Mini marvels

The word bonsai means 'tree in a pot'; the art of growing was first practiced by the Chinese about two millennia ago. Later carried to Japan by Buddhist monks, the art was refined and perfected to become an integral part of Japanese culture.

Bonsai is the perfect combination of horticulture and art – you care for the tree by watering and feeding it and transplanting it when necessary, but you also shape and form it with an artist's eye to create a perfect miniature of a tree in its natural environment. Bonsai enthusiasts insist that the hobby doesn't take up much time, but freely admit that once the bug has bitten you're unlikely to break free again – especially as just about any tree can be cultivated as a bonsai.

Styles
Bonsais are classified according to six classic styles: formal upright, informal upright, slanting, broom, semi-cascade and cascade. South African bonsai artists are among few practitioners of this centuries-old art who have produced additional, indigenous styles by simply studying the forms of indigenous trees in southern Africa's various regions. These six so-called African styles, recognised and admired worldwide, are:

the Baobab, with a thick trunk

the Pierneef, with its distinctive flat crown

the Bushveld bonsai, an upright tree with strong branches in a zigzag pattern

the Wonderboom, which sees the branches of the parent tree bend down to the ground to form new trunks, just liked the famed Pretoria tree

the Wild fig, that features umbrella shaped crowns with long branches

the Flat top, which has its origins in two Acacia species found only in Africa.

Basic maintenance for your bonsai
Water A bonsai grows in a shallow bowl and its roots take up a lot of space, leaving little room for soil or water-retaining materials – so the tree has to be watered regularly. In warm weather your tree should be watered daily, and sometimes up to two or three times a day. Many bonsai enthusiasts use a sprinkler system with a timer. The soil should always be damp, but never soaking.
Position A bonsai needs sunlight, as is the case in its natural environment. Morning sun or partial sun under a tree is ideal, as afternoon sun can dry out the tree. A bonsai can be displayed indoors on special occasions, but won't survive if permanently placed in shade.
Feeding Feed your tree every fortnight with a diluted liquid fertiliser such as Seagro.

Interesting bonsai facts

As you grow, prune and train the tree, its leaves will naturally shrink to miniature size – but this takes a while.

A fruit-bearing or flowering tree will become smaller, but the fruit or flowers won't, so it's advisable to prevent fruiting, which may break branches and retard growth. Berry trees such as the fire thorn (Pyracantha varieties) work well, however, as their fruits are small.

Don't simply dig up trees in the wild; if you have no idea what you're removing the tree could die, or you could be carrying off an endangered species. Join a bonsai club (known as a kai), for regular training sessions.

Deciduous trees make beautiful bonsais, as the leaves change colour in the autumn.

Indigenous thorn trees and wild figs are ideal for sculpting African styles, while conifers and other exotics are best suited to the classic styles.

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