Bonsai – Much more than just a great hobby

I have been dabbling with bonsai since I was 15 years old. I say “dabbling” intentionally since I do not consider myself a professional nor an expert. As a fan and lover of this form of art which goes back in time almost 1400 years I will tell you a little about:

  • What bonsai are
  • How you create a bonsai
  • Why I like this hobby so much
  • The ways I benefit personally
  • How I think it helps develop relevant skills

What are bonsai?

Bonsai are trees or shrubs that are planted in shallow pots and trained to remain small. The word bonsai is Japanese and is pronounced “bone-sigh”. It actually has two parts: “bon”, meaning tray or shallow pot; and “sai”, meaning plant. So, bonsai means tray planting.

Bonsai are not a particular species of plant; any tree or shrub can be trained to grow in this way. The art of bonsai lies in the training and shaping of the plant to create an aesthetically pleasing miniature tree.

If you want to read more about bonsai in Wikipedia here is a link:

How are bonsai created?

The basic principle of bonsai is to mimic the shape of a full-sized tree in a small form. There are different ways to achieve this, but the most common is through pruning of branches.

Pruning is the main way that bonsai are shaped. It involves carefully trimming and shaping the branches and leaves of the plant to create the desired effect. For example through pruning of the larger leaves or even defoliating (trimming all the leaves) you achieve smaller leave size and greater branching.

Also when you want to give a specific shape to branches or the trunk you can also apply wires. Once wired you bend the wood into the shape that you want.

In addition the root system is “pruned” every so often. Depending on the variety. and the age of the tree this can be every 1 to 2 years or longer. The goal of pruning the roots is to obtain the most roots in a small area so as to have it survive and obtain all its nutrients from the soil within the pot. This process is as important as all the other.

Each of these techniques and some others which you also resort to when needed require practice. If you are curious here you can find a little more information on these:

Here is also a pretty good video on the quick process but which gives you a good idea as to all the techniques that are applied: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lR15GyBEFZM

Why I like this hobby so much

I really enjoy the creative aspect of bonsai. It is very satisfying to take a plant and carefully shape it into something beautiful. It is also very calming and relaxing, which is a nice contrast to the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

The personal benefits I have experienced from this hobby are numerous. First of all, it has helped me to develop a greater appreciation for nature. Working with plants and trees has given me a greater respect for the natural world.

Another benefit is that it has helped me to develop patience and perseverance. Bonsai take a long time to grow and shape, so it requires a lot of patience. It has also helped me to develop a greater attention to detail.

How I think it helps develop relevant skills

Also looking back I think this hobby has helped me to develop some important life skills. For example, it has helped me to learn how to plan and visualize. When shaping a bonsai, you need to have a clear vision of what you want the end result to look like. This requires planning and visualization skills.

I have also had to learn to improvise. At times, things do not go as expected, a branch breaks, part of the tree dies, etc. You have to adapt to whatever happens.

It has also helped me to develop perseverance. Bonsai require a lot of care and attention, and it can be easy to get discouraged when things are not going as planned. However, persevere you must if you want to create a beautiful bonsai.

I think that anyone who is looking for a hobby that is creative, calming, and challenging should consider bonsai. It is a great way to connect with nature and develop some important life skills.

Conclusion

Bonsai is a great hobby for many reasons. It helps you connect with living art and teaches you different skills like visualization, planning, and perseverance. If you are looking for a new hobby that can help you grow as a person, I encourage you to check out bonsai.

Like any art it takes time to develop the necessary expertise and skill and it is now just about buying one. If you want to

Now if you want to explore this world a little more go to your closest bonsai center do not just buy one in the flower shop these are usually going to die on you since the soil quality is not the right one or the pots have defects that make them accumulate water.

If you want to read about the techniques I recommend you John Yoshio Nakas books. He is an eminence in the realm of Bonsai. Here is a link to his books at Amazon.com.

Worth reading: How Resilience Works by Diane Coutu (HBR)

Excellent article on resilient people and companies.

What is meant by resilience, what traits make it up, can it be taught, examples, etc.
Definetly worth a read.

 

Resilience is a reflex, a way of facing and understanding the world, that is deeply etched into a person’s mind and soul. Resilient people and companies face reality with staunchness, make meaning of hardship instead of crying out in despair, and improvise solutions from thin air

Source: How Resilience Works

Why not participate in a competition for new ideas or products?

Recently I heard through Facebook about a competition held by Clas Ohlson for new sustainable living products that they would incorporate into their offering

I thought about it and told myself why not take part?

Well I got in touch with some friends of mine and we are now looking for ideas.

How about you why don’t you give it a shot too. Its fun and interesting besides it can lead to great things, like maybe a new business idea. So what is holding you back, you have got nothing to loose and all to gain!

Clas Ohlson Product Innovation Challenge

captura-de-pantalla-2016-10-30-18-30-07

Note: screenshot taken from https://www.clasohlsoninnovation.com/

 

Tips to be creative

Tips to be creative

Are you creative or can you be creative?

I have met people who say that they are not creative. They accept things as given and do not even try to be. It is a self-fulfilling prophecy so to say. They will never come up with a bright idea because they do not consider even having one.

Ironically there are others, who when confronted with a problem, do not step back but step forward. They do not accept the status quo and give it a shot. They think of finding a solution and the fear of ridicule and failure is secondary. Some of the greatest inventors had hundreds of ideas before they came up with one bright one. This group creates the other stagnates.

What’s the difference between the two? — Their mindset.

“Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the thinks you can think up if only you try” – Dr. Seuss

Creativity is just another skill

I have always been considered creative by others. In school it was because I was good at drawing and later at work, it was because I came up with solutions. Continue reading

Looking for solutions or ideas? A step by step approach

Ideas search

 

The other day I was talking to a friend who is currently trying to solve a major technical problem of a product. From what he mentioned this problem had already been challenging others for some years. He did not know where to start due to the complexity of the task. I am no engineer but at my work I have had to solve complex problems too, so I mentioned my approach to him.

Until today I had never thought about the process I followed since it always appeared to me as an exercise of common sense and keeping an open mind.

An Open Mind

Whatever you try to solve, start out with an open mind. I mean by this to start out with the following assumptions:

  • Everything can be improved but first it must be understood
  • You are not the first one who has had this problem
  • There may already be a different approach that can work
  • You do not know everything
  • Sometimes a good solution is better than a perfect solution
  • There is no such thing as a dumb question

By keeping an open mind and not taking things for granted you are capable of three things: Continue reading