Growing Bonsai TreesSome Things I Learned Along the Way
For many people, growing bonsai trees is a hobby. Some think it a huge challenge.
For me, it has been a joy and a lifestyle.
Bonsai (often misspelled bonzi, bonzai and even banzai) is a Japanese word, meaning 'tree in a tray'.
This site will share the magic I discovered during my many years of growing these small treasures, resolve some of the mystery and dispel a few of the myths.
Let's start with the basics ...
What is bonsai?
Scientifically speaking, there is no such thing as "bonsai trees".
Many different kinds of plants are used to create them. They are not a species.
Some are not trees at all, they are often shrubs, vines or even succulents.
The tree shown above is a Tamarindus indica, the true Tamarind tree. It was created by me from nursery stock.
No matter what you start with, they all consist of two basic elements:
Although China is usually credited with the origin of this art form, it matured in Japan and today it is a global pastime.
In the Orient, many bonsai trees, hundreds of years old, have been maintained by families through generations.
Around the world today, years of loving care have given us many newer beautiful specimens.
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Staying in Touch . . .
Stay in touch with what's happening at BonsaiMary.com website. Know when there's a new page or special announcement.
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Bonsai Garden
Imagine seeing a bonsai garden of live exotic, quality bonsai trees! View my listings from Florida to California, then add your own favorite to this site.
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Bonsai Art
There are many bonsai stylists who also create bonsai art ...painting and drawing. Chad Beatty, Joe Samuels and Ernie Fernandez are just a few of my favorites.
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How to Make Bonsai
When someone asks how to make bonsai, I take a deep breath.There are many answers! Seeds, cuttings, air layers, nursery stock and pre-bonsai can all be bonsai beginnings.
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Growing bonsai from seed
Growing bonsai from seed is possible, however there is no such thing as bonsai seeds. Seeds of trees suitable for bonsai is much better terminology.
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Growing Bonsai Trees Indoors
Are you growing bonsai trees indoors? As a friend once told me "God never created house plants". To keep any plant healthy indoors, the more you duplicate its natural environment the happier
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Bonsai Care
Bonsai care instructions should be specific to your tree. Since bonsai are created from many different kinds of plants, they often require different cultivation.
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Bahama Berry
Discovering a new plant for use as bonsai is quite exciting. The Bahama Berry was especially so, as it seemed perfect. The tiny leaves, flowers and fruit were exactly what we look for!
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Bald Cypress as Bonsai
Bald cypress is very popular as bonsai in the United States. Bonsai artists go to great lengths to replicate their beauty. To see these marvelous trees in miniature is amazing.
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Bougainvillea bonsai
Bougainvillea bonsai, fast growing, abundant blooms, loves heat, tolerates cool, easy care, alternate leaves! What more could you ask from a tropical bonsai?
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Buttonwood
There are many plants with the common name of buttonwood. But for bonsai Conocarpus erectus (Combretum Family) is one of the most popular collected tropical trees in the States.
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Ficus Bonsai
Ficus are considered exotic and beautiful trees by many plant collectors. They are often used to create amazing Ficus bonsai specimens!
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Jade Bonsai
Portulacaria afra is much easier to develop as jade bonsai than the Crassula varieties. Smaller leaves are especially valuable for this bonsai plant design.
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juniper bonsai
Juniper bonsai is perhaps the most recognized species used to create these little trees. Although used for many years by hobbyists, The Karate Kid made it popular!
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Mimosa Bonsai
Mimosa Bonsai in the tropics are created from the Leucaena glauca. If you've never tried a bonsai from seeds, creating this Mimosa Bonsai may be the perfect choice. Unlike pine trees, you wo
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Types of Bonsai Trees
Bonsai are classified in many ways. By shape, by size and by species. Types of bonsai trees for this site means the species used.
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Bonsai Supplies
Bonsai supplies and accessories are available by the thousands. Many are true assets and conveniences, others are nothing more than novelties.
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Bonsai Tools
Bonsai tools are created with shapes and sharpness to do specific jobs and to do them well. Hundreds are available. How many do you need?ound on-line.
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Plant Pests and Bonsai
Growing bonsai? Knowing plant pests comes with the territory! Because we use many different kinds of plants to create bonsai trees, there are many different problems to watch for. Any art
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Bonsai Care in Winter
Bonsai care in winter is a serious concern. All container plants need special consideration during winter - bonsai included. Indoors and out, there are many techniques to keep your bonsai safe.
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Small Greenhouse Ideas
A small greenhouse may be the answer, for storing your tropical bonsai trees during winter...especially if you've gone beyond your alloted window space. Greenhouses come in many forms. You've probabl
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Displaying Bonsai
Displaying bonsai trees in a formal manner is as much of an art form as bonsai itself. Traditionally, artists create the feeling of a scene or season in their arrangement. For example, if the bonsai
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Bonsai Tree Articles
For several years I wrote for Bonsai Today magazine, many of those bonsai tree articles are here. A few others were written for gardening publications and others for my newsletters. I hope you will e
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Bonsai Myths
There are many bonsai myths connected with growing bonsai trees. Some seem somewhat logical; others are difficult to imagine how they ever came about. Some of the more common myths are listed here. Af
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Buy Bonsai List
Whether you buy bonsai trees, grow bonsai starters or begin with pre bonsai ... this list of basics will help you select and create good subjects. Tips on how to make a better bonsai collection
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Contact Bonsai Mary
This is the place to contact Bonsai Mary with your ideas, comments and suggestions. I have lots of plans, but always welcome your input.
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Bonsai Photos from Exhibits
Bonsai photos from exhibits are often of the best trees an area has to offer. Many can be great teaching tools. You are invited to add your exhibit bonsai photos to my site.
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BAHAMA BERRY BONSAI
It's time for Bahama Berry bragging. I've shown you one of the first. Now it’s your turn.
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Buttonwood Bonsai Photos
Buttonwood bonsai is one of the most significant American trees adapted to the art of bonsai. These buttonwood bonsai photos will prove it!
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Ficus bonsai photos
Ficus bonsai photos appear in many recent bonsai books. There is good reason. Throughout the world, Ficus is one of the most exciting tropicals to work with.
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Fukien Tea Photos
It’s rare to attend a bonsai exhibit in Florida and not find several Fukien Tea. This tropical bonsai is also popular around the world. This is the place to show off your photos!
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Jade Bonsai Tree Pictures
Sometimes called miniature jade bonsai because of its small leaves, and similarity to crassula, Portulacaria afra is the best of succulents to be adapted to the art of bonsai. Although easy to grow
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Juniper Bonsai Pictures
Juniper bonsai pictures seem to best show what bonsai is all about. Although used for many years by hobbyists, junipers were made popular with the public in the original Karate Kid movie. Juniper
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Serissa Bonsai Photos
Have you had better luck with Serissa bonsai than I have? I know what good bonsai they can be. Time to brag a little. Please share your photo and tell your story here.
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Bonsai Tree Pictures
Many bonsai tree pictures tell a story by themselves. These bonsai photos have commentaries by their owners. You can tell us what you think too!
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Bonsai Trees - about BonsaiMary
My real name is Mary C. Miller. I began growing bonsai trees in Miami, FL during the early 1970s. It wasn't long before I was totally consumed with these little plants. I read about them, I took a cl
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Create a Website -My Secret
Me create a website?After Bonsai with Tropicals was published, I gave a lot of consideration to writing another book. I then decided to create a website instead. I knew I could expand on the content
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Legal Stuff
This page sets out the legal stuff - issues, policies, terms and conditions that you may need to know about using my website.
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Table of Contents
This Table of Contents for the Bonsai Mary site should make it easy to find what you’re looking for.
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Bonsai Advertising
Bonsai advertising is now available on the Bonsai-Mary site.
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