Cape Town - Bonsai is an ancient art which focuses on styling containerised trees into shapes as seen in nature. The end result is a miniature tree of extraordinary beauty – a living artwork.
Hobbyists pay enormous attention to their bonsai plants, and recommend it as an antidote to the stresses of modern life.
Bonsai trees’ beauty evokes a sense of tranquillity. And their owners derive great pleasure caring for them and watching them develop over the years.
Joining a bonsai society is the key to becoming involved in this creative activity. Bonsai growers in the Western Cape use a variety of plant species for their bonsai. Initially, exotic species were used.
However, over time growers experimented with indigenous species, discovering suitable plants that have impressed bonsai communities across the world.
Today commonly used indigenous species include figs, acacias, wild olive (Olea europaea ssp. africana), white stinkwood (Celtis africana), Schotia sp., bladder nut (Diospyros whyteana), witolienhout (Buddleja saligna), confetti bush (Coleonema spp.), white milkwood (Sideroxyloninerme) and Galpinia transvaalica. Each has their own particular attraction – bark, flowers, berries or foliage.
The subject of foliar feeding and whether it is of benefit to bonsai trees is a subject of huge interest to Western Cape hobbyists.
Kevin Kelly, of the Cape Bonsai Kai, has researched the effectiveness of foliar feeding in bonsai, and considers that it has advantages in certain circumstances.
Foliar feeding refers to the spraying of a liquid fertiliser on to the plant’s leaves.
“Leaf surface absorption has faster effect than root uptake in addressing mineral deficiencies,” he explains. “Foliar feeding is especially effective for introducing trace elements or for emergency feeding of plants which are found to have a specific mineral shortage.
“Bonsai also benefit from foliar feeding during times of ‘internal stress’ when problems may occur. Stress problems can occur during bud formation and maturation, or during flowering or fruiting when there are high demands for certain nutrients.”
Kelly recommends using foliar fertilisation after re-potting a plant, when root uptake of essential nutrients may be limited.
Root growth and branch and leaf survival all benefit.
Foliar feeding may also be valuable in bonsai culture where mycorrhizal development at the root-soil interface is poor. This occurs especially when artificial growing mediums are used which may be low in clay or organic content.
According to Kelly, it is not good to root feed where watering is patchy and drying out is common.
Kelly’s research indicates that this method of fertilisation does have limitations that growers need to be aware of.
l Roots are much more efficient than leaves at absorbing essential nutrients of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium.
l Material applied to the leaf does not travel through the plant as effectively as through root uptake.
l Foliar spraying is only a temporary solution to the larger problem of soil nutrient availability.
l Minerals, especially micronutrients, applied in amounts that exceed a plant’s needs, can injure or kill the plant.
Watering:
The issue of how you water bonsai is also important.
Bonsais grow in a container with drainage holes to allow excess moisture to drain away. The soil mix contains a large percentage of grit or river sand to allow good drainage of excess moisture. Most bonsai trees do not like their roots wet all the time but the soil of a bonsai needs to be watered every day.
The right spot:
A bonsai needs direct sunlight to keep the tree healthy and to prevent it from growing long branches.
Certain bonsai, such as the Ficus benjamina, can be grown in bright light indoors or on a bright, but shady patio. However, bonsai trees such as the maple, indigenous white stinkwood or acacia are best positioned in an east-facing position in the garden to allow the tree to catch the morning sunlight.
* Visit www.capebonsaikai.co.za
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