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.

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

How to and why to learn to work smarter with EXCEL

How and why Excel

The other day I was asked about my EXCEL skills. I have been using this program since my time in college and I have come to appreciate the benefit of investing some more time in it.

I think that everybody should know a little more about its use and benefits and get some tips to start learning. However the best is to start with an example of its potential.

From 10 to 3 minutes

If you could reduce the time you spend doing a task from 10 minutes to 3, would you? I definitely would, and often have had to, to stay sane.

You probably may think that this is not much of a deal, to save 7 minutes. However what if you had to do this 100 times in a row? You would save 700 minutes, almost 12 hours.

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Why another language?

Why should you?

Many people think that knowing English is sufficient. I disagree and some reasons to learn a new language are:

  • Capacity to understand and communicate with people from different backgrounds.
  • Potential plus when being considered for promotions in a company.
  • To use for work.
  • To travel to or live in a foreign country.
  • To use in negotiations.

If you work in the international scene every language becomes a major plus. I have worked in business and used German, English, Spanish and French over extended periods of time interchangeably, and can only recommend it.

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Choosing what to learn and where?

What to learn ?

Whenever I approach a project I ask myself what do I want to achieve, and what do I need to know in order to achieve it.

If for example you want to learn something for fun you can just go ahead and do it without much thought. If you want to set up a business you possibly need to learn things that you had not considered before.

When choosing what to learn you have to be realist though and keep some things in mind: Continue reading