Photography by Cheryl Locke.
While there is no such thing as an effortless bonsai, we are making progress. With a modern, relaxed attitude, planting a bonsai is (almost) as easy as potting a houseplant.
In Koyahashi’s world, everyday plants–shrubs, seedlings, tiny trees at your local nursery–can become bonsai.
And when it comes to sourcing a pot, you don’t have to use a container in the imperial style, unless you live in a palace. With a drill and a diamond tile bit, you can turn any ceramic bowl into a planter.
One challenge to growing a traditional bonsai is you need to find a sapling with the potential to train into a majestic tree in miniature.
Materials:
I went to my local nursery and headed to the California natives section, where I found Euphorbia balsamifera, the little guy shown above at center left, and a drought tolerant cushion bush (left, back).
Next, create a drainage hole. Using your drill at its highest speed (make sure you are wearing goggles), create a groove at a 45-degree angle.
Keep soil from draining and pests from crawling in with a screen mesh, secured with a tiny bit of wire.
The secret to happy bonsai is drainage.
Making one’s own bonsai potting mixture is a process. The volcanic rocks I hammered down to the size of rice grains, before mixing with Master’s Pride Potting Soil ($10.89 for a bag from Harmony Farm).
Take the starter plant out of its container, and gently shake off and remove soil.
To place moss around the trunk, make a snip along the center, and wrap it around the bonsai.
The most tranquil part of raising a bonsai is grooming it.
Five hours later, just kidding, one hour later, I had potted all five of my bonsai. Meredith will take you into San Francisco’s Bonsai Society to Ask the Expert for more tips.