Bonsai Tree Information and Origins

The art of growing and maintaining bonsai trees is enjoyed by millions of people all over the world. Many of these people not only think of growing bonsai as gardening, but are serious about it and see it as a form of art to be enjoyed. Growing and looking after your own bonsai trees can be a highly rewarding experience. However, before we get started let’s take a look at what bonsai trees are, and where they came from.

The word “bonsai” which is pronounced “Bonz High” originated from Japan and it means plant in a pot, or potted tree. Although the word “bonsai” originally came from Japan, the first ever bonsai trees were actually grown in China centuries ago. The Chinese grew what you could only describe as dwarf like trees in small trays. It is said that they groomed and sculpted these trees so that they looked like snakes or Chinese dragons.

Later on these small dwarf trees were introduced to Japan, and you would mostly see them in monasteries or religious places. As they became more and more popular, the sight of a bonsai tree in the Japanese homes became almost normal. Later on, different styles of bonsai trees were born, and they were often planted in decorative pots. The Japanese were known to prune the bonsai trees more than the Chinese did, and they became almost ornamental.

It wasn’t until the 19th century that the art of growing bonsai trees was introduced to the rest of the world. People who visited Japan were in awe of the miniature trees and took them back to their own countries to be displayed in exhibitions. From then on the entire world quite literally fell in love with bonsai trees, and this carries on to the present day.