Featured Plant of the Week (Bonsai)
Bonsai
Bonsai is a Japanese art that dates about to the 12th or 13th century, when the wealthy began importing exotic Chinese potted plants. Deriving from the even older ancient Chinese art of penjing, bonsai's goal is to create a display worthy of contemplation and when complete should appear to be a convincing adult tree as if seen from a distance.
Penjing has essentially the same aim, and the main difference between the arts is largely stylistic. Bonsai uses shapes that are more 'honed' or simpler in aesthetic, and also stresses the use of shallow and minimalist dishes. On the other hand penjing uses more variation in the plant's shape so it seems more 'wild', and the containers tend to be more colorful and varied in design. It goes without saying the line between the two arts is quite fuzzy, and practitioners often mix and match styles like most artists making strict definitions impractical.
Despite its medieval heritage, bonsai didn't become truly widespread until the end of the 18th century when annual exhibitions of dwarf potted plants began in Kyoto. It was not until the early 19th century that the term bonsai was formally coined, and then another 100 years for it to catch on. From then on the art gained more and more momentum, and by 1940 there were hundreds of bonsai dealers in Tokyo alone shipping thousands of plants to the West.
The conclusion of the Second World War and the Occupation of Japan gave the art form its final push toward worldwide popularity. U.S officers and their wives began taking courses in bonsai arranged by General MacArthur's headquarters, helping to increase the availability of expertise greatly. In addition to an explosion of literature about the bonsai arts, and the return of many bonsai exhibits and conventions during Japan's rebuilding, these factors rapid drove bonsai onto the world stage.
Today bonsai has a worldwide audience. The ready availability of bonsai stock has allowed the art to spread to every continent, whether it be imported from Japan directly or locally grown and cultivated by growers like us, BloomRite® Gardens! Ranging from miniature plants in three inch pots, to grandiose specimens reaching three or four feet tall, we have bonsai trees to match just about every need. This broad selection combined with a current and interesting mix of plants, gives our bonsai broad appeal.
The most popular range of bonsai we carry is definitely the Modern Classics varieties. Planted in contemporary and stylish pots, these hand-shaped plants are grown using proprietary growing and training techniques. These techniques create longer lasting, and healthier bonsai, ensuring greater success in the store and in the consumer's home. Florist quality treatments with pebbles, rocks and moss finish off the arrangement to give it a complete look.
The Modern Classics pots come in broad range of sizes. At the smallest end of the spectrum are petite tropicals planted in 3 inch, or 3 by 5 inch pots that come in a selection of attractive but muted colors. At the other end we have large and beautiful plants in our high rise 7 by 10 inch rectangular and oval pots.
An assortment of tropicals are offered with the Modern Classics range, such as Schefflera Arboricola, Ficus Nitida, Carmona, Ponytail, Sago, and Money Tree. The pots come in colors such as sand, ocean, coal, slate, chalk, and earth; some of the pots have a glossy finish and others are matte. Some of the pottery even possesses a built in photo frame, making them ideal gifts for any time of year.
Our Modern Classics Bonsai may be the most flexible choice with the broadest appeal, but for something truly special one must look no further than our choice of jumbo and giant bonsai. These extra large and aged specimens each have their own unique character. Planted in authentic bonsai ceramic pots, each one is elegantly finished with moss, pebbles and stones like their smaller counterparts. Their striking size and appearance make them dramatic focal points for merchandising displays or as upscale items for special customers.
So no matter your requirements, odds are BloomRite® Gardens has bonsai that will fit your needs. Because the variety of plants used in these arrangements is so broad the care requirements for them are equally as variable. However, most prefer cooler environments with bright indirect light. Keep them moist by watering directly around the trunk of the tree, allowing the container to drain. To learn more about pricing and availability click the 'Contact Us' link to the right to get in touch with a sales representative, or check the availability list distributed with the weekly newsletter.
