Friday, August 05, 2005
I Love This Tree!
I paid 39 dollars for this tree a little over three years ago and it has given me a huge amount of joy.
This tree is beautiful. I can stare at it for five minutes, rotate it 45 degrees and happily continue to gaze upon it.
Aggressive roots overflow the lava rock on all sides. Look at the four meaty arms diverging from the central stem, it really is amazing. From a brawny core emerges long slender fibers of dark healthy green, an olive helmet of life. Even with minimal or no styling this tree is a sight to behold.
If you are starting to explore bonsai, I have no reservations about recommending the dwarf schefflera. Also known as 'hawaiian umbrella' plants, these trees are beautiful, fast growing and really easy to take care.
This species grows very quickly during the prime growing season (June - September in Northern Illinois). Cuttings from the plant shown above grew into a 24" plant in 18 months.
Virtually all bonsai stores sell a version of this tree. I have even seen them at the local home depot. Prices range from ten to fifty dollars. If you have a very limited budget, hit the hardware store. Otherwise save yourself several years of formative training and get a four year old tree from a reputable bonsai nursery.
In my next post I will cover basic care for the dwarf schefflera.
Comments:
I am interested in raising bonsai and am ready to commit. As I start out, will it be too time comsuming? Should I purchase a 'how to' type book.
# posted by 
: 6:58 AM
: 6:58 AM
I own a half dozen books. Of the books one is a very serious book, essentially the bible of bonsai books (Bonsai Techniques by John Naka). The others are little more than picture books. Picture books are good for beginners in that you can get an idea of the possibilities, on the other hand they are by no means necessary.
The truth is that you should be able to get a tree and all you will really need to know for the first 6-12 months is how to take care of the tree. Care information is species-specific and isn't in most books.
If you want to try an outdoor bonai, go to the bookstore and find one with care instructions for bonsai.
If you want to do indoor bonsai you can get all the information online at fukubonsai.com. Scroll halfway down and you will see a link 'Training True Indoor Bonsai'. This guy is the world's authority and has fantastic information. Also, if you order a tree from there (they start at around twenty bucks) you can get a small book for five dollars which has all the information.
Honestly, you can spend as much or as little time on bonsai as you want. I speak mostly of the indoor bonsai, because that is what I raise. If you get an indoor bonsai, I would say they would need 10 minutes of care a week for the first year. Just water them once or twice a week depending on the season, and rotate them every few days, so all sides get equal light. That is it!
After a year, it will have grown quite a bit...and you'll be ready for your first pruning!
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The truth is that you should be able to get a tree and all you will really need to know for the first 6-12 months is how to take care of the tree. Care information is species-specific and isn't in most books.
If you want to try an outdoor bonai, go to the bookstore and find one with care instructions for bonsai.
If you want to do indoor bonsai you can get all the information online at fukubonsai.com. Scroll halfway down and you will see a link 'Training True Indoor Bonsai'. This guy is the world's authority and has fantastic information. Also, if you order a tree from there (they start at around twenty bucks) you can get a small book for five dollars which has all the information.
Honestly, you can spend as much or as little time on bonsai as you want. I speak mostly of the indoor bonsai, because that is what I raise. If you get an indoor bonsai, I would say they would need 10 minutes of care a week for the first year. Just water them once or twice a week depending on the season, and rotate them every few days, so all sides get equal light. That is it!
After a year, it will have grown quite a bit...and you'll be ready for your first pruning!
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