A Guide To Growing Bonsai

A bonsai is a mature tree in miniature, growing in a small, shallow pot.

In essence, the ideal is to reproduce the beauty and strength of an ancient tree, with a surrounding “landscape” of rock and moss.

The elegant glazed pot, the “landscape”, and the tree itself, should all form an aesthetically pleasing whole. This art form was first produced by the Chinese, over 2000 years ago, and was introduced to the West in the 20th century. The training and nurturing of such trees is a fascinating hobby, and with care a specimen can live for many years.(The oldest known bonsai are about 800 years old!) These trees are not naturally small, but are made dwarf by the treatment they receive.

You can download our full Gordon Rigg – A guide to growing Bonsai here