Bonsai!
Some of the more observant fellow plot-holders will have noticed the strange crop beginning to appear on plot 20 and have been asking questions, so here I reveal what is going on...
The plan is for these small trees to be grown on to become bonsai. I have prepared a short Q&A to explain more:
What is a bonsai?
Bonsai means 'a tree in a container', so these will only truly become bonsai once taken from the ground and given their first specially chosen pot.
Why are these trees in the ground then?
Many of these trees have been rescued from gardens where they were clinging to life and about to be permanently evicted to the big garden in the sky – being dug, or 'collected' to use the correct terminology, is traumatic for the tree which will inevitably loose many roots in the process. Going back into the ground at this stage is the best way to ensure the tree survives and can regrow the roots. The well-tended allotment soil is the perfect tree growing medium.
What next then?
Once the tree has been nursed back into health through the spring it will be pruned over the summer to keep top growth in check. It will then be prepared for being dug up again – this time a much better planned operation. The tree will be freed from the ground, losing as much loose soil as possible from the tender new roots. It is this fine network of roots that are critical to the trees future health, the big woody roots are useless for a bonsai as all they do is provide support against strong winds – something a bonsai will never now have to face, the fine feeder roots are the ones that provide water and nutrients to the tree.
And longer term care?
The tree will first be put into a large pot and over many years into a series of gradually smaller pots until it can fit into one of the correct visual size. The leaves and branches will be pruned to give shape and structure and to control the growth. This is where horticulture starts to give way to art and the hobby gets really interesting...
Is it healthy for a tree to grow in a pot?
The soil is very carefully selected for each individual tree, bearing in mind the age and species and stage of development, but is generally very free draining. A tree will be watered at least once daily, if not more. A feeding regime will be designed and carefully applied to ensure the absolute perfect balance of nutrients is available (this is basically growing hydroponically – the soil only providing support and visual interest). A bonsai must be in the very pinnacle of health to look good, in fact most bonsai trees are in better health and will live longer than trees in the wild.
Is bonsai easy?
Anyone who can grow a crop of beans has displayed enough horticultural skill to grow a bonsai.
Isn't it against the rules to grow trees at the allotment?
I have asked permission and as long as there are no trees growing in the ground at the end of the year then I am allowed to have trees growing through the summer. This one growing season fits perfectly with the plan.
The plan is for these small trees to be grown on to become bonsai. I have prepared a short Q&A to explain more:
What is a bonsai?
Bonsai means 'a tree in a container', so these will only truly become bonsai once taken from the ground and given their first specially chosen pot.
Why are these trees in the ground then?
Many of these trees have been rescued from gardens where they were clinging to life and about to be permanently evicted to the big garden in the sky – being dug, or 'collected' to use the correct terminology, is traumatic for the tree which will inevitably loose many roots in the process. Going back into the ground at this stage is the best way to ensure the tree survives and can regrow the roots. The well-tended allotment soil is the perfect tree growing medium.
What next then?
Once the tree has been nursed back into health through the spring it will be pruned over the summer to keep top growth in check. It will then be prepared for being dug up again – this time a much better planned operation. The tree will be freed from the ground, losing as much loose soil as possible from the tender new roots. It is this fine network of roots that are critical to the trees future health, the big woody roots are useless for a bonsai as all they do is provide support against strong winds – something a bonsai will never now have to face, the fine feeder roots are the ones that provide water and nutrients to the tree.
And longer term care?
The tree will first be put into a large pot and over many years into a series of gradually smaller pots until it can fit into one of the correct visual size. The leaves and branches will be pruned to give shape and structure and to control the growth. This is where horticulture starts to give way to art and the hobby gets really interesting...
Is it healthy for a tree to grow in a pot?
The soil is very carefully selected for each individual tree, bearing in mind the age and species and stage of development, but is generally very free draining. A tree will be watered at least once daily, if not more. A feeding regime will be designed and carefully applied to ensure the absolute perfect balance of nutrients is available (this is basically growing hydroponically – the soil only providing support and visual interest). A bonsai must be in the very pinnacle of health to look good, in fact most bonsai trees are in better health and will live longer than trees in the wild.
Is bonsai easy?
Anyone who can grow a crop of beans has displayed enough horticultural skill to grow a bonsai.
Isn't it against the rules to grow trees at the allotment?
I have asked permission and as long as there are no trees growing in the ground at the end of the year then I am allowed to have trees growing through the summer. This one growing season fits perfectly with the plan.
Submitted by Jon, plot 20
Comments
Post a Comment