Bonsai

Overview

The lessons in this Bonsai course from Warnborough College cover the selection of plants suited to bonsai, understanding the history and classic shapes which form the basis of the art, techniques of planting, training, pruning, watering and feeding and ways of using bonsai both indoors and outdoors. Create several bonsai of your own during the course and receive constructive criticism from your tutor as they help you develop your own personal bonsai style and techniques.

Course Aims

• Develop plant review sheets for different plants suitable for bonsai.
• Make up a list of resources/contacts useful to a bonsai grower.
• Research what constitutes a good propagating mix.
• Visit a nursery and observe the nursery stock present to assess suitability for bonsai production.
• Propagate different species of plant that have the potential to be used as Bonsai.
• Select different plants and determine the style of bonsai each plant lends itself to.
• Make a list of the most commonly grown varieties of plants you consider as being used for bonsai today.
• Visit a bonsai house, bonsai farm, bonsai nursery or other facility where bonsai are available for viewing and classify the style of different bonsai plants.
• Evaluate, prune, wire, shape and pot different plants as bonsai
• Obtain soil from two different types of soils; test the soils for drainage, and name the soils.
• Obtain (or make up) a potting mix which you consider appropriate for growing bonsai in. Conduct tests to name the potting mix you have obtained. Test the drainage of the potting mix.
• Visit a nursery or garden growing bonsai plants to assess the plants for pests, diseases and environmental anomalies.
• Design a miniature garden pot incorporating a bonsai plant
• Using your knowledge of landscaping principles, decide on the best outdoor locations three different bonsai, and the optimum indoor locations for short term display. Take photographs or sketch the locations in which you would place the bonsai. Submit these photographs with your assignment.
• Obtain plants of different varieties and using what you have learned in the course, turn your chosen plants into bonsai and either photograph or draw what you have created; then report on this work