Bonsai with tea trees

Some people grow tea tree as an ornamental plant (bonsai) in Japan. We are not exactly sure when this custom of making bonsai with tea tree was started. End of Edo era, several tea breeds were introduced for making bonsai. You can see the evidence of that in the book about unique plants "Soumokukihinkagami" ,published in 1824. Bonsai is a kind of art, and they need to be nourished and trimmed all the time. To make tea trees as a bonsai takes long time just like any other kind of trees. Even after a trees is grown and shaped perfectly, constant maintenance will be needed to keep it in shape. To make bonsai with tea tree, you can start with seeds, branches or old stumps. Among them, using old stump takes least time (4-5 years) to make it as a bonsai. Tea trees do not transplant easily. The use of a kind of growth helping hormone can help nourish tea after it has been transplanted. Pruning should be done every year to shape and maintain the health of the bonsai. Also, you need to remember that they have to be kept out of direct sunlight.

(Shigeru Yokouchi)