Bonsai
Bonsai began in China as penjing, and the Chinese art still builds whole landscapes.
Bonsai care basics
Put it outside
Most trees need wind, sun and seasons, and juniper fails fast indoors. Ficus and Chinese elm cope best with a bright window.
Water by touch
Shallow pots dry quickly, sometimes daily in summer. When the top soil feels dry, water until it runs out of the holes.
Shape it slowly
Japanese practice leans on wire. The Lingnan school of Guangdong mainly clips: let a branch thicken, cut it back, repeat for years.
A mountain range in a tray.
Live plants need permits and inspection to enter the US, and bonsai face extra rules, so one cannot simply be mailed from abroad.
Good to know
Is bonsai Chinese or Japanese?
It started in China. A Tang dynasty tomb mural shows a servant carrying a miniature landscape. Japan took up the art later, and the word bonsai is the Japanese reading of Chinese penzai.
Can bonsai live indoors?
Some can, but most cannot for long. Ficus and other tropical trees do well in a bright window. Pines, junipers and maples need outdoor seasons and a winter rest.
Is a bonsai good feng shui?
Opinions split. Some feng shui writers say a stunted tree holds back growth, so they keep it out of the home. Others see a living landscape and welcome it by a bright window.
