BONSAI WORKSHOP | SAKURA

Other than Tokyo and Mt. Fuji, what comes to your mind when someone says "Japan"? Is it "cherry blossom" or "Sakura" as they are called in Japanese? Cherry blossoms are one of my favorite things about Japan. It's such a pleasant surprise when one day your drab and boring walk to the train station is now lined with blooms of pink and white. Sakura has been long regarded as a sign of spring.

Unfortunately, sakura are only around for a few weeks, and therefore, the top places to see sakura are a nightmare at times due to the hoards of people and crowds. But, what if you could do o-hanami (flower viewing) from the comfort of your own home? Well, that's exactly what I went to go find out!

I attended my first ever bonsai workshop. What's bonsai, you ask? Bonsai has a long and complex history that I won't pretend to have a deep understanding of, but what I've learned is that bonsai are trees and plants grown in containers in such a way so that they look their most beautiful, and sometimes even prettier than those growing in the wild. Cultivating bonsai is a hobby as well as a traditional Japanese art, and I was excited to be able to plant and bring home my very own to start taking care of.

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The first step was to chose a bonsai plant and a pot. Although it sounds simple, bonsai is all about complimenting and enhancing certain features. Therefore, you need to consider the size, shape, and color that will compliment your tree. Here's a great article that covers this more in depth.

The second step was to depot your tree and remove the soil around the roots to untangle them. We used this kind of chopstick tool, and it was really relaxing and peaceful. After removing as much soil as possible, you should trim them so that the plant will fit snugly in the pot.

The third step is to prepare your pot. You should make sure there is a hole at the bottom with a net to drain water. After that, add a layer of large grain soil to cover the net. After that, your plant can be transferred into its new home!

The fourth step is to arrange the plant. You want to figure out where the front of the plant is. Do you want your plant in the center? Off to side? You can also add some other plants as well, if you want to follow the "saika bonsai" tradition. 

The fifth step is to add the soil. After you arrange your plant or plants (which should be held together with wire), you should pour soil just up to the rim of the pot. Make sure to pack it in using your chopstick and try not to leave any air pockets.

The six step was to flatten the soil and mist it with water. You can also sit it in a tub of water.

The seventh step is to place moss over the soil. This will help to retain moisture and reduce how often you need to add water. If you don't have moss, then you can add decorative rocks instead. If you choose moss, you have to make sure it is flat (so cut off any bumpy or thick parts on the underside) and when you lay down multiple patches, make sure they don't overlap, creating a seamless carpet. You can tuck and flatten any edges with a chopstick.

Finally, it is time to wipe and clean your pot and enjoy!

What do you think? The teacher told me it would bloom in about two weeks time. I'm really excited, and I'll be sure to add a photo when it does!