What is ficus retusa?

Ficus retusa (Ficus microcarpa nitida) is a tree species that originated from the Southeast Asia. It grows in warm tropical forests. The most interesting feature of it is that it has aerial roots, which add up toits exquisiteness and exceptional beauty. The trunks and branches are covered with grey to red barks, which have small horizontal marks that is almost the same with the marks on the skin of a tiger. Ficus retusa has big trunks, and along its branches there grows dark green leaves that have oval shapes.

What makes Ficus retusa a good miniature tree?

Ficus retusa is a good miniature tree because it can be propagated by beginners in bonsai propagation. Ficus retusa bonsai can tolerate poor humidity levels and less exposure to sunlight. You can actually grow it inside your home or office, as long as you supply it with necessary nutrients, water, and light.

How can it be propagated?

• You can start a Ficus retusa bonsai from cuttings, air-layers, and seedlings. But when you grow seedlings, you need to make sure that the seeds have undergone germination process that can be natural or forced.

• Use a soil mixture that is suitable for your Ficus retusa bonsai. It should be able to hold enough water and drain out excess amounts of water from the bonsai pot.

• Your miniature Ficus retusa tree needs to be exposed on a bright indirect sunlight for about four to six hours each day.

• If you are growing it indoors, you can place it near the window where sunlight can pass through it. You can also make use of a fluorescent lamp instead, and place your miniature ficus retusa tree underneath the fluorescent lamp.

• Do not put it into a very cold environment or in a place where the temperature has reached below 15 degree Celsius because it can not tolerate frost.

• You must water it whenever necessary. Water it when the soil gets dry, but you should not allow it to get dry for long periods as this can cause dehydration to your bonsai.

• When watering the miniature tree, it is recommended to use a watering can that has fine nozzle. This will prevent washing out the soil from the bonsai tray or container.

• Use a high quality fertilizer. The fertilizer should primarily contain high amounts of nitrogen because this will promote proper growth and development.

• Feed you Ficus retusa bonsai during the spring season, and when it is sickly or unhealthy.

• You should protect the miniature tree from pests and diseases because they can cause damage to its parts. Although it is resistant to a lot of pests and diseases, it is very important to prevent it from attacking and infecting your bonsai.

Preston Blackmore is a Bonsai enthusiast. He has worked with local masters to learn everything there is to know about Bonsai. Now these years of research and development are at your fingertips. For more information on Ficus Retusa Bonsai, visit http://www.beginnerbonsaiguide.com/ficus-retusa-bonsai .

Article Source: How can you develop a Ficus Retusa Bonsai

Growing a boxwood bonsai is not that troublesome. You just have to know your boxwood bonsai and follow the proper care guidelines in propagating it. Here are some tips you should follow to become successful in propagating a boxwood bonsai:

1) Choose in what way you want to start your boxwood bonsai. Boxwood bonsai can be propagated through air-layering and cuttings. When you opt to begin it with air-layering, you should plant it in April. If you choose to begin with cuttings, you should take cuttings during autumn or early part of springtime.

2) Use the best soil for your boxwood bonsai. You must be able to use a good soil that will suit the requirements of your bonsai tree. The soil should have good aeration and good drainage qualities. Good drainage is very necessary because the extra amounts of water that is not absorbed by the root system will be drained out by the soil. It will not store excess water because it can cause rotting to the root system of your bonsai.

3) Purchase a bonsai-friendly pot or container. You must make use of a bonsai pot or container that can support the growth and development of your bonsai tree. It should have adequate space and most importantly, it should have drainage holes. Drainage holes will help the soil to drop out excess water.

4) Protect your miniature boxwood from frost. You must protect your boxwood bonsai from frost, especially during winter seasons so that they can undergo dormancy period, which is an essential process to their development. You can protect them by making use of window wells, enclosed unheated rooms, cold frames, or mulch beds.

5) Expose to a direct and indirect sunlight. It is very important that you expose your boxwood bonsai under a direct sunlight during morning and in an indirect sunlight during midday until afternoon. Morning sunshine is just perfect for them because it is not too harsh for them. During midday and afternoon, place your bonsai under a shady location because this will prevent burning of their leaves.

6) Give sufficient amounts of water. You should water your boxwood bonsai when the soil is dry. You can check it by dipping about ½ inch of your finger into the soil. When the soil is dry, you can now water it by making use of a watering can with fine nozzle or dipping it in a container of water between five to ten minutes. You should not give too less amounts of water because it can dehydrate your boxwood bonsai, and if worse comes to worst it can cause death of your miniature tree.

7) Provide a fertilizer with good quality. Fertilizers will help your boxwood bonsai to grow in the best way possible. You can use an organic or chemical fertilizer. But when you choose to use a chemical fertilizer, you should make sure that you follow the manufacturer?s instruction so that you cannot harm your boxwood bonsai. It is best to apply the fertilizer during the springtime, and give it once in every two weeks.

Preston Blackmore is a Bonsai enthusiast. He has worked with local masters to learn everything there is to know about Bonsai. Now these years of research and development are at your fingertips. For more information on Boxwood Bonsai, visit http://www.beginnerbonsaiguide.com/boxwood-bonsai

Article Source: Tips to become successful in Propagating a Boxwood Bonsai

Amur maple tree (Acer ginnale), Trident maple tree (Acer buergerianum), and Japanese maple tree (Acer palmatum) are the some of the most commonly used tree species to be converted as a maple bonsai. To be successful in maple bonsai propagation, you need to observe appropriate techniques, and proper nourishment and maintenance should be given.

Here are steps on how you can grow a maple bonsai successfully:

• Choose a specific maple tree species you want to be the subject as your miniature tree. There are some maple tree species that can be good candidates as a miniature maple, you just have to be familiar of what are its specific needs so that you will not fail in growing a miniature maple and as well as not to cause damage to your growing miniature tree.

• After choosing a maple tree species, you can now start your little maple tree. You can start growing it from seeds, grafting, air-layering, and cutting. The seeds should be kept fresh before it can undergo germination process. You can keep the seeds fresh by placing it inside the refrigerator with a temperature of 5 degree Celsius. Cutting is the most common method used in starting a miniature maple for the reason that they grow well from cuttings.

• Then, select a soil that is suitable for your maple tree species. You should use a soil mixture that promotes good drainage so that the roots will not get soaked for long periods because this can rot them. The soil mixture must hold sufficient moisture that is enough for the growing little maple tree.

• Consider the tree species you have before you expose it under sunlight. Some maple tree species can tolerate direct sunlight exposure while others should be placed in a shady area. You must protect your little maple tree from too much sun exposure because it can cause drying up of the leave easily.

• Water your little maple tree as often as necessary. If the soil is dry, you should water it sufficiently and it is recommended to use a water container that has fine nozzle. This will prevent washing away the soil from the bonsai pot. The water should be dripping out from the holes of the bonsai pot to make sure that the water has reached the roots.

• Use a high quality fertilizer for your growing miniature tree. Your growing little tree will need help especially during the growing season because fertilizers will enhance their growth and development.

• Eradicate any pests from your growing miniature tree because they will damage the leaves, branches, and other parts of the tree. You can ask from garden centers or from a professional bonsai cultivator on how you can successfully eradicate these pests. Aphids and mildew are the most common insects seen on miniature maple trees.

Preston Blackmore is a Bonsai enthusiast. He has worked with local masters to learn everything there is to know about Bonsai. Now these years of research and development are at your fingertips. For more information on Maple Bonsai, visit http://www.beginnerbonsaiguide.com/maple-bonsai .

Article Source: How Can You Grow A Maple Bonsai

A black pine has three main varieties:

• Nishiki- is a black pine variety that has cork bark appearance; it is cultivated from graft and cuttings.

• Yatsubusa- is a dwarf black pine variety that has small needles or referred as multi-budding; it is cultivated from graft and cuttings.

• Seedling- is a black pine variety that is only cultivated from seeds.

The following are some helpful tips you need to know in propagating a black pine bonsai:

• You can start growing your miniature tree from seeds, grafts, or from cuttings. But you need to remember that you have to germinate fresh seeds. You can germinate the seeds through natural or forced germination. Natural germination involves planting the seeds into the soil, and allows them to undergo germination process naturally. Forced germination means that you do the germination process. You just have to submerge the seeds in a bowl of water. Then, plant the seeds that remained under the water, and discard the floating seeds.

• Allow your little tree to be exposed on a full sun. Direct sunlight encourages good health and strong resistance of your growing black pine bonsai.

• Place your miniature tree to an area with average temperature. Too much heat can cause drying of the root system.

• Protect it from freezing especially after transplanting.

• You should keep the soil of your bonsai moist at all times, especially at summer period. You must not forget watering your bonsai because leaving it dry for how many days will dehydrate your bonsai. Dehydration can eventually cause its death.

• Black pine bonsai can tolerate too much water. But if it is done for how many days, the root system can get drowned and it can lead to root rotting.

• Choose a good mixture of soil. The soil should contain 75% aggregate materials and 25% organic materials. You can buy a commercially prepared soil from garden centers or from nurseries. But you can also make your own soil mixture. You just have to be sure of the proper soil components that you are going to mix. Always keep in mind that the soil should have good drainage to prevent soaking of the root system.

• You must use a high quality fertilizer. The fertilizer will help your black pine bonsai to grow and develop well.

• If your black pine bonsai is still young, use a fertilizer that has high amounts of nitrogen. It is usually found in general purpose fertilizers or chemical fertilizers. High amounts of nitrogen will promote faster growth and development of your black pine miniature tree.

• If you have older or a more mature black pine bonsai, you should use a fertilizer that contains lesser nitrogen.

• Every fall, feed your miniature tree with a fertilizer that has low nitrogen and high phosphorus. This type of fertilizer will help your bonsai to store up enough energy as a preparation for the upcoming winter season.

• Protect your bonsai from pests and diseases. Consult a professional bonsai grower if your black pine bonsai has been infested with pests or has been infected with disease.

Preston Blackmore is a Bonsai enthusiast. He has worked with local masters to learn everything there is to know about Bonsai. Now these years of research and development are at your fingertips. For more information on Black Pine Bonsai, visit http://www.beginnerbonsaiguide.com/black-pine-bonsai .

Article Source: All about Black Pine Bonsai

Last summer Jim was very concerned about his bonsai. His maple’s leaves were curling and drying and his other plants looked very dry, limp and baked out. The problem was Jim had his bonsai out in his yard on pedestals. It was very attractive the way he had it set up, the only problem was it was full sun all day long, and it was breezy because he lived on a plain with no trees except for his property and he put his garden between 2 buildings. This created a constant breeze.

With every plant, you have to be aware of the environmental conditions that are surrounding it. A plant needs sun, air (humidity and C02), water, and food (fertilizer). It’s up to us to control those environmental conditions if we want to choose where the plants will live and shape the plants natural growth to our liking.

The first thing is water. A plant needs water. It’s how the plant regulates its internal temperature and stays standing upright (turgid). A bonsai in the summer needs watered at least twice a day, sometimes even three or four times a day or more. If the soil is dry, water it. This is important because bonsai trees prefer loose, course soil. The water should drain out of it rapidly. This ensures that the roots will stay healthy year after year. If we were growing herbs or house plants, we could use a potting soil with a lot of moisture holding peat moss. Tropical’s, like house plants, love it, but high growth or high stressed plants, like our bonsai, will suffer and the waterlogged roots will be weakened and open to disease and insects.

Secondly, you need to make sure you are fertilizing with full strength fertilizer. The summer months are stressful for a plant and that is why it needs all the help it can get. The vitamins and minerals help the bonsai bounce back from extended periods of drought, heat, and insects. In fact, all abusive environmental conditions can be tempered or softened with regular fertilizing.

Lastly, shade. Your bonsai really doesn’t need shade. But it can help cool the bonsai down and give it more time to grow. There are two kinds of shade – static shade and high moving shade. Static shade is like shade cloth or under a tree canopy so far that the levels of sunlight never change. High moving shade is where the plant is shaded for a portion of the day by a tree or a building. Static shade is not good for a bonsai unless it lets over 70% of the sun through all of the time. The ideal is to have high moving shade that shades the bonsai in the afternoon hours. As long as the bonsai is getting 6 hours of full sun a day, then it is getting all it needs to grow and stay healthy and happy.

By understanding these three environmental conditions and making the necessary changes, Jim was able to help his bonsai enjoy the summer and grow beautifully. He had to re-work his garden by putting a row of wind-break Leyland Cypress so he wouldn’t have to water so much. He also watched his plants and made sure he has a regular watering and fertilizing schedule which is attuned to the plants changing environment and seasons.

Fred Meyer is the owner of Dallas Bonsai Garden and has been growing beautiful, award-winning bonsai for over 37 years. You can learn more about Fred and Dallas Bonsai Garden at his website: http://www.dallasbonsai.com . Here, you will find the world’s largest selection of Japanese bonsai tools and trees at the best prices on the Internet.

Article Source: Saving Jim's Bonsai

You should know the basic requirements of an indoor bonsai tree to allow them to grow well and develop beautifully. Here are some tips about the necessities of an indoor miniature tree:

1) Water your indoor miniature tree when the soil gets dry. You should check the soil first by dipping your finger about an inch to the ground to check if the soil is dry. When the soil is dry, you should pour enough water that some of it will come out from the holes of the bonsai container.

2) They can tolerate low light. Tree species, specifically tropical species, that are grown as indoor miniature tree can grow with little exposure to sunlight because they grow beneath the tall trees in the forest. You can put your indoor bonsai tree near the window or expose it to a fluorescent lamp instead.

3) Feed your indoor miniature tree well. Indoor little trees need sufficient amounts of fertilizer since they are confined in a covered environment. Fertilizer will nourish your indoor bonsai so that it will grow well and appear wonderful. You just have to follow the instructions, which are placed on the fertilizer’s packaging, on how to put fertilizer and how much will be given to your bonsai.

4) Regular trimming and pinching of your indoor bonsai. Tropical and subtropical tree species grow at diverse rates, and that is the reason why you should monitor the rate of growth on your indoor bonsai tree species to determine if it needs trimming and pinching. Tropical and subtropical species require periodic trimming and pinching.

5) Perform repotting. Repotting should be done when the roots have filled the bonsai container. You should consider the tree species and the season of the year before performing repotting to prevent harming your bonsai tree. Repotting should be done carefully to prevent causing damage on the roots.

6) Eradicate insects and diseases in your indoor bonsai. When you observe any insects on your bonsai or if your bonsai appears unhealthy, you should consult a bonsai expert and inquire on how to eliminate the insects and how to treat its disease. Insects and diseases are hindrances on the proper growth of your indoor bonsai tree.

Tropical and subtropical species are good candidates for indoor bonsai. Here are some examples of tree species that are suitable as an indoor bonsai:

Tropical Species include Weeping fig (Ficus benjamina), Willow leafed fig (Ficus neriifolia), Hawaiian umbrella tree (Schefflera arboricola), Jade plant (Crassula ovata), Dwarf jade (Portulacaria afra), Dragon plant (Dracaeria marginata), and Holiday cactus (Schlumbergera).

Subtropical Species include Sacred bamboo (Nadina domestica), Podocarps (Podocarpus macrophyllus), Pomegranate (Punica granatum), and Chinese Elm (Ulmus Parvifolia).

Preston Blackmore is a Bonsai enthusiast. He has worked with local masters to learn everything there is to know about Bonsai. Now these years of research and development are at your fingertips. For more information on Indoor Bonsai Tree, visit http://www.beginnerbonsaiguide.com/indoor-bonsai-tree .

Article Source: How can you Propagate Indoor Bonsai Trees

The formal bonsai inside tree is going to be known by the trunk and the tree branches that taper off and look unique. The informal look is the one that will bend and curve over slightly and will be the one that you see the most of. You will notice that many people have these inside bonsai trees in their homes. They are going to be the most popular tree that you see.

The cascade and semi cascade inside bonsai trees are going to be the molded trees that will grow over water and on the side of mountains. The semi cascade does not lean as much downhill as the cascade style does. The raft looking bonsai trees are going to be planted on their side and can also include many others styles like the sinuous, straight, and the group planting styles. These will be the ones that give off the illusion of a group of beautiful trees and will actually be the branches of the tree that is grown on it’s side.

The anthurium is the most popular of the bonsai inside trees and the one that will have the lasting flowers. These are going to be a beautiful looking red and will be the best known flowers in the world when it comes to the bonsai style. The Real Hawaiian lava rock is going to be the bonsai tree that is hand selected to give off a happy home for the Anthodium and it will be a special tree that many love for different reasons.

Jasmine is the plant that has the busy vines that have trained to have its own tree form. It is going to have shiny and dark leaves and great smelling white flowers that you absolutely fall in love with from the start. The waxy snow is going to be the flowers that are going to be larger and will have a great looking cluster about them.
You can make your home look great with all the different colors of bonsai inside trees and you will love the way that your home looks as well as smells. You will feel good and have a great time placing all of your favorite bonsai trees anywhere that you want.

Who else wants to discover the step by step secrets the bonsai masters use to create stunning bonsai trees – with very little work? Find out here at http://www.palalu.com/bonsai/

Article Source: Indoor Bonsai Trees

Aside from its broadleaf feature, it can be a very attractive miniature tree because it comes in different forms, colors, and shapes. Its leaves contain five to nine acutely pointed lobes. Japanese maple is a deciduous shrub that is native tree from Asia, particularly from the countries Japan, China, and Korea. It produces flowers that appear in small cymes. Each flower may have five red or purple sepals and five white petals.

Acer palmatum has three main subspecies: Acer palmatum palmatum, Acer palmatum matsumurae, and Acer palmatum amoenum. Those three families are used as bonsai but Acer palmatum palmatum is popularly propagated as a miniature tree. Japanese maple tree have two main colors, the green and the red.

Growing a little tree needs creativity, patience and a lot of dedication. There are a lot of tree species that can be very excellent miniature tree, and one of them is the Japanese maple bonsai. It is said that Japanese maple bonsai has two characteristics, both juvenile and adult. You can grow a Japanese maple bonsai from seedlings, grafts, or you can purchase a grown up Japanese maple from garden centers or from online shops.

Proper care and maintenance should be given to a Japanese maple bonsai so that it will flourish beautifully. First thing you need to know is that you should not place it under direct sunlight because too much heat can cause drying up of the leaves. It is best placed in areas with shades such as the living room or indoors. Second thing to be considered is the type of soil. There are a lot of soil types available in garden centers and nursery. Just make sure you use a soil mixture that absorbs enough water and drains excess water from the pot.

In terms of watering the plant, it requires to check it every day to make sure that the soil is moist all the time. You can check the soil by burying an inch of your finger into the soil, and when if it is dry, water it thoroughly. It is best to water plant during morning to allow water evaporate in the afternoon and this will help prevent root rotting and fungus formation which will cause damage to the bonsai roots. Excessive watering is most likely not advisable and it also required to have a good pot drainage to allow excess water to flow out from the bonsai pot.

Spring is the period of the year wherein plants and trees grows at its peak. It is recommended to use fertilizers at this time to support and encourage the growth of Japanese maple bonsai. You can use a natural fertilizer or a chemical fertilizer. Fish emulsion or any other homemade fertilizers can be a good natural fertilizer to your bonsai. You can ask a bonsai specialist to help you choose the right type of fertilizer that suits your miniature tree and how is it applied.

Preston Blackmore is a Bonsai enthusiast. He has worked with local masters to learn everything there is to know about Bonsai. Now these years of research and development are at your fingertips. For more information on Japanese Maple Bonsai, visit http://www.beginnerbonsaiguide.com/japanese-maple-bonsai

Article Source: Cultivating a Japanese Maple Bonsai

The translation of bonsai growing is "plant in a tray". It is a satisfying hobby which combines both horticulture and art. Bonsai trees are typically described as "living sculptures". As with any pot plant, it is essential that the plant is kept healthy and in excellent condition. It does require a certain amount of artistic imagination to prune and shape bonsai trees. The origin, species and general health are dependent upon the timescale to create an impressive bonsai. It will take longer to grow a bonsai tree from a seed or a cutting.

You can become to appreciate bonsai trees very quickly. They can become a very important part of your life. It is essential not to be afraid to experiment with pruning and shaping. Patience is something which is necessary by each individual when creating bonsai trees, as it is a process which should not be hurried. A good Bonsai can be trained in a very short time, providing that the suitable material is selected firstly.

Something which is fundamental to all plant life is watering. The tree will certainly die of thirst in as little as 48 hours, if it is left in a dry bonsai container. It is essential however, that the tree is not over watered. This is how many bonsai trees die, as newcomers to bonsai growing panic and over water the plant. It is important to water thoroughly, but only when a bonsai needs it. You can test as to whether the bonsai needs water by scratching the surface to expose the soil immediately below. If the soil just under the surface is wet, then do not water it. If the soil is only just damp, then you can water it. And if it is dry under the surface, then it should most certainly be watered.

Bonsai soil contains little or no nutritional value to a bonsai tree. Your bonsai depends entirely upon you for its nutritional requirements. There are a wide variety of plant foods available for your bonsai. However, it is essential that the plant food contains the three basic nutrients of Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K).

It is essential for the survival of the plant that it receives sufficient daylight or good artificial light. However, it is essential to understand the difference between sunshine and sunlight in order deliver the correct bonsai tree care. Direct sunlight can be harmful for many species of bonsai, especially through a glass window. It is also essential to remember that whether your bonsai tree is inside or out, it will benefit from a certain degree of shade from the hot summer sun.

Find other articles related to Bonsai Tree Care by Anthony Smith at: http://bonsai-tree.relatedinfo4u.com

Article Source: Bonsai Tree Information and Bonsai Tree Care

It is easy to become a competent boxwood bonsai propagator. You just have to follow these instructions:

• You can start your boxwood bonsai from air-layering and cuttings. You should make sure that you will perform the procedures in air-layering and in taking cuttings so that you can be successful in your boxwood bonsai propagation. A good start is essential in achieving your reward, which will be an attractive and healthy miniature boxwood.

• Select a pot or container for your miniature tree that has enough drainage holes. Drainage holes will aid in flushing out of excess water that should not stay in the soil.

• A good soil must promote good drainage. This will also help drop out excess water that can cause rotting of the roots if not removed from the soil.

• You must protect your boxwood bonsai from extreme cold, especially during the winter season. An environment that has a temperature of -4 degree Celsius will turn the foliage of your miniature tree to yellow or bronze. But you can protect your miniature tree by using cold frames, window wells, enclosed unheated rooms, or mulch beds.

• Water your boxwood bonsai adequately.

• You should not give too much water as this can cause rotting of the root system. You should not give as well too less water because it can cause dehydration of your miniature boxwood, which can weaken your little tree, and eventually it can cause death. Thus, you must check the soil if it becomes dry. You can dip ½ to 1 inch of your finger into the soil, and when it’s dry you can now pour sufficient amounts of water.

• Expose your miniature boxwood to a direct and an indirect sunlight. A morning direct sunlight is good for your miniature tree because it provides adequate light and heat. During midday and afternoon, you must keep your bonsai under a shady area because the light is just too intense and your miniature tree cannot tolerate it. This can cause damage to its leaves, specifically burning the leaves of your bonsai tree.

• Feed your miniature boxwood during the spring season. You must apply it once in two weeks.

• You can use a chemical fertilizer in feeding your boxwood bonsai. You can purchase from nurseries or garden stores. Just make sure that you follow the instructions on the packaging so that you will promote proper development of your bonsai and will not cause damage towards it.

• You may also use an organic fertilizer such as seaweed fertilizer or a fish emulsion.

Preston Blackmore is a Bonsai enthusiast. He has worked with local masters to learn everything there is to know about Bonsai. Now these years of research and development are at your fingertips. For more information on Boxwood Bonsai, visit http://www.beginnerbonsaiguide.com/boxwood-bonsai

Article Source: How to become a Competent Boxwood Bonsai Propagator