Bonsai trees are popular, for example as a special eye-catcher on the terrace. With a little skill and a lot of patience, it is possible to grow a bonsai yourself. A conifer is well suited for this.
Conifers, like the yew here, are often used for growing bonsai
Conifers as garden bonsai
The bonsai conifer is very similar to its big brother, just on a smaller scale. There are several ways to get a bonsai conifer:
- Buy as a finished tree in the garden store
- buy at the nursery
- Find and collect miniature specimens in nature
- Bonsai conifer from cuttings
- Bonsai conifer from seed
No matter which bonsai you choose, the little tree needs constant nurturing and care.
The most important aspects of bonsai care are regular trimming and wiring. In the long run, this will make the conifers very bushy.
The techniques for shaping a bonsai
Since the thuja is one of the most tolerant of pruning conifers, it is particularly suitable for shaping into a bonsai. An important technique for shaping is regular cutting.
The cutting
Pruning and corrective pruning are required to keep the tree small. As with the large thujas, the bonsai thuja is mainly cut in autumn or spring. This requires a special tool, the concave pliers for thicker branches. Cuts made with concave pliers heal better. In addition to pruning the new growth, bent or twisted branches are removed. If two branches grow next to each other at the same trunk height, one of the two can be removed.
The wiring
With this technique, branches are brought into the desired shape. You use anodized aluminum wire and wrap it around the young branches. Wire wrapped makes them easier to bend and shape. However, the wire must be removed once it begins to grow in.
The best way to get detailed information about cutting and wiring is to consult the relevant literature or ask a specialist. It would be a pity if a bonsai conifer was damaged by improper handling.
The care
Caring for a bonsai conifer also needs to be learned. Various factors are important here. Since bonsai are cultivated in shallow pots, care must be taken when watering and fertilizing that only the required amount is actually administered. Too much will inevitably lead to damage.
In addition to watering and fertilizing, the plant also needs to be repotted regularly so that its root ball does not become too dense. Here, too, the advice of a specialist should be obtained.