Cypress Bonsai
A Beginner's Guide To The Cypress Bonsai
If you are new to the addictive and soothing art of bonsai, the Cypress bonsai is a perfect choice to start with. You can either purchase a starter tree or if you do have a bit of bonsai experience, consider using a small harvested tree that has come from nature. Whichever type you choose, you will definitely be assured of an extremely rewarding hobby, connecting you with nature on a relaxing, personal level.
Once you have completely decided that you do indeed wish to grow a Cypress bonsai, the next step is to figure out how you will acquire it. Are you up for the challenge of completely starting from scratch with a wild one or would you rather get a hold of a starter bonsai that is a little more prepared for you to create a work of art?
Trees From Nature
If you are using a tree from nature then you can decide on a tree that fits your vision as your final masterpiece. These trees can be found in great abundance all around southern areas of the United States so it is quite simple to locate yourself one if you live in these areas. If you do not reside in a warmer climate or if you are just not having much luck locating a quality specimen, garden centers or local nurseries will most likely have one that will suit your needs.
It is recommended to find yourself a Cypress bonsai that offers a tapered trunk. Although, a young, tall tree can provide elegant results as long as you are at least a little bit familiar of how and where to actually start the cutting process. Ideally, you will buy and harvest your tree in either the late winter or fall so that it is dormant while you perform your initial trunk chop.
Initial Cuts
Deciding where to make the initial cut on your Cypress bonsai can be challenging for a beginner. Keep in mind that the height should be about six times larger than the base. Don't worry if you feel like you are cutting away a large amount of growth, these bonsai trees but quite vigorously after a bit of time so just be patient and you will eventually see a nice growth spurt.
Additionally, you will want to trim the roots and cut the tap root at this time. After you do so, place the tree back in its original pot. Your Cypress bonsai requires about two years of attentive pruning and nurturing before it is mature enough to be transplanted to a bonsai plant.
Starter Trees
Starter trees are always ideal for a novice collector or if you just cannot find a suitable nature tree. They also will eliminate that feeling of anxiety that you may get over the first cut. These can usually be purchased by themselves or as a group. Groups are ideal if you are looking to design a miniature landscape.
General Care
The Cypress bonsai prefers a nice swampy, wet soil so you want to keep the pot almost filled up to the rim with water. Also, they enjoy rain so using a watering can to mimic rainfall is appreciated. You may find that your tree needs watering sometimes twice a day in the summer, this is completely normal.
Of course, the Cypress bonsai really prefers to live outside but when kept indoors it needs a full sun area. During the spring you can expect to fertilize it weekly but by the very end of summer or early fall this can be decreased to feeding about every two weeks. Once winter arrives, discontinue fertilizing as your trees become dormant during the winter.