As they are easier to access than traditional bonsai, the creation of super-mini bonsai can be considered a natural development within the overall trend. Even in Japan, where until recently bonsai was commonly seen as a hobby for older people, it has become popular people of all ages. In recent years, particularly in the US, bonsai fans have rapidly increased in number.
In the Edo period (1603–1868), this appreciation spread from the daimyo (feudal lords) to the common townsfolk and it is thought that the term “bonsai” began to be used during this time.īuilding on this, further developments in the Meiji period (1868–1912) led to the establishment of an intrinsically Japanese view of art that defines bonsai as we know it today: that is, “the expression of nature’s grandeur and beauty in a small vessel, and the appreciation of this.” During the Heian period (794–1185 CE), the aristocracy cultivated an appreciation of potted plants, and in the Kamakura period (1185–1333) various tree species and types of pots came into use. Why not give super-mini bonsai a try?īonsai are said to have been brought to Japan from missions in the Sui and Tang dynasties (between the 6th and 10th centuries CE).
Though the plants are tiny, growing them is a complete gardening experience.
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While “bonsai” carries with it the impression of being a hobby for someone with plenty of free time, mini bonsai gardening is a actually a great hobby for busy people, novices at gardening, and anyone who enjoys working with small plants. What’s more, if properly cared for they can last for years, continuing to give pleasure as they change and grow. They take up virtually no space at all, so they can add a little touch of green in unexpected places. While cultivating bonsai is a slow process, super-mini bonsai can be enjoyed as soon they’re potted-and these plants are simple and satisfying to grow and to pot.
The term “super-mini bonsai” refers to the smallest plants in the miniature bonsai category of these, the smallest plants can fit on a fingertip and grow in a pot no larger than a thimble. The term “miniature bonsai” generally refers to bonsai small enough to be lifted or moved with one hand. Bonsai that straddle the small-to-miniature category reach about 8 inches (20cm) in height and can take up to 20 years to fully mature.