A tree that has survived for almost 1,000 years may be seen on the route of the Crespi Bonsai Museum in Milan. This 10-foot millennial soak up the Italian sun beneath a glass pagoda, bordered by groomed flora that has also survived for centuries, as skilled groomers tend to its requirements. Long-time bonsai enthusiasts like them find the procedure soothing rather than tedious, and home copies of the specimens provide newcomers with an easy, rewarding way to unwind.
Bonsai loosely translates to “tray grown,” a reference to the Japanese technique of growing plants in pots that dates back to at least the sixth century. The approach works with a wide range of plants, from those that want to be indoors, such as miniature tea trees (Carmona microphylla), to others that prefer to be outside, such as eastern red cedars (Junipurus Virginia).
The tree in this photo is a Chinese banyan (Ficus microcarpa), which is a popular beginner’s bonsai because of its hardiness and indoor-friendly relative of the Milanese masterpiece. It grows wild throughout the Asian tropics and into Australia, and its ideal environment is comparable to ours: temperatures between 55 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, with some moisture in the air. It only requires water approximately once a week, and expert gardeners will soon be able to tell if it’s thirsty based on the weight of the pot. It, like any other plant, requires fresh soil every one to three years, which is also when the powerful root system, which is restrained by a durable stone vessel, should be pruned.
While many people associate bonsai care with a lot of pruning, most trees, including the ficus, only need to be clipped once in a while. It only needs snipping a branch back to two leaves when it grows six or eight. Wires may be wrapped around the stems by advanced groomers to gently sculpt them into attractive shapes.
The Chinese banyan will develop into an outstanding miniature if given proper care. Aerial roots will eventually drop from the branches like organic party streamers as if to congratulate you on being a fantastic plant parent. This cheerful little tree may survive for millennia if properly cared for.
Scienceology 