Good day! It is the blog: How Unique Japan!
This time, we would like to talk about Mini-Bonsai. You might have heard of Bonsai art.
It is a traditional Japanese art of gardening. Why does it interact with so many people?
Why is the bonsai art popular?
The reason is that they are stunningly beautiful and wild, because artists of Bonsai always express the four rich seasons in Japan with such a small and expensive pot. It is for sightseeing enjoyment.
Thus, they plant a tree that could bloom or bear fruit seasonally. But trees would naturally grow more than the pod size.
How do they keep the tree small/mobile size?
So, they tied a baby tree with iron lines to limit its growth. It sounds easy. However, the bonsai artists need to adjust the length of each branch with some tools (scissors, rulers).
It is delicate.
That is why we said wild.
Besides, maturing enough to enjoy takes a very long time.
Approximately, it will be between two and three years old (it depends on the size). Which means it always becomes expensive.
The old one (for instance, the picture above) can be over 100 years old.
It is the Bonsai art.
Then, Mini-Bonsai
However, nowadays, we get more casual Bonsai art than the original ones.
It is also called Koke dama, which can be translated as Moss ball directly. That is like a Bonsai tree in a small size. The big difference is that it does not use expensive pots and soil. Instead of them, it uses Moss.
Why it cheap?
Indeed. It is much cheaper than the original because the cost does not include a pot and soil. As the picture shows, they have already set up (fully grown), although it is small. Hence, we do not need to buy any equipment.
So, that is why it is cheap.
It could be a good interior on your table, couldn’t it?
How and when do we water them?
The outcome depends on the type of plant.
However, they need sunlight appropriately. Then, they should be on the window frame at least every two or three days. And one more, ventilation is the key to keeping them healthy.
They hate the closed space where wind can not go through.
Thus, the best area they can live in is where the sunlight and wind come (but not straight).
How about watering? The sign that they need water is simple. You can hold it up and check its weight. If you feel it is light, it may say I am hungry, please.
The latest style
For these reasons, there are many kinds of Mini-Bonsai. Some are not Japanese plants but different kinds (for example, a banyan tree). If you are interested in them, try typing Bonsai moss ball. You would get surprisingly much information!
To close
Bonsai art is no longer just for wealthy individuals.
Additionally, we can also enjoy the flowers blooming if you make them satisfied (check the kind of tree). It is such a calming hobby.
It is all today! But hold on, please!
We still have more articles about Japanese features, categorized into four topics. They are about Japanese food, lifestyle, Religion, and the Edo era. If you are still interested in our blog, please try them!
Thank you for reading this! And see you for the next uniqueness in Japan!