Bonsai Moisture Meter

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Moisture Meter For Bonsai Trees

The Rapitest light and moisture meter is a meter that measures moisture content levels and sunlight levels.The biggest challenge for any bonsai grower is ensuring that they get the watering right with their bonsai trees. This is why having a bonsai moisture meter is so important. Another challenge to the bonsai grower is ensuring that their bonsai tree receives the necessary light for it to flourish and thrive. This is particularly so for bonsai trees that are kept indoors. The solution here is to have a moisture and light meter to carry out your checks.

The Rapitest light and moisture meter is a perfect solution for the above 2 challenges. It is a meter that gives instant results on its analogue display in a graduated scale. It can also be used with other plants that you have and outside for the garden as well. The single probe which is attached to the meter by a flexible cord gives you the flexibility to test many plants in a variety of situations. It also can help you with hanging plants.

Bonsai Moisture Meter

History Of The Bonsai Tree

Han Period

The first evidence of bonsai growing goes back as far as between 206 BC and 220 AD in China under the rule of Han period of dynastic rule. Legend says that Fei Jiang Feng had magic powers and could shrink the earth. He could make mountains, rivers, animals, homes and even people dwarf in size and be put inside an urn. Though this is just a myth concerning mountains, rivers and human beings it is believed that he was a bonsai grower who grew minute trees and hence was capable on bringing landscapes in to the home.

T’sin Period

First literary evidence of bonsai growing comes in the T’sin dynasty between 265 and 420 and continues to show up in writings to the Tang dynasty of 618 to 906. There were even the first pictorial evidence or records in this period as well and show the art of bonsai growing being appreciated by the Imperial court.

Chinese archaeologists uncovered an ancient tomb in 1972 which was built in 706 AD. It was the resting place of Prince Zhang Huai from the Tang dynasty. Murals on the walls depicted royal servants holding potted bonsai trees and mini rockeries.

Bonsai growing is generally believed to have reached Japan abut a 1000 years ago but the earliest records depict it was at the beginning of the 13th century that bonsai growing was enjoyed in Japan. These records come in the form of schrolls which show the great and miraculous power of prayer.

The 15th century in Japan is known as the Nuromachi period. Evidence of bonsai trees can be found in the famous play by Noh called Hachi-no-Ki. However bonsai growing only became a popular gardening form in Japan at the beginning of the Meiji period amongst all people and not just the Aristocrats. In 1869 the name bonsai was officially proclaimed throughout the whole of Japan.

Appreciating Bonsai Trees

It is fair to say that to become involved in the art of bonsai growing and fully appreciate it one must have an appreciation of the tree. Early bonsai growing did not fully understand the shape of the tree. In the Western world tree shapes tend to be judged on the mature shape of the head of the tree. For example a tree can be classified as a dense round head tree, or half rounded head tree. Other descriptions can include spreading branches and erect main branches. However one important factor with regards to the bonsai tree is the actual shape of the trunk. It is only Japan that actually classifies it’s trees by the shape of their trunk which is quite unusual because any bonsai tree shape is based upon it’s trunk. The trunk of the bonsai tree is all important.

If you are considering starting bonsai gardening it is well worth the effort and time to go and visit a botanical garden and observe fully mature bonsai trees. You will see that many are different and have different characteristics. You need to study the trunk of each particular bonsai tree, the colour and texture of the bark of the bonsai tree and then the arrangement of the branches of the bonsai tree. All these characteristics are the basis on which your particular bonsai tree will be based. The roots of the bonsai tree should also be examined closely as well.

What we are saying here is that when you grow a bonsai tree you need to place importance of certain parts of the bonsai tree in a specific order. This order is first the trunk, then the branches and finally the roots of the bonsai tree. If you follow this order of importance then you will eventually have yourself a thriving and very splendid bonsai tree.

The characteristics that you want from your bonsai tree are:

Trunk

The trunk of your bonsai tree needs to be scar free and without any imperfections on it at all. You want the trunk to taper in a natural form from it’s base all the way to the top. Any bonsai tree that has been pruned in a dramatic manner in an attempt to reduce it’s height significantly will not have a trunk that is scar free and imperfection free.

Branches

The framework of any splendid bonsai tree are the branches. These branches should leave the trunk in an alternative way. By this we mean that the branches should leave the trunk first from one side and then another side of the trunk at a higher point. So the pruning of these branches in a particular style is what will define your bonsai tree.

Now bonsai tree experts differ in opinion with regards to the branches of a bonsai tree. In one corner there are those experts who believe that bonsai branches should be natural and never tied down. Without tying down the branches will grow freely and naturally. The other side of opinion says that the branches need to be tied and pinned in order to create a perfect harmony between the trunk and branches of the bonsai tree.

Leaves

Many people decide on which particular bonsai tree to grow by it’s leaves. The shape, colour and texture of the leaves are the deciding influence. There are varieties of different colours, shapes and sizes to be considered. Your choice can be for personal preference reasons or for situational reasons where you wish your bonsai tree to fit and blend in with it’s surroundings. However you do need to study the leaf aspect of the bonsai tree carefully. Certain bonsai trees will have leaves which will reduce their sizes naturally to fit in proportion with the trunk. Other bonsai trees will still continue to grow large leaves which just does not look right on a bonsai tree in certain situations.

Roots

For a superb bonsai tree you need to have an attractive root system when the roots are above soil level. You want roots on your bonsai tree with a good natural radiating pattern. Then need to give the appearance, whether true or not, of having a good solid grip on the soil. Appearance wise they also need to look as if they are mature roots and replicate those of old trees in natural landscapes. The thing with roots on a bonsai tree is that if they have defects on them they are very hard to “repair” or improve. So particular attention must be given to bonsai roots when the bonsai tree is young. Early training and arranging of the root system is vital.

When you check out the definition of bonsai in the Collins English Dictionary the description you get is “The art of growing dwarfed ornamental varieties of trees or shrubs in small shallow pots by selective pruning”. And additionally “A tree or shrub grown by this method”

There is quite a history behind bonsai growing. The word bonsai is made up of two syllables which mean “tray” and “pot”. Now when you say bonsai out aloud it has a Japanese sounding ring to it, but the characteristics of the word are Chinese. This is appropriate as bonsai growing actually originated in China, but it was the Japanese who refined the art of bonsai gardening and introduced bonsai growing to the Western World.

Bonsai growing is a passion of mine, if not an obsession, and in my opinion is the most exciting form of horticulture. Where else can you take something like a giant tree and reduce it in proportions so small that it can be held in the palm of your hand. Replicating giant trees on a small scale has been refined over hundreds of years by very skilful and patient horticultural methods. To such an extent that the bonsai tree can be designed and cared for in a shallow container with no more than a spoonful of soil in certain cases.

Moisture Meter Guide 2010 Contact details:garnett65@hotmail.com

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Moisture Meter Guide

Features

Instant results for watering needs

Tells you how much light your plants receive

Includes needs for 150 plants

No batteries

Accurate and inexpensive

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