Catch Them Young And Stunt Their Growth

Long before it became a mantra in corporate offices, the urban Indian gardener had his own definition of downsizing bonsai cultivation. This centuries-old art of miniaturising trees originated in China, where they had also perfected the art of pruning womens feet, and later popularised in Japan, the land that invented the closet-sized apartment.

This is the perfect hobby for the apartment-dweller, for whom its the only way hell get to see a tree without buying a farmhouse out of town. Its not very time-consuming either. Says Usha Syall, a bonsai instructor in Delhi, If you cultivate just a few trees, then you only have to spend several minutes on each one every day. Many members of local bonsai associations are doctors, a group that is not exactly known for its relaxed lifestyle. Perhaps doctors also gravitate to this hobby because it needs a good bedside manner the delicate shaping of young trees requires patience, and the periodic re-potting of the tree requires a hands-on approach.

Though you dont need a garden to cultivate your bonsai, you do need a space which is exposed to sunlight, fresh air and rain. A balcony, a verandah or even a spacious window-sill would do but remember to protect the plants from summer afternoon glare.

First, youve got to know how to dish the dirt. To concoct the right soil mix, combine garden soil, sludge, leaf mould, coarse builders sand, bonemeal and Gamaxine (pesticide) this works out to about Rs 5 per kilo. Muckraking comes next the soil must be sifted and spread out in the sun for sterilisation.

If you dont like getting your hands dirty, invest in a pair of gardening gloves, because plants have to be re-potted at least once a year. Use a chopstick to aerate the soil this appropriately oriental touch avoids breaking the delicate roots.

Three to four-year-old tree saplings respond best to pruning and re-potting. The ficus variety, available from about Rs 50 to Rs 100 each, are the fastest developers. Miniature orchards take longer, but the fruit they bear is edible if it doesnt break your heart to pluck them. You have a wide range to choose from guava, chiku, peach, pomegranate, mulberry, Chinese orange or cherry, at roughly Rs 100 and upward. Conifers are slower-growing, but they dont require daily policing.

Plants must be potted in a shallow container of at least one inch depth and a suitable circumference. Remember, a tree always grows in the same proportion above and below the ground. The best time to do your potting is in early spring (February) or at the start of the monsoons (July) the local growing seasons when re-potted plants flourish.

Next, youll need a pair of durable garden secateurs sharp enough to cut cleanly through the young bark of the sapling for pruning. Basic secateurs are available locally (Rs 200 and upward); the high-precision Japanese variety will set you back a minimum of Rs 1,500. You also need some copper or aluminium wire, to be wound around the young branches to direct them as desired.

Bonsai can be shaped in a variety of styles from formal (upright), to informal (tenuous trunk with encircling foliage), to windswept (trunk and foliage inclined in the same direction). The formal variety is the most challenging to cultivate: finished products can cost anything from a several hundred to several thousand rupees. Informal varieties are more common, and cost just a few hundred rupees. But Syall cautions against sneakily picking up your formals from a nursery, since youll need basic bonsai skills anyway to maintain the plant. Youre thinking of hiring a bonsai-trained gardener to tend to your collection? Itll cost you a minimum of Rs 1,000 a month.

A good book for Indian bonsai lovers is Dr Leila Dhandas Bonsai Culture. New initiates should also join the local bonsai association. Its the best forum for exchanging tips with fellow enthusiasts who believe along with you that small is beautiful.