Ranjit Singh
Moneycontrol.com

If you have often been mesmerised by the sight of a slanting tree with a broken branch standing by itself on a roadside, or a tiny tree with sparse foliage and rugged, gnarled trunk standing on top of a cliff, and wanted to have something like that at home. Then you can create a replica of the same, right in your drawing room with the help of a bonsai. For the uninitiated, bonsai are miniature trees.

They are less than four feet tall, but are just like their fully-grown counterparts and like them, they also bear flowers and fruits. Of course, the flowers and fruits are smaller in size just like the parent tree.

Though believed to be a Japanese art, bonsai can be traced back to 12th century China, where it was called 'Penging.' Later, when Japan invaded China, the art was carried there and got a Japanese name - Bonsai which means 'a tree in a tray.' This seems like an apt name.

Before you venture into creating your own bonsai, it is important to bear in mind that training bonsai is expensive - for it takes a great amount of time, patience, skill, endurance and a thorough knowledge of gardening. And a lot of ingenuity to style it. Further, it is equally important to dispel some myths associated with bonsai. Contrary to popular perception, bonsai is not, in any way, a genetically dwarfed plant. It is a normal plant that has been trained to be undersized by manipulating the supply of water, air, light and nutrients. And the practice of making bonsai is no more cruel than that of any other horticultural practices.  

Theoretically, almost any plant, which has branches, can be 'trained' into becoming a bonsai. However, it is best to use trees that are native to India, that grow quickly and back-bud readily. For, if you cut off the wrong branch, it will only take a short time to replenish itself. With slower growing trees, it may be years before a branch grows again.

It is also advisable to choose trees with small leaves, as they look better in terms of proportion, for it may take years to reduce the leaf size of a larger leafed tree. Flowering plants like bougainvillea, lantana, azaleas are ideal as bonsai. You can also try murraya, carmona, braaya, carissa or jangli karaunda, harshingar and gardenia. Unfortunately, large Indian flowering trees like Gulmohar, Jacaranda, Melitia and Amaltas are not a good choice, as they either have too large flowers or are reluctant to flower in pots.

Those unwilling to put years of effort involved behind a bonsai can go for a readymade one, but with a word of caution. Be wary of cheap replicates known as Mallsai. Mallsai are mass produced trees that look like a bonsai, but are planted in poor soil, poor quality pots and with little in the way of styling other than some trimming of the tree's silhouette. They are in bad health and could die within a short time of purchase. This could be a very unnerving experience especially for a beginner, as this could turn him/her off permanently.

The best way remains to have your very own bonsai from a normal plant by training it to a desired shape over years. For help, join a local bonsai club, read books or visit websites - there is no dearth of it. Also remember to take the entire exercise easy, at least initially. Your bonsai need not be a perfect ten. After all it is your personalized hobby. Have fun bonsaing!