Welcome to bonsai.co.nz

About Bonsai

Bonsai (盆栽) is the Japanese art of growing and carefully shaping miniature trees in containers to mimic the appearance of full-sized, mature trees in nature. The word "bonsai" literally means "planted in a container" (bon = tray or pot, sai = planting).

Bonsai is both an art form and a horticultural practice, blending patience, creativity, and nature appreciation. It originated in China (penjing) but was refined in Japan and is now popular worldwide.

 

Key Features of Bonsai:

  • Miniaturization – Trees are kept small through pruning, wiring, and root management.
  • Aesthetic Design – Bonsai artists shape the tree to create a natural, balanced, and often aged appearance.
  • Container Growth – Trees are grown in shallow pots to restrict growth and enhance artistic presentation.
  • Long-Term Care – Bonsai requires years (sometimes decades) of maintenance to develop and refine.

 

Common Bonsai Styles:

  • Formal Upright (Chokkan) – Straight, tapered trunk.
  • Informal Upright (Moyogi) – Slightly curved trunk.
  • Slanting (Shakan) – Leans to one side.
  • Cascade (Kengai) – Branches flow downward like a waterfall.
  • Windswept (Fukinagashi) – Appears shaped by strong winds.

 

Bonsai Care Basics:

  • Pruning – Trimming branches and leaves to maintain shape.

  • Wiring – Using wire to guide branch growth.

  • Watering – Needs careful attention (not too much or too little).

  • Repotting – Done every few years to refresh soil and trim roots.

  • Sunlight – Most bonsai need plenty of light but vary by species.

 

Popular Bonsai Tree Species:

Confiers:

Dwarf Juniper

Cypress

Spruce

Juniperus

Pine

Cedar

Japanese Cedar

Natives:

Ti Tree

Kowhai

Pohutukawa

Corokia

Putaputaweta

Totara

Flowering and others:

Azalea

Gardenia

Chinese fringe flower

Calliandra

Grewia

Beech

Holly

Lily of the valley

Firethorn

Maple

Wisteria

Cotoneaster