ayu Habsari
There are many trees in this world. Those trees are very useful for human because they produce oxygen that is needed by human. In addition, the trees can give beautiful scenery for our environment. That is because every tree has its beauty and uniqueness. We can find trees with their beautiful and colorful flowers. We can also find trees with unique shape of leaves. Furthermore, we can find trees that have unique trunk too. Those colorful flowers, leaves, and unique trunk can make trees look beautiful.
Sometimes, after we see a unique tree, we think that it will be good if we can bring that tree to our house, and then plant it in our garden. We may think that it can make our garden more beautiful. In fact, it is impossible to pull out a big tree, then move it to our house and plant it in our garden. It is very difficult to move a big tree from one place to another. Moreover, it may be useless because the tree may not grow well and even die. However, we should not be disappointed. There are still other ways to do to get beautiful and unique trees in our garden. Now, there is other way that is easier, more practical, and more efficient to get the trees that we want. We can have a beautiful and unique tree in our house by doing bonsai.
Most of you must have heard the term of bonsai. This term has a close relationship with trees or plants because it relates to the way to shape a plant into a unique shape. “Bonsai is a Japanese word that simply translates into “tree in pot” or more specifically planting in tray” (The History of Bonsai, paragraph 1). However, bonsai does not only mean planting a tree in a tray because that is not the only activity that we do in bonsai. If we work in bonsai, we will also work to dwarf and shape the bonsai. Therefore, bonsai is an activity to make a tree into small size and then shape it into a beautiful shape.
Many people consider that bonsai comes from Japan. First, it is because the word bonsai itself is taken from Japanese language. Second, it is because bonsai is developed in Japan. However, at first, bonsai appeared in China. “ Bonsai first appeared in China over a thousand years ago on a very basic scale, known as punsai, where it was the practice of growing single specimen trees in pots” (Bonsai… The Millennia-Old Art Form, Still Growing Strongly Today, paragraph 12). Then, bonsai was brought to Japan about 800 years ago. “With Japan’s adoption of many cultural trademarks of China-bonsai was also taken up, introduced to Japan during the Kamakura period (1185-1333) by means of Zen Buddhism-which at this time was rapidly spreading around Asia” (Bonsai… The Millennia-Old Art Form, Still Growing Strongly Today, paragraph 13). Therefore, actually bonsai was one of Chinese culture. Then, Japanese people adopted it and developed it based their own cultures. Japanese people developed bonsai from the basic form into more complicated form. Bonsai had experienced a great and long development in this country for about 800 years. That is why many people consider that bonsai is from Japan. However, wherever it comes from, now many people in all over the world know bonsai. It is familiar to many people and becomes an interesting hobby for some people in this world.
When we work with bonsai, the most important aspect that should be paid attention is technique. Technique will determine the shape of the bonsai. We will get a good shape of bonsai if we have a good technique. Actually, many techniques can be done to shape a bonsai. However, there are just three important techniques which can determine the shape of bonsai. “There are three basic elements to shaping your bonsai. They are pruning, nipping, and wiring” (Care for Your Bonsai by Pruning, Nipping, and Wiring It, paragraph 2).
The first important technique is pruning. Pruning means to trim the shape of the tree, bush, etc by cutting away some of the branches, etc, especially to encourage new shoots to grow (Oxford Advanced Learners’ Dictionary, page 935). In bonsai, pruning is not only done to make the trees grow better, but it is also done to keep the bonsai small. “This controls the bonsai’s growth and form by eliminating foliage and limbs” (Care for Your Bonsai by Pruning, Nipping, and Wiring It, paragraph 3). Pruning is also done to form the bonsai because by cutting the branches, we can determine the bonsai shape. The second important technique is nipping. Nipping is usually done after pruning. “Nipping maintains the shape of your bonsai” (Care for Your Bonsai by Pruning, Nipping, and Wiring It, paragraph 2). After we prune the bonsai, we usually nip the bonsai. This is done to form the bonsai into the shape that we want. The third technique is wiring. “It is bending and twisting the branches to give the bonsai its wonderful shape” (Care for Your Bonsai by Pruning, Nipping, and Wiring It, paragraph 8). Wiring is usually done by using wire. By bending the branches to every direction that we want, we can try to manage the branches into the most beautiful and appropriate shape for the trees.
In fact, techniques are not the only important things in bonsai. “Growing a bonsai will not be accomplished successfully unless you have gained sufficient knowledge about plants and have acquired deep understanding on the specific bonsai care instruction” (Bonsai Care Instruction, paragraph 1). We still need some other aspects to make the bonsai grow well. One of this aspect is bonsai care. There are some factors in bonsai care that should be paid attention. Those factors are placement, watering, feeding, and repotting.
There are two kinds of bonsai; indoor bonsai and outdoor bonsai. Indoor bonsai is bonsai which is placed in door and outdoor bonsai is bonsai which grows out door. Not all bonsai can grow in door and vice versa. Because of that, placement of the bonsai is very important. “Light and the site where you will be putting your bonsai at, are also part of the bonsai care instructions” (Bonsai Care Instruction, paragraph 4). Light is important for plants to do photosynthesis. It can affect the growth of bonsai. Because of that, we should give enough light for the bonsai so that it can grow well.
Watering and feeding are also important for bonsai. Bonsai will get its nutrition from water and fertilizer. “The most important rule to remember is that trees should be checked for their water requirement daily but should only be watered as required” (Starting Out in Bonsai, paragraph 8). We should water the bonsai just when the tree needs water because if we water it everyday, the bonsai may die. In addition, feeding can also support the growth of the tree. “To maintain a healthy bonsai tree, use of the correct fertilizer at the right time of the year is needed” (Bonsai Care Instruction, paragraph 9). The point is that we should use appropriate fertilizer for the bonsai. Wrong fertilizer can affect the growth of bonsai and even it can make the bonsai die. To have the best nutrition for bonsai, we should do repotting routinely. “Most trees need to be repotted annually or at very least bi-annually in spring as the years new growth starts to appear” (Starting Out in Bonsai, paragraph 11). Repotting can keep the nutrition of the soil because the soil is always changed. Soil that is always changed is very good for plants. The time for repotting should be paid attention too because the time can affect the growth of the bonsai too. For example, we cannot repot the bonsai during winter, because the weather is not appropriate for the bonsai.
In conclusion, bonsai has become a hobby for many people in this world. Many people love bonsai because it is beautiful and unique. Bonsai is also a kind of art because in bonsai we create a tree into a beautiful shape. However, the most important thing is that “when you start a bonsai, always remember that you are working with a living plant” (Simple Style and Techniques, paragraph 8). Plants can grow like other living things. They need nutrition, water, and good environment to grow well. Therefore, we should always treat bonsai like other plants. We should take care he bonsai carefully so that it will grow well into a beautiful plant.
References:
Become a Bonsai Master - Beautify your house with bonsai. Bonsai Care Instructions. Retrieved February 27, 2010, from http://www.usbonsai.com/articles/Bonsai-Care-Instructions
Bonsai information. The History of Bonsai. Retrieved January 31, 2010, from http://www.bonsai-tools.com/resources/info/index.xhtml
Bonsai site ‘A detailed guide to bonsai-as an art, hobby and horticultural practice’. Bonsai… The Milenia-Old Art Form, Still Growing Strongly Today. Retrieved January 31, 2010, from http://www.bonsaisite.com/history1.html
Bonsai Site ‘A detailed guide to bonsai-as an art, hobby and horticultural practice’. Simple Style and Technique. Retrieved March 30, 2010, from http://www.bonsaisite.com/techniq1.html
Essortment. Care For Your Bonsai By Pruning, Nipping, and Wiring It. Retrieved March 20, 2010, from http://www.essortment.com/all/careforbonsai_rwoe.htm
Hornby, A. S. 1995. Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
WWW.BONSAI4ME.COM. Starting Out in Bonsai. Retrieved February 27, 2010, from http://www.bonsai4me.com/Basics/Basics_StartingOut.html
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