Banging Bonsai Photos

Here is a list of the type of plants that have good bonsai potential. You can purchase these garden type plants at your local Nursery Shop.

1. Dwarf Junipers
2. Dwarf Yaupon Holly
3. Japanese Red Maple
4. Pony Tail Palm
5. Emerald Ficus
6. Bald Cypress

We will make a bonsai out of this dwarf Garden Japanese Juniper Start by looking for limbs and to cut...go ahead try it. Don't be afraid to cut limbs that you think need removing. Limbs that shoot out vertically will typically make good bonsia's. You can find dwarf Japanese Junipers at your local nursery.

Seperate limbs and foliage to see where is the best place to cut. Try to keep all limbs that are more vertical. Limbs that shoot straight up or down should be pruned off. Be sure to wear a good thick pair of gloves as the dwarf juniper is very prickly.

Remove plastic container to see your root ball. Do not be afraid to cut down on roots and removing soil this will help accomodate your new bonsai pot. The root ball needs to fit inside the new bonsai pot. Exposing some of the upper root system will give your bonsai a much more realistic setting.

Use a good pair of pruning clippers to do the job right. Cut off any smaller type foliage from the bottom of the limbs. Prune limbs that tend to shoot straight up.

As you can see by the bonsai photo to the left it is starting to look like a bonsai. Ray Torres is using a good pair of gloves to help remove some of the dead foliage. Ray is looking at the structure of the bonsai. He removed some of the root ball so that it can fit into the bonsai pot.

Now we will need a pot and wire to tie and place the bonsai on. You can purchase one online or find a nursery store and ask for bonsai pottery. Always use or purchase a pot with two holes at the bottom. Use good wire to tie it down. Tie the wire around the root ball of the juniper. Do not tie around large limbs. Be sure to fill the pot with good potting soil and pack it down.

Be sure to tie the wire around the root ball. Use a good pair of wire cutter to trim off the excess wire. Add any good potting soil to your pot. This will hold the plant inside the pot.

Ray is holding the finished product. It took him about 30 minutes to complete the job. Remember the plant is a dwarf japanese garden juniper which are ideal for the beginner bonsai enthuasists.

Bonsai's should be watered like most plants. Every other day is sufficient during the summer months. When fertilizing be sure to use half the amount of fertilizer. Since the root system is in a small container full strength fertilizer could burn the roots.

You can use small rocks or pebbles to decorate your bonsai. Adding some type of moss can also add to the appeal or your bonsai. To the casual observer it looks like it took alot of time and effort to make the bonsai.