| <!-- | | | | be kept moist throughout both the summer and the |
| { font-family:"Arial"; font-size:x-small } --> | | | | winter, making sure not to let the soil dry out |
| The art of growing tiny trees or plants resembling | | | | completely during winter. |
| trees in containers is called Bonsai. Bonsai is a hobby | | | | The Chinese Elm (Ulmus Parvifolia) is a hardy |
| for people and such plants are cultivated through | | | | deciduous tree when kept outdoors, but will be an |
| regular cultivation techniques like root reduction, | | | | evergreen if kept as an indoor bonsai. The glossy, |
| potting and grafting. The knowledge about types of | | | | leathery leaves are often still present midway |
| Bonsai plants is necessary to make decision on | | | | through winter. The plant should be placed in a sunny, |
| growing a particular Bonsai type. The selling of Bonsai | | | | but wind-sheltered area in the summer, and placed |
| plantlets has also become a business in recent days. | | | | indoors in a cool room with good light during the |
| You can begin narrowing down your choices of | | | | winter. Keep the soil moist all summer, and then only |
| bonsai plants by choosing between winter-hardy | | | | keep the soil barely moist during the winter after the |
| trees, shrubs, and conifers, or tropical and sub-tropical | | | | leaves have fallen off the tree. |
| plants. The winter-hardy varieties are generally grown | | | | The Weeping Fig (Ficus Benjamina) is a popular |
| and displayed outdoors, while the tropical and | | | | evergreen shrub often seen in homes and offices. |
| sub-tropical plants are more typically grown indoors. | | | | Widely sold as a traditional houseplant it can be easily |
| Following are just a few examples of the types of | | | | modified and trained as an indoor bonsai. The plant |
| plants that are commonly used in bonsai, are | | | | should be kept indoors throughout the year. Keep |
| generally easy to find, and are suitable for the | | | | the soil evenly moist during the summer months, |
| beginning, but future bonsai master: | | | | cutting back during the winter but never allowing the |
| The Japanese Maple (Acer Palmatum) is a deciduous | | | | soil to completely dry out. |
| tree that has green leaves in the spring which turn a | | | | These four examples barely scratch the surface |
| beautiful rich red during the summer and a brilliant red | | | | when it comes to the huge number of possibilities for |
| in the autumn. It can withstand full sun during the | | | | selecting your bonsai plant. A reputable nursery or |
| summer but will require protection from cold winds | | | | garden center will be an ideal place to begin your |
| and severe frost during the winter. It does best with | | | | search for your first bonsai masterpiece. |
| small but frequent watering, and the soil should not | | | | Getting started in bonsai is easy. All you need to get |
| be allowed to dry out between watering. | | | | started is the help of a comprehensive book or guide |
| The Chinese Juniper (Juniperus Chinensis) is a bushy | | | | that will teach you the art and techniques of bonsai. I |
| evergreen conifer with dark green, needle-shaped | | | | recommend a great book on my site so be sure to |
| foliage, and reddish-brown bark. Place it in full sun | | | | check it out. Get started today and begin enjoying |
| during summer months but protect the needles from | | | | this fascinating hobby! |
| extreme cold and frost in the winter. The soil should | | | | |