Bonsai started to appeal to me several years ago when I lived in an apartment for the first time. A bonsai plant or landscape is a miniature study of nature. It presents the opportunity to bring a model of the natural world into my urban home.
The art also requires a respectful approach to the spirit of an individual tree. To me, bonsai seems an ideal endeavour for anyone who sees nature as an important part of his or her spiritual world. Young bonsai have become an essential part of my indoor garden sanctuary.
Traditionally, bonsai are grown outdoors. Gardeners who have the patience and dedication to care for their plants can use bonsai specimens as a striking accent, or a focal point for a sacred space in the landscape.
I am fortunate to have cottage property that offers a moderate, sheltered, reasonably humid environment through the summer months. My parents or I are present virtually throughout the growing season to provide the attention these plants require. Several of my new indoor bonsai plants vacationed there from June to September last year.
The surrounding forest ensures reliable, deep snow cover from November to April and protection from harsh winter wind and sun. Temperate tree and shurb species require the dormancy enforced by cold weather, but their potted roots must be protected from the frequent freezing and thawing common in backyards.
I plan to experiment by leaving several young plants in a secure place at the cottage next winter, sinking the pots into a well-drained, sandy part of the woodland garden. I will mound leaves around them to provide extra protection.
If you want to grow outdoor bonsai on a balcony, porch or roof garden, see if a friend or relative can afford a sheltered garden corner or small space in a cold greenhouse for your plants during the winter months.
Many tropical plants can be grown as indoor bonsai because they do not require winter dormancy for their survival. These are a boon to cold climate urbanites and apartment dwellers like myself. Some species with a long history as bonsai subjects are increasingly available at garden centres: Podocarpus, Serissa and dwarf pomegranate. A few well-known plants like Schefflera, jade plant, Ficus benjamina, Bougainvillea, Citrus, and Hibiscus can be treated as bonsai. Many woody herb species, with the exception of thyme, are also suitable, such as bay, rosemary, myrtle and lavender.
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