Gardenia Bonsai Tree - A Beautiful Favorite

The Gardenia bonsai tree is another popular type of bonsai that seems to be a favorite of many in the hobby. Learn more about this beautiful and fragrant plant and how to best care for it.

An Introduction to Bonsai

Flowers and plants bring a burst of color and joy to our lives as well as create a cleaner environment in which we can breathe easier and live healthier. The bonsai manages all of the above with an extra pizzazz. A bonsai is basically the miniature form of a tree or plant that is grown in a flowerpot right from the beginning and is developed there for the rest of its life, thus creating a unique and exotic plant.

The art of growing bonsai dates back to ancient China as far as the fourth century; this practice soon was adopted by the rest of Asia, especially Japan and Korea, only to travel across the ocean and into our houses today.

The Gardenia Bonsai

The Gardenia bonsai is very much loved for its gorgeous appearance and fragrant flowers; it provides a wonderful display that is bound to lighten up any room or space that it's decorating. All bonsai species need extra care and attention, and the gardenia bonsai is no exception. So here are a few ‘must do's in order to keep this beautiful plant at its best all year round:

Sunlight - It can be placed directly in the sunlight, but not for an extensive amount of time a day; for example couple of hours in the morning should be more then enough for it or if kept indoors a sunny window will do the trick.

Watering - Because it loves the sun it also loves the water. Therefore, it needs to be checked daily for watering but at the same time do not flood the roots, just enough to keep the soil moist.

Pruning - Pruning the Fardenia bonsai is done after the flowers bloom. Don't be shy when pruning -- you are the one who will be shaping the gardenia bonsai so let the creativity flow! Hint: look through Google's cache of bonsai images for inspiration.

Soil and Fertilizers - A couple times a year, usually spring and fall, the soil needs replenishing in order for your gardenia bonsai to receive the required minerals and food supply. However, take great care not to use fertilizers that facilitate excessive growth -- remember you have a bonsai (miniature of the real size plant) and you want to keep it that way.

While the most important points are discussed above, there may be other questions that you need answers to in regard to your Gardenia bonsai. Try finding guidance in specialized books and websites where you should find even the most difficult situations addressed. Don't overlook your neighbors, either; you may find they've formed a bonsai fan club. And if not, you can always form your own!