Bonsai
Presenter: Melissa King
Episode: 24 (13th October 2007)
Bonsai might be an ancient art, but with the trend for apartment living and smaller gardens it is making one serious comeback. The text book definition of Bonsai is “the art of dwarfing trees or plants by growing, pruning and training them in containers”. But it is much more than that.
It is a horticultural masterpiece. Many of the plants will out-live most people and let’s face it there is something mildly addictive about taming nature.
The oldest living Bonsais are said to be over 100 years old and the amazing thing is that almost any plant can ‘bonsai-ed’ – from deciduous trees to evergreen shrubs - fine or broad leafed, tropical or cool climate.
Melissa speaks with Lindsay Farr about how to create a bonsai using one plant example. If she was to plant into the ground it would form a massive tree. It is really simple; you could start by cutting off the top and working with the bottom. Lindsay does it a little bit differently to that and takes off all the lower branches.
Once it has been trimmed up its gets planted. Maintenance requires a trim from time to time, cutting off any growth that might come up. Less is more when it comes to Bonsai; the simplicity of it is its beauty.
Every two years or so you have to root trim as they can get a really aggressive root system. You can start off with wire cutters or pliers and a decent pair of scissors or secateurs. It is your expression or personality that makes a beautiful bonsai, not the tools you have nor the conventions you may adhere to.
In essence what you are creating is a miniature garden, so you can have a bit of fun using moss as grass or tiny pebbles as rocks. You can even create entire landscapes in miniature and introduce little Asian characters.
It is amazing that an art form which originated so many centuries ago in Asia – is still just as beautiful and relevant today.
For more inspiration visit
The Bonsai Farm
67 Church Street, Hawthorn
Episode: 24 (13th October 2007)
Bonsai might be an ancient art, but with the trend for apartment living and smaller gardens it is making one serious comeback. The text book definition of Bonsai is “the art of dwarfing trees or plants by growing, pruning and training them in containers”. But it is much more than that.
It is a horticultural masterpiece. Many of the plants will out-live most people and let’s face it there is something mildly addictive about taming nature.
The oldest living Bonsais are said to be over 100 years old and the amazing thing is that almost any plant can ‘bonsai-ed’ – from deciduous trees to evergreen shrubs - fine or broad leafed, tropical or cool climate.
Melissa speaks with Lindsay Farr about how to create a bonsai using one plant example. If she was to plant into the ground it would form a massive tree. It is really simple; you could start by cutting off the top and working with the bottom. Lindsay does it a little bit differently to that and takes off all the lower branches.
Once it has been trimmed up its gets planted. Maintenance requires a trim from time to time, cutting off any growth that might come up. Less is more when it comes to Bonsai; the simplicity of it is its beauty.
Every two years or so you have to root trim as they can get a really aggressive root system. You can start off with wire cutters or pliers and a decent pair of scissors or secateurs. It is your expression or personality that makes a beautiful bonsai, not the tools you have nor the conventions you may adhere to.
In essence what you are creating is a miniature garden, so you can have a bit of fun using moss as grass or tiny pebbles as rocks. You can even create entire landscapes in miniature and introduce little Asian characters.
It is amazing that an art form which originated so many centuries ago in Asia – is still just as beautiful and relevant today.
For more inspiration visit
The Bonsai Farm
67 Church Street, Hawthorn
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