Author: Sandy

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Pruning & Defoliating

Training & Pruning Small Bonsai Trees

Mame-Shohin-Bonsai

Small bonsai such as shohin bonsai and mame bonsai are small enough to be held comfortably in the palm of the hand. Mame bonsai should not exceed 8-15cm in height, while shohin bonsai should not exceed 15-20cm. While the size is much smaller, the care and shaping of these small bonsai trees are the same as for their larger counterparts.

Check this post for more details on Classification of Bonsai Tree Based on Size.

Pruning a bonsai tree as small as shohin bonsai and mame bonsai can be a challenging task. We can use finger pruning techniques to train our bonsai. Since shears and cutters of normal size would be too big for a mame or shohin bonsai, it will require special tools for training our small bonsai trees.

Because our mame bonsai and shohin bonsai are too small to allow much training through wiring, pruning is probably the most important technique to master in the shaping of our mini bonsai trees. To start, we can prune back our small bonsai trees to one or two buds, and repeat this step till the bonsai trees begin to look more interesting. We can also cut off some dominant branches, or nip them off with our fingers to encourage the growth of some new tiny branches.

And similar to our bigger bonsai trees, to create some descending branches for our mame bonsai and shohin bonsai, we can bind the branches with bonsai wire or pull the branches down as far as possible with some wire and tie it to the container.

Lastly, because mame bonsai and shohin bonsai are so small, they are very light in weight and can be toppled off easily. Hence, it would be wise to secure the bonsai on the table, on the rack, or wherever it is put by fixing the small bonsai tree and its container with twine or wire.

Mame-Shohin-Bonsai

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Bonsai Pots

Bonsai Pots for Mini Bonsai Trees

Mame-Shohin-Bonsai

It is important to select the right kind of pot for your shohin bonsai and mame bonsai. To give our mini bonsai tree the effect of miniaturization, we would need to get an equally small pot for our mini bonsai tree. However, the size of the bonsai pot is important only for shows and exhibitions. During the training period, it is totally acceptable to let the small trees grow in bigger containers. This will give our mini bonsai tree the time to regain strength. Potted in bigger containers, our bonsai trees have more space for root development, as well as more moist and fertilizer retain in the soil for better growth. Hence, it is definitely advisable to use oversized containers in the development stage for our shohin bonsai and mame bonsai.

Before a competition or bonsai exhibition, we can prepare our mini bonsai tree by repotting it from the big container into a smaller bonsai pot. The bonsai pot must have the dimension as specified by the organization of the bonsai exhibition or competition. In addition, we should repot our mini bonsai tree in spring, to secure the bonsai tree from suffering after repotting.

The choice of bonsai pot is often a matter of taste. We want to choose a bonsai pot that is in well balance with the mini bonsai tree. And while we should find a bonsai pot equally as small as our mini bonsai tree, another important feature we need to be aware of is drainage hole. Despite the small size of the bonsai pot, there should be a large drainage hole at the bottom of the bonsai pot.

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Style

Classification of Bonsai Tree Based on Size

Mame-Shohin-Bonsai
Bonsai can be classified into different groups by size. The size of bonsai is generally measured as the distance between the top of the soil and the apex of the bonsai tree. Below is the classification of bonsai of different sizes.

Keishi Bonsai (thumb size) – Up to 1 inch (2.5 cm) in height
Shito Bonsai (very small) – Up to 3 inch (7.5 cm) in height
Mame Bonsai (mini) – Up to 6 inch (15 cm) in height
Shohin Bonsai (small) – Up to 8 inch (20 cm) in height
Kifu Sho Bonsai (medium) – Up to 16 inch (40.5 cm) in height
Chu Bonsai (medium large) – Up to 24 (61 cm) inch in height
Dai Bonsai (large) – Up to 40 (101.5 cm) inch in height

These are some standard rules that become important and helpful in shows and competitions. Yet, often, these measures are not sharply outlined, and the exact height of the bonsai tree does not hold very strictly. For example, the majority of shohin bonsai at most bonsai shows are approximately 8 inches (20 cm) or less in height. Yet, an elegant, slim bonsai tree may easily override the limit in height but still be considered as a shohin. And this is same for mame bonsai.

Basically, the main “rule” is that we must be able to hold our shohin bonsai and mame bonsai in one hand, on our palm. They must express the beauty of a large aged tree in miniature.

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Style

What is Shohin Bonsai and Mame Bonsai?

Mame-Shohin-BonsaiYou probably know that bonsai are the miniaturized versions of the big, aged trees found in nature. But do you know that bonsai have their miniature versions as well? These bonsai trees are commonly known as shohin bonsai and mame bonsai.

“Shohin” is a Japanese word. It means “tiny thing” and in the bonsai world, shohin bonsai refers to trees that are within a certain size, 6” – 8” to be specific. As for “mame”, it is a Japanese word that literally means “bean”. In terms of bonsai, it is the mini bonsai between 3” – 6“. And because mame bonsai and shohin bonsai are so small, they can easily fit onto our palm.

Check out this articles for more details on Classification of Bonsai Tree Based on Size.

The Challenges of Training Shohin Bonsai and Mame Bonsai

Creating mini bonsai is surely an arduous task. While growing and training a normal bonsai tree is difficult enough, training a bonsai as incredibly small as a mame bonsai is definitely a challenge. One has to create the image of an aged tree with the extremely small amount of soil and foliage in mini bonsai. It becomes essential to fully understand the dynamics of plant growth in such a constricted environment. In addition, with the limited amount of branches and foliage in a shohin bonsai, or even smaller, in a mame bonsai, the bonsai artist has to use some imagination when she visualizes the bonsai tree.

The Lure of Mini Bonsai

While shohin bonsai and mame bonsai bonsai is very challenging and demand lots of time and attention, these little bonsai trees surely have their advantages that fascinate so many bonsai artists.  Mini  bonsai gives apartment dwellers the opportunity to grow bonsai and keep quite a large number of bonsai trees on their balcony or windowsills. With limited space, apartment dwellers can also enjoy the thrill of bonsai on a small scale. And without the use of a turn table, we can just pick up our shohin bonsai, twist and turn the trees easily to view the structure, roots, and trunk of the trees. We can easily bring our shohin bonsai to the living room, sit in a couch and study our shohin bonsai before pruning and trimming them.

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Bonsai How To Bonsai Pots

Choosing Your Bonsai Pots

Choosing the right bonsai pot for our bonsai tree is an art in itself. It must be the right shape, size, and color for it to bring out the full beauty of our bonsai tree. Bonsai pots have a huge impact on bonsai trees and can either compliment the trees or detract from them. There are many rules-of-thumb and different conventions for the choice of bonsai pot, but at the very end, it is the experienced eye of the bonsai artist that determines what the best is.

Drainage

All bonsai pots must have drainage holes, as well as a tray underneath the bonsai pot to allow for overflow.  For more details, check out this article – Bonsai Pot Drainage – A Must for All Bonsai Trees.

Airflow

All bonsai pots should have feet so that the base of the bonsai pot stands clear of the display stand. This allows for free airflow around the base of the bonsai pot, and will increase the chances of a healthy bonsai tree.

Bonsai-tree-pot

Unglazed Interior

Bonsai pots should be unglazed on the inside as this helps to keep the bonsai tree stable in the bonsai pot. This is especially important when the roots have grown sufficiently to come into contact with the sides of the bonsai pot.

Frost-proof

The bonsai pots must be frost-proof if the bonsai trees are to be placed outdoor in colder climate. Hence, the bonsai pots should be made from stoneware or porcelain. Bonsai pots made of other materials such as plastic is fine as well, yet, they are best suited for bonsai beginners as training pots for their bonsai trees. Eventually, most of us graduate to stoneware or porcelain bonsai pots, as they give our bonsai trees far superior appearances.
Bonsai-tree-pot

Size and Shape

The bonsai pots that we buy for our bonsai trees should be big and strong enough to hold our bonsai trees. It would be a waste of time and money if the bonsai pot we have prepared does not support the weight of our bonsai tree. For more details, check out this article –
Bonsai Pots of Different Shapes and Sizes.

Color

There are many colors of bonsai pots available. When we choose a bonsai pot for our bonsai tree, we want to pick a bonsai pot that complements the look of our bonsai tree. We should be aware that some species have foliage that change color in different seasons. Hence, we should take this into account with our specific type of bonsai tree.

Here are a few more articles on how to choose bonsai pots for our bonsai trees.
What Bonsai Pots for What Bonsai Trees?
Bonsai Pot – Get the Right Size for Our Tree
Bonsai Pots for Different Bonsai Styles
Bonsai Pots of Different Materials
Bonsai Pots of Different Shapes and Sizes
Is Your Bonsai Tree Ready for a Bonsai Pot?

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Bonsai Tools & Accessories

Using Drainage Mesh for Your Bonsai Tree

bonsai-drainage-meshAuthentic bonsai pots have big drainage holes. To prevent soil from falling through a drainage hole, we can cover the drainage hole inside the bonsai pot with a piece of plastic drainage mesh (or drainage screen).

Many online bonsai supply shops sell plastic drainage mesh for bonsai pots, and they sell these drainage meshes in many different sizes. I would suggest one to buy bigger sheets of drainage mesh, at least 6” x 6”, and cut to the size needed.

Some of us like to use a bonsai wire to keep the drainage mesh in place, yet, usually the weight of the potting soil will help keep the drainage mesh in place for us. We can always check the bottom of our bonsai pot after repotting to ensure the drainage mesh hasn’t been moved.

The material of plastic drainage mesh is fairly flexible, yet rigid enough that the drainage mesh won’t sag under the weight of the potting mix and water that are pressing down on it in the bonsai pot. While using the regular plastic or metal window screen wire which we can find in hardware stores is not recommended, if you just have to use one, you must make sure the openings of the drainage mesh are large enough that they won’t be clogged up by your potting mix. In addition, the material must be thick enough so that it won’t sag under the weight of the potting soil and water in the bonsai pot. Since drainage mesh is one of the least expensive bonsai tools we need for our bonsai tree care, we might as well get the proper stuff.

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Bonsai Pots

Bonsai Pots & Humidity Trays

bonsai-humidity-tray

Bonsai humidity trays (or drip trays) are important to the health of our bonsai trees for the following reasons.

  • Since all bonsai pots have drainage holes in the bottom, the humidity tray (or drip tray) can hold the excess water and prevent water from dripping on the surface of our windowsill, table, or wherever we put our bonsai trees.
  • Humidity tray can help us create a humid environment for our bonsai trees.  We just have to leave some water in the humidity tray during the day, and let the water in the tray evaporates.  Water evaporating from the humidity tray helps to raise the humidity level around our bonsai trees.
  • With a humidity tray, we can water our bonsai trees at where they are placed instead of taking the bonsai trees to the sink for watering. When we water, we should pour on the top of the potting mix slowly until it penetrates the soil and excess water comes out from the drainage holes in the bottom of the bonsai pot.  This watering method is especially convenient for larger bonsai trees.

There are plastic and clay humidity trays (or drip trays) in multiple sizes and colors available in many online shops that sell bonsai supplies and tools.

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Bonsai Pots

Bonsai Pots – Made in China vs Made in Japan

Bonsai is tree in small pots, and these bonsai pots are mostly made in Japan or China. Japanese pottery is known for its high quality. They are elegant, natural, often unglazed, and fairly expensive. On the other hand, Chinese pottery is generally cheaper (while their quality is getting better and better) and often brightly glazed. Most of these bonsai pots are made of high-quality clay and are baked in high temperatures; hence these bonsai pots can tolerate very low and high temperatures.

However, what I just mentioned is only in the context of bonsai pots of low and medium quality. For the highest, world-class quality bonsai pots, the picture is different. Many of the top bonsai pots are made in China. In fact, today, many Japanese bonsai enthusiasts still prefer Chinese pots, especially kowatari containers.

Same as the art of bonsai, the origin of bonsai pottery is China. As early as the 12th century, without the knowledge we have in chemistry today, Chinese ceramists were able to make beautiful bonsai pots with amazing quality which modern technology cannot even match with today.

A major different between Chinese and Japanese bonsai pots lies in the production method. Although the Japanese bonsai pots are handmade, they are shaped in a mould. The clay is pressed into a pre-shaped mould and the interior of the pot is shaped manually. On the other hand, the Chinese use an inside mould that only serves as a framework for the clay. The exterior is shaped by hand, and this allows the ceramists to create countless shapes and designs.

The bonsai pot should enhance the bonsai tree and not be overpowering or a dominant feature. It should harmonize and complement the characteristics of the bonsai tree, showing the bonsai off to its best advantage.

bonsai-pot-china bonsai-pot-china bonsai-pot-china bonsai-pot-china

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Bonsai How To Bonsai Pots

What Bonsai Pots for What Bonsai Trees?

Bonsai-tree-potThe type of bonsai pot we should get is based on the species, as well as the bonsai style, of our bonsai tree. For example, conifers blend well with naturally colored, unglazed bonsai pots of browns and grays, whereas deciduous trees look great in either unglazed or glazed bonsai pots of just about any color.

Color

We should also consider how the bonsai pot will blend with the strong autumn colors, as well as how the bonsai pot will match with the flowering season of our bonsai tree. While some bonsai lovers like to plant their flowering bonsai trees in glazed pots of brighter colors, such as whites, creams, blues, and greens, I often prefer a dark, plain bonsai pot to stand out the beautiful, bright colors of my flowering bonsai tree.

If we are unsure what bonsai pot color we should choose, it is always save to select a shade that is similar to the trunk of the bonsai tree.

In addition, for heavily glazed pots, the color of the glaze will age and wear off slightly over its lifetime. Indeed, some people like to wipe the glaze with French polish, wood scratch remover or similar fine oil to speed up the process and give the glazed pot a slightly more natural look and aged feeling.

Shape

While less formal styled bonsai trees suit most shapes of bonsai pot, including rectangular with rounded corners, oval, round, hexagonal, and such, formally shaped bonsai trees look best in angular, straight edged pots with sharp corners. For literati bonsai trees, many bonsai artists like to pot them in round bonsai pots, which can be simple and beautiful indeed. And as for multi-trunk or forest bonsai, the bonsai trees should be potted in large shallow bonsai pots or slabs of rock for the image of a natural landscape. Check this post – Bonsai Pots for Different Bonsai Styles – for more details.

It often takes quite some time to find the right bonsai pots for our trees. Be patient. This is part of the whole bonsai experience, and we should just enjoy the bonsai pot shopping as well.

Here are a few more articles on how to choose bonsai pots for our bonsai trees.
Bonsai Pot – Get the Right Size for Our Tree
Bonsai Pots for Different Bonsai Styles
Bonsai Pots of Different Materials
Bonsai Pots of Different Shapes and Sizes
Is Your Bonsai Tree Ready for a Bonsai Pot?
Choosing Your Bonsai Pots

Categories
Bonsai How To Bonsai Pots

Bonsai Pot – Get the Right Size for Our Tree

Bonsai-Tree-Pot
The size of the bonsai pot is very important for it can affect the overall presentation of the bonsai tree. Small bonsai trees can be potted in large bonsai pots to create a landscape image, and conversely, large bonsai trees can be effectively potted in smaller bonsai pots to appear more dominant and powerful.

If a bonsai tree is mistakenly potted in a bonsai pot too big, the tree may look weaker and less powerful than it potentially can be perceived. And if a bonsai tree is potted in a bonsai pot too small, the growth of the bonsai tree will be hindered, if not stopped. The roots of the bonsai tree will be bounded, leaving no space for the roots to grow and develop. This is especially bad for bonsai trees that are still in their growing period, when the bonsai trees need more branches and leaves for a fuller and more mature look and feel.

In addition, we need to consider how much room the root system of our particular bonsai tree will need. Special attention should be paid for cascade and semi-cascade bonsai trees. Besides for visual balance, these bonsai trees require deep pots with plenty of room for their roots to grow down and hold onto the potting soil for stability.

Some people suggest that the length of a bonsai pot should be approximately 2/3 the height of the bonsai tree, or if it is a wide spreading bonsai, then 2/3 the width of the bonsai tree. I won’t hold on to this as a strict rule, but only a guideline to help us at the beginning of our bonsai pot shopping. There are many exceptions to this 2/3-rule. For example, tall thin bonsai trees usually look better in smaller pot.

In addition, when selecting bonsai pot, we should never pick one that requires us to drastically trim the roots of the bonsai tree. If we do want to reduce the size of the bonsai pot or the roots of the bonsai tree, then we need to do this gradually, moving down a pot size at a time before eventually reaching the size we desire.

Here are a few more articles on how to choose bonsai pots for our bonsai trees.
What Bonsai Pots for What Bonsai Trees?
Bonsai Pots for Different Bonsai Styles
Bonsai Pots of Different Materials
Bonsai Pots of Different Shapes and Sizes
Is Your Bonsai Tree Ready for a Bonsai Pot?
Choosing Your Bonsai Pots