Growing and caring for bonsai first appeared in China over a thousand years ago. Known as pun-sai, these early bonsai trees had very sparse foliage and gnarled trunks that looked like dragons, birds and other animals.
Growing and caring for bonsai quickly became a passion of many and has found its way into the west. Bonsai trees are not only an attractive conversation piece but also a benefit to your health for many reasons.
Health Benefits of Growing a Bonsai Tree
- Growing and tending to bonsai trees is a wonderful hobby and a great stress reliever.
- Bonsai trees require proper water, care, trimming, and fertilizing to be healthy. Constantly caring for your plant can help develop your patience.
- Working with nature, including bonsai trees, can help you become a more peaceful person.
- Indoor plants, including bonsai, can clean and help purify the air in your home or office.
- Bonsai can help you get over your cold. Plants grown indoors can help fight fatigue, coughs, and sore throats.
- Successfully growing and caring for a bonsai tree can leave you with a great sense of accomplishment which is very good for your health.
Caring for a Bonsai Tree
Proper Watering
In order to be healthy and strong, bonsai trees must be watered properly. The bonsai tree should be watered by placing the pot in a bowl of water. When all of the soil has absorbed water, bubbles will stop forming in the water, and the tree should be removed. This should be done about once a week, or as needed. Bonsai soil should never be soaking wet, but it should not be dry and crumbly either.
Proper Soil
The soil is what provides the tree with the nutrients it needs, so picking the proper soil is essential. Different species of bonsai plants will require different soil. Do some research on your particular kind of plant, or ask a bonsai specialist. Make sure you pick the proper soil, and fertilizer if your tree requires it.
Proper Pot
A bonsai tree will not be healthy or grow well if the pot is not the proper size. As a general rule, the width of the pot should be 1/3 of the height of the tree and the depth of the pot should be about the same height as the trunk of the tree. Your tree will need to be repotted to a larger pot annually if it is growing properly.
Proper Climate
The proper climate is necessary to keep your tree healthy. In the summer, when the sun is hot, and the soil dries out quicker, keep your tree in a partly shaded area. This will help the tree retain moisture. In the winter, do the opposite.
Place the tree in a bright and sunny window that can help prevent it from staying too wet. Never place your plant in the direct flow of a heater or air conditioner, this will cause it to dry out very quickly.
Proper Trimming
The trimming of a bonsai plant is very important so that it grows correctly into the desired shape. Leaves and branches can be trimmed off to help the plant grow the way you want it to. Care should be taken while trimming.
If the wrong leaf or branch is trimmed, the shape of the tree can be altered severely. Sharp scissors should be used to avoid causing damage to the tree. Sharp tools will make a clean cut and leave the tree healthy.
-The Alternative Daily
Sources:
http://www.bonsaicareadvice.com/bonsai-care-amazed-personal-health-benefits/
http://ezinearticles.com/?Health-Benefits-of-Bonsai-Gardening&id=5662378
http://www.bonsaidojo.net/how-to-care-for-a-bonsai-tree/
