Bonsai plantation catches up in city

Raising trees and plants in small containers and trimming them frequently known as 'Bonsai' is gaining fast importance among the plant lovers of the city. Though the bonsai culture can be dated to 1400 years and back, the concept of having miniature forest trees in home is still a new trend.

Hyderabad-based PV Govind Raj, who is an expert in the field has come down to Fruits and Flowers Expo being held in the city to create awareness and promote the beauty of bonsai. Govind Raj who takes basic bonsai classes for the enthusiasts shares, “It is not very easy to bring up a bonsai at home.

At the same time, it is not much difficult for anybody who really cares for it and can invest time. Bonsai are meant to deliver more with growing age than to the usual.” Generally, many plant growers who are fond of fruits to be grown in their yards prefer bonsai variety.

Though they give the produce from beginning of first year, it is advisable to wait until for a minimum four years to expect the desired product. Only fruit, flowering and ficus varieties can be raised in bonsai, he added.

The bonsai tree should have all features of a big tree such as canopy, trunk line, root line, fruit and flower yield and etc. The older the tree, the more valuable it is. It has to be taken care looking out for the stronger and weaker concepts of the tree. Only then, a healthy bonsai can be maintained, he said.

For a farmer who can afford capital liberty, bonsai cultivation can be a good experiment. He can try cultivation with bonsai fruit bearing and flower bearing plants in the same area that he usually does. The yield will be more than 10 times the original which enables him get more out of the invested income, with good returns.

This phenomenon also facilitates the customer access to the variety at a lower price, added Govind Raj. When asked about how to get a bonsai that is suitable to a household, he said, “We generally suggest our customers the variety depending on their space, constraints and attention they can give the plant. Technical know-how and maintenance help will be rendered.

There is nothing related to bonsai that is available in online market in India.” Many visitors in the expo took keen interest in the variety of the bonsai plants that were put up at the stall. Nutrient supply, ceramic bonsai containers, miniature containers for indoor variety, trimmers and other material is put for sale.