Special Bonsai Accessories
Bonsai gardening has become very popular and you will experience immense satisfaction as you slowly tailor the look of that unique little tree to produce a work of art that you personally envisioned. When joining in to the pastime enjoyed by millions today, you should understand that this type of gardening is a bit special.
Bonsai gardening techniques being as unique as the plants you will be working with, requires that you have the correct bonsai accessories and tools. A quick overview of the techniques you will be practicing will highlight some of the specialized tools you will need to get your bonsai hobby going.
Planting
Bonsai accessories differ from other plants from the very first stage of the gardening process. The containers that bonsai trees are typically planted in are much shallower than those you would typically select for more mainstream plants. They are also designed to permit efficient drainage of any excess water.
Bonsai root systems are quite fine, and it is important that they are not saturated with water for any extended period of time. It is important to avoid conditions that promote root rot with this root structure. Many bonsai containers are fitted with mesh screens over the drain holes to minimize any potential clogging of the drainage holes.
The soil also requires special consideration for bonsai gardening. The key is to maintain a loose porous soil structure that permits adequate air and water flow through the soil.
Tools
There are many bonsai accessories and tools that simplify the task of creating and maintaining the unique look of this style of plant. These tools are specifically designed to facilitate the constant pruning and trimming that makes the bonsai special.
Due to the precise and delicate nature of the pruning required, ordinary gardening tools may not satisfy the standard of quality required to achieve the high level of precision demanded when pruning bonsai trees.
One of the high priority bonsai accessories you should purchase immediately is a set of concave pruning shears. These shears are designed such that they produce cuts that heal over quickly and naturally. The concave wound that is formed lends itself to the healing over process making it easier for the tree to heal itself naturally. The concave shears can be used to cut branches up to 1 ½” in diameter.
Scissors are essential for any collection of bonsai accessories. You will find specially designed bud scissors designed to facilitate more detailed pruning work that routinely practiced in bonsai gardening.
A set of bonsai wire cutters is also a nice addition to your bonsai accessories. Bonsai trees acquire there unique shape by training the branches to grow in specific directions and fill out voids that require foliage. That usually entails a considerable amount of work with small, pliable wire to train and maintain. The bonsai wire cutters differ from typical wire cutters in that they have a more compact cutting head permitting precise control in confined areas. This reduces the risk of damaging surrounding branches and buds.
A root hook is another important bonsai accessory. This is a less known tool but you are likely to become quite familiar with it when bonsai gardening. These plants require more frequent transplanting than you would expect in more traditional types of gardening. This tool is designed to simplify the process of clearing away soil and managing the delicate roots.
Once you become more involved with this new style of gardening you will discover numerous other bonsai accessories and tools available, but these few basic tools should be enough to get you started in your new hobby.