There are endless ways to train bonsai. Most bonsai hobbyists never train seedlings
as its perceived to take too long. That's true. There is just no way faster
way to obtain a majestic aged specimen than to scour the treeline and collect that
extraordinary "Nature's Bonsai" that may be hundreds of years old with a unique
character. It takes an adventurous spirit, some physical effort, skill, and a bit of luck.
Or simply purchase an aged bonsai already trained. In the entire scope of things, bonsai
are relatively inexpensive. For a person who has attained an annual salary of
$100,000, a nice collected old tree may cost what is earned in two weeks. If
your annual salary is $50,000, that tree may cost you a month's salary. If your
annual salary is $25,000, that same tree will cost you two month's salary. So it's
relative; but by any standard, bonsai are relatively inexpensive and affordable.
But there are many things that money can't buy and one is the joy and satisfaction of
growing bonsai from seed! It's something that everyone can do. It bothers me when a
recently retired person "looking for something to do," wants to buy my
best and oldest Custom Collection "because I can afford it and am too old to start
from seeds or young plants." It bothers me because the person is getting into
bonsai for the wrong reasons. There's no interest in the hobby. It's simply a
desire to own something that people will envy. It's easy to refuse such sales.
Growing bonsai from seeds is something that almost everyone can do regardless of age,
economic status, and physical limitations. It doesn't take much space and in a way, it
doesn't require much patience. Simply grow a lot and focus on each tree! Start
training shortly after germination and train in an endless variety of ways.
Bonsai is a bridge to international friendship and peace and this portal section shares
with you a gift of friendship from Shailesh Pranlal Kapadia of India. Shailesh is
amongst the new international generation who benefits from the Internet and whose bonsai
enthusiasm is being felt internationally. From time to time he emails and we discuss
bonsai philosophy. I received a gift of seeds from him.
This portal section will continue to be updated and expanded to share with you our
progress, successes, and failures as we explore the training of Water Jasmine in
Hawaii. I thank Shailesh and Jerry for their contributions to this effort and will
post their continuing thoughts on their pages above.
I invite those with experience and knowledge about Water Jasmine to write or send photos
for inclusion into this section. Regards and aloha! ~~~David W. Fukumoto ( david@fukubonsai.com )
- *** Return to
Fuku-Bonsai Home page
- *** Go to ELEMENTS FOR SUCCESSFUL BONSAI TRAINING!
- This portal section discusses various aspects of growing
bonsai including light, water, humidity & moisture, fertilizing, problems, symptoms
& first aid, and bugs, insects & other critters.
© Fuku-Bonsai Inc. 2003
- FUKU-BONSAI CULTURAL CENTER & HAWAII STATE BONSAI
REPOSITORY
- PO Box 6000, Kurtistown, Hawaii 96760
Phone (808) 982-9880
- FAX (808) 982-9883 Email:
sales@fukubonsai.com
URL: www.fukubonsai.com
