Bonsai refreshing

Many are probably in the habit of keeping some indoor plants. Tending them with love, giving them the required sunlight and water, these plants brighten some of the dark spots in our homes.

A bonsai is definitely for indoors. Plants, which have been shaped by an artist is a wonder. When one sees a small orange tree with a lot of fruits or a sapotica with delicious fruits hanging from its small braches or a miniature woody banyan tree, they are always awe-inspiring.

These creations are again a labour of love. Just like looking after a garden full of plants, bonsai demands attention and care. It is an art to shape them into different styles and keeping them all pruned and groomed.

Proper display

When these dwarfed trees and shrubs are kept in proper places at homes, they not just add to the beauty, it also makes a visitor wonder about the art. They need to be displayed properly for total appreciation.

All the inspiring work definitely takes some perseverance. C.C. Sebastian, who has been growing bonsai for more than 25 years now, said that it is important to know which plants will look good in different shapes. Usually trees with small leaves make a beautiful bonsai, since the canopy looks wonderful.

Mr. Sebastian has at home a two-feet mango tree which flowers and fruits every year, a cashew tree in full glory and many other flowering plants, like the Gulmohar (Vaga) tree and Cassia (kani-konna). A hibiscus looks wonderful as a bonsai so do desert rose and bogainvilla and lots of other varieties. "We can make a bonsai of jasmine and rose too," said Mr. Sebastian, who is a regulat participant at the annual flower show.

Once a person gets to know the nitty-gritty of growing a bonsai, giving it a periodical trim and styling it as it grows would help the person learn more about the natural ways of the plant. While some plants look best in an upright position, some look better if it acquires a slanting shape, giving it a windswept look.

There are usually some tips regarding which plant looks good in which shape, but there are no hard and fast rules. "We all learn by experience," said Mr. Sebastian, who takes classes on growing bonsai.

Basic styles

Some of the know basic bonsai styles are formal upright, informal upright, broom, slanting, semi-cascade and cascade. Plants can be given any style and shape, but for the beginners need to stick to the plant's natural ways. Development of the trunk is important for bonsai. The usual classic style is to have a thick base, which tapers at the end.

Correct pots

It is not just the style that a bonsai is given that is appealing to a viewer. The pots that hold a bonsai are equally important. A bonsai is usually grown in shallow pots. They need to be perched on stands that are kept at eye level. A bonsai has to be appreciated by its artistically formed root, trunk and leaves.

All bonsais need not necessarily be grown in shallow pots. There are some that require a deeper pot too. Some of the fruit trees would require more water and hence a deeper pot. However, it needs to be mentioned that if some trees are grown in deep pots, which can hold more water, the roots may also rot. Hence one has to know which tree needs shallow and which needs a deeper pot.

The colour of the pots is important too. A leafy tree can have a vibrant coloured pot while a colourful plant needs to tone down on the pot colour. Shapes of pots also matter. A well-chosen container can enhance the beauty of the plant.

The practice of bonsai is ever developing since the times it had originated in China more than thousand years ago. It was only in the beginning of last century that world got to know about the bonsai art. Since then it has been a developing art.

SHYAMA RAJAGOPAL / www.hindu.com