Maybe you would like your garden to show the beauty of Bonsai trees but are not sure if if you are ready to care for the genuine plant. You may want to consider laying out a design that incorporates artificial Bonsai trees. The main positive feature of this option is the fact that it frees you from the extremely time consuming requirement of constant attention and maintenance that will be required to maintain the real thing.
Artificial Bonsai trees can still provide the uniqueness and aesthetic appeal of the real thing. By utilizing artificial Bonsai trees you will not have to worry about planting seeds, pruning, watering, and all of the other care processes that you would normally expect with living plants. Surprisingly, there is a large market and worldwide resources to satisfy that need.
Where to Look
If you decide to investigate the potential of this technique, then one of many places you will surely want to get dependable information is the Bonsai Boy Company. They are an established and popular company that offers one of the largest selections in the world for all forms of Bonsai trees, both real and artificial.
They offer Bonsai specials, Bonsai pots, Juniper Bonsai trees, Bonsai soils, Bonsai books and videos, flowering and fruiting trees, outdoor evergreen trees, outdoor deciduous trees, one of a kind trees, corporate gifts, figurines, humidity trays, desktop grow lights, natural stone landscapes, fertilizers and chemicals, tools and wire, and much more.
Another great resource that offers artificial Bonsai trees is Bonsai Gardener. This company offers a wide variety of Bonsai trees for you to choose from. They offer some of the most affordable prices that you will find on the market today.
Whether you are looking for a genuine living Bonsai plant and are eager to invest the time and effort that will going to be required of you, or you are just looking to get the aesthetic appeal of the real Bonsais foregoing the hassle, there will be very realistic artificial alternatives for you to choose from as well.
Bonsais are considered by many one of the most unique and beautiful trees in the world. Not only that, but because of their miniature size they are very versatile in terms of physical location and space requirements. Their compact nature and adaptability to heavy pruning means you can fit them into nearly any landscape design.
They are not dangerous to children or pets, and add personal style and taste to any landscape design. Endless options are open to you when designing with Bonsai plants, and if you are looking for a unique and distinctive tree, you may decide that the artificial bonsai tree fills your need very nicely.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Outdoor Plants Grown Artificially In Containers
In principle, the best way to provide nutrients to established garden plants growing in the soil, is to add on a consistent basis, organic matter in the form of compost. For as well being a source of the mineral nutriment essential to plant growth, organic matter improves and develops the health of the habitat in which the plants grow, namely the soil. There are circumstances though when the use of chemical fertilizer is preferable to compost. One of these relates to plants grown in pots. As there are a number of methods by which chemical fertilizer can be applied, the question arises as to which is the most appropriate.
Plants in pots or containers must always be grown in some form of artificial potting medium, in order to ensure the correct air/moisture balance in the root zone. One such medium, highly regarded by landscape professionals today, is Perlite, which amongst its various properties, excels both in its capacity to retain moisture on the one hand, and sufficient oxygen on the other. Chemically, it is almost entirely inert, which is an advantage in one sense, as the problem of salt build-up is avoided. Yet the other side of the coin is that mineral nutrient is liable to be entirely lacking for the plants, unless supplied on a constant basis. This is why regular applications of chemical fertilizer are necessary. How though should it be applied?
Clearly, the old method of manually spooning readily soluble fertilizer is impractical at least in the case of Perlite,as the work would have to be carried out every few days or so. An elegant way round this is by installing an automatic fertilizer pump, where a specially balanced blend of liquid fertilizer is injected through the drip irrigation lines. Today, the pumps are calibrated by the manufacturer so that low and safe concentrations are supplied to the plant's roots, during every watering. Watering a bit to excess on each occasion ensures that the salinity of the medium is kept in check.
Despite its many benefits, there are a number of drawbacks to this method, not least of which, is the legal obligation required by most countries to install an instrument preventing the backflow of water. However in Mediterranean climates, typified by hot dry summers, and mild cool and wet winters, there is another disadvantage with fertilizer pumps, which should be considered.
It is often forgotten that the garden plants require some access to nutrients during the mild Mediterranean winter, albeit at greatly reduced levels. For plants growing in the ground, the compost added in the autumn should suffice. When it comes to containers however, especially if the potting medium used is a chemically inert product like Perlite, it is necessary to ensure that a supply of fertilizer is available to the plants. As fertilizer pumps supply the nutrients via the irrigation system, one is forced to open the taps, even if the plants do not need watering. Baring in mind that Perlite can hold sufficient moisture during the winter for a good 3-4 weeks, it follows that this great water conserving benefit is lost.
It is for this reason amongst others, that I advocate the use of slow release fertilizer as the principle means of feeding pot plants that are grown outdoors. (The hydroponic method applicable to indoor plants requires a different type of fertilizing) There are a number of products available, which release the nutrients over periods of time ranging from 3 to 12 months, thereby reducing labor to a couple of times a year or less. Many brands also contain trace elements, which are generally not lacking in garden soils, but may well be so in the artificial potting media.
Plants in pots or containers must always be grown in some form of artificial potting medium, in order to ensure the correct air/moisture balance in the root zone. One such medium, highly regarded by landscape professionals today, is Perlite, which amongst its various properties, excels both in its capacity to retain moisture on the one hand, and sufficient oxygen on the other. Chemically, it is almost entirely inert, which is an advantage in one sense, as the problem of salt build-up is avoided. Yet the other side of the coin is that mineral nutrient is liable to be entirely lacking for the plants, unless supplied on a constant basis. This is why regular applications of chemical fertilizer are necessary. How though should it be applied?
Clearly, the old method of manually spooning readily soluble fertilizer is impractical at least in the case of Perlite,as the work would have to be carried out every few days or so. An elegant way round this is by installing an automatic fertilizer pump, where a specially balanced blend of liquid fertilizer is injected through the drip irrigation lines. Today, the pumps are calibrated by the manufacturer so that low and safe concentrations are supplied to the plant's roots, during every watering. Watering a bit to excess on each occasion ensures that the salinity of the medium is kept in check.
Despite its many benefits, there are a number of drawbacks to this method, not least of which, is the legal obligation required by most countries to install an instrument preventing the backflow of water. However in Mediterranean climates, typified by hot dry summers, and mild cool and wet winters, there is another disadvantage with fertilizer pumps, which should be considered.
It is often forgotten that the garden plants require some access to nutrients during the mild Mediterranean winter, albeit at greatly reduced levels. For plants growing in the ground, the compost added in the autumn should suffice. When it comes to containers however, especially if the potting medium used is a chemically inert product like Perlite, it is necessary to ensure that a supply of fertilizer is available to the plants. As fertilizer pumps supply the nutrients via the irrigation system, one is forced to open the taps, even if the plants do not need watering. Baring in mind that Perlite can hold sufficient moisture during the winter for a good 3-4 weeks, it follows that this great water conserving benefit is lost.
It is for this reason amongst others, that I advocate the use of slow release fertilizer as the principle means of feeding pot plants that are grown outdoors. (The hydroponic method applicable to indoor plants requires a different type of fertilizing) There are a number of products available, which release the nutrients over periods of time ranging from 3 to 12 months, thereby reducing labor to a couple of times a year or less. Many brands also contain trace elements, which are generally not lacking in garden soils, but may well be so in the artificial potting media.
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