VANCOUVER ISLAND BONSAI SOCIETY

General Bonsai Information

 

What is Bonsai?

Bonsai (pronounced "bone-sigh") is a term that describes the cultivation of miniaturised plants, usually trees, in pots. The word "bonsai" derives from the Japanese words or phrases "bon" meaning pot or tray and "sai" meaning plant, or planting, therefore a plant in a pot or tray. The Japanese term derives from the Chinese "P'en Tsai", first used in the Chin Dynasty (265 A.D. - 420 A.D.) and which referred to potted landscapes using trees.

In China, the art form later evolved to a style known as "Penjing" or "Pen-ching" that incorporated rocks and miniaturised buildings and figures of people in landscape settings. The appeal of miniturised trees or landscapes is broad and several Asian countries have developed their own unique styles including the Vietnamese "Cay Canh" or "hon non bo" (tree and landscape) and the Korean "bunjae"

It is important to point out that bonsai are not special hybrids or genetic "dwarf" trees but are full-sized trees miniaturised by using techniques that involve the pruning of branches, leaves, trunks and roots along with wiring for shape and the use of specialized soil mixtures in pots whose design suits the art form.

What is different about Bonsai on Vancouver Island?

The climate here in southwestern, coastal Canada is moderated by the winds and currents of the Pacific Ocean. We are in the temperate rainforest biome. Generally the west coast of Vancouver Island receives much more rain and cooler temperatures than the east coast as bounded by the Salish Sea that separates the island from the mainland. The southern tip of the Island, including Victoria and the southern Gulf Islands, is actually subject to a "rain shadow" effect caused by the hills to the west and the Olympic Mountains in Washington State to the south intercepting the rain-laden clouds. In Victoria the rainfall average is about 25 - 30 inches (625 - 750 mm) a year. Some areas on the west coast of the island may get in excess of 200 inches (5000 mm) of rainfall in a year.

As a result of this moderate climate there is a tremendous diversity of plant species, including a number native trees such as Douglas fir, black hawthorn, arbutus, manzanita, western red cedar, Garry oak, western hemlock, mountain hemlock, Sitka spruce, various firs, yellow cedar and pine, among others. In addition, quite a few more "exotic" species from around the globe, many of them suited to bonsai, do well here in the maritime environment. We embrace traditional forms of bonsai (as a collective term) but we also experiment with a west coast style of bonsai - bonsai styled to resemble, in miniature, our indigenous trees.

Simple guide to bonsai care

1) Water it. Keep the soil of your bonsai moist. There are various ways to test when to water your plant. A dry pot is significantly lighter then a wet pot. Lift the plant up. Or dig into the soil with your finger. If the soil is wet, the tree likely does not need water. People new to the hobby might be advised to check the soil daily if conditions have been dry..

2) Prune it. Selective pruning will shape your tree. Make clean cuts with sharp tools. If unsure, ask for advice from the experts at your local club.

3) Feed it. If you are unfamiliar with the feeding requirements of trees, there are good, simple to use plant foods you can buy at any store with even the smallest plant-care section. If you are more ambitious, go to the local nursery or garden centre and browse their selection. Ask a knowledgeable person on staff for advice. It's often suggested to use a balanced fertilizer at half the recommended strength.

4) Observe it: Watch your tree over time. Learn what your tree does in response to seasonal cycles. Be patient.

5) Learn about it: Read a book, or books, about bonsai, with particular attention to the trees that you are interested in. Join the local club - there will be a library with a variety of resources and people expert in the care and feeding of bonsai. A bonsai will grow in beauty and value if kept healthy and properly shaped. Check the links below for more detailed descriptions.

 

.

 

Home, watering, pruning, feeding