Fruit Of My Labor

  After long wait and almost 6 years of unsatisfactory results in my bonsai growing attempt, if finally bear fruit.  Not that I'm getting my ROI but it literally bear fruit. One of my two remaining bonsai, the sour soup bear fruit and it was dwarfed too. After almost 9 months of not posting any updates because of no satisfactory progress in my bonsai growing, I think this one is worth sharing for.

Bonsai Exhibit at Marquee Mall

Bonsai Exhibit held in Marquee Mall Angeles City Pampanga last October 12, 2014

Nine Months After

Since it takes years to develop a bonsai, I have decided to lengthen the posting interval of my bonsai updates. There is a minimal development in my bonsai in a month, so it will be useless if I will post an updates without any difference than the previous one. It almost nine months now since my last update and I have a new bonsai I would like to introduce, so I think those 9 months were more than enough to post for an updates.

The bonsai that gives me less satisfaction is the Sweet Sop, even though its trunk grows faster than the other bonsai, the look still far from being an old tree. Its leaves cannot be dwarfed by pruning; I think this tree is not an ideal tree to train as bonsai.

The Mansanitas tree is my original choice and the first one I trained as bonsai. This is the one I expected to give me a good result but so far I only ranked it as second in terms of improvement.

The bonsai that have the best development for me is my Kalamansi bonsai. The grass that grows around it still there and a new plants that have a vine grows on the pot and clinging on my Kalamansi bonsai, this helps in making my bonsai looks like an old tree.

And of course I want to introduce my Anato bonsai tree, the new addition to my bonsai family. Like the sweet sop, it has a big leaves but I like it trunks, it grow faster and the leaves are thicker compare to my other bonsai.

Kalamansi Bonsai Updates

As promise, I will update you with the results of the work of my two secret workers on my Calamansi Bonsai tree. I have decided to take pictures of the different view of my Calamansi bonsai for you to see how useful my two new discovered workers. You will notice how good are they in trimming my Calamansi bonsai.




This is the upward view. Feeling like you are on the base of the tree.














And this is the side view with one of my secret worker, Caterpie.













Top view of the bonsai. Not so much bonsai looking in this view.

My Secret Workers

Due to busy schedule I failed to always update you with the status of my bonsai. I also failed to trim my bonsai regularly and would you believe that even my Farmville was also being taken for granted. That’s how busy I am. Good thin with my virtual farm, I have a farmhand and arborists that will help me finish my job faster. Surprisingly I also a helper on my bonsai farming. One day when I am going to trim my bonsai, I discovered that one of my bonsai was already trimmed. And did you know who are my secret helpers. I will just call them Metapod and Caterpie. If you want to know them and see them in action watch the video below.



And if you want to know who is who, here is the video of Metapod:



And here is Caterpie:



The only problem with my workers they have favoritism. They only want to trim my kalamansi bonsai. But regardless they still a big help to me. They were able to make my kalamansi bonsai look like a tree during fall season. I will just wait for a few days how my kalamansi bonsai will look like when a new leaves grow again. And as added bonus I have an applicant, I didn’t have any idea how he work. I will still observe if he will be a help in my bonsai farming I named my applicant Gary. Just watch the video below to know who I am talking to.



That’s it; I hope you enjoy my updates for today. I will just update you how will Gary works and what will be the outcome of the works of my two workers.

My Sweetsop Bonsai Tree

I already introduced my second bonsai last time; I will now introduce my 3rd bonsai which is also included on the three saplings wherein I selected my first bonsai. I have decided later on to train all of them as bonsai. The 3rd sapling is the Sweetsop tree, I didn't select it initially because it has a big leaves but since it has an inclined trunk it reminds me of my childhood days wherein we play hide and seek and our favorite hiding place is on tree branches. I'm not good and fast in climbing tree that is why I usually selects tree that is inclined because it is easy to climb. I also fascinated with its look and because of it is inclined I usually lie or sit on it when I want to have a little rest.


The pot I used for this bonsai is made of concrete. I created it from excess cement and sand when we have our house improvement and I used Styrofoam as mould. It looks like a ship but since I'm the one who created and didn't pattern it to any pot, it is unique.

At this time I'm still hoping that the leaves will become proportion to its trunk once the trunk grows a little more. But I'm already enjoying seeing it because of its inclined position.

My Kalamansi Bonsai Tree

On my previous post, I showed my other bonsai trees and one of it is the Kalamansi tree. Like my first bonsai, this Kalamansi tree also just grows in the pot wherein an ornamental plant is already planted. This tree was able to outlast the ornamental plant that was originally planted on that pot. Though it is not my first choice to train into bonsai tree, I noticed that it also have the potential of being a good bonsai tree, so I have decided to train it also as bonsai.

I followed the same procedure I used on my first bonsai; I cut the unwanted leaves and branches and tied wire on the remaining branches. The only difference is the tree cavity I put on the stem of this tree. I used a cutter to put a one inch hole on the stem of the tree to look like a cavity that can be seen in an old tree.

I also like the pot I used for this bonsai, my neighbor throw it away, but I noticed that it is still in good condition that is why I get it and planted an ornamental plant. The plate under it is the plate we are using to feed our cats, but since it has also wavy rim like the pot, I have decided to use it as base for that pot. I did not paint it anymore to preserve it old look.

Like my first bonsai, I did not spend single centavos on this one. I just make use of old materials and so far I am satisfied with the results.

My Other Bonsai Tree

On my "Choosing the Appropriate Tree"post, I have mentioned that I have selected the tree that I will train into bonsai from the three kinds of tree saplings growing in my backyard. I have decided to train them also as bonsai. Among the remaining two saplings, the Kalamansi tree is the better one since, it has a small leaves, the only problem is the trunk doesn't grow bigger. The Sugar-Apple or Sweetsop on the other hand has a potential of having a big trunk, but the leaves doesn't want to be left behind. You can dwarf the trunk and branches but not the leaves. After months of training them, here how they look now:

Pictures of Kalamansi Tree:




Pictures of Sugar-Apple Tree:

Two Months After

It’s been a long time since I posted an updates on my bonsai blog. This is because after more than two months since I started training the tree that I have chosen, only few improvements happened. Though there are new branches appear, the trunk maintain it size. I think it has the same size since I posted the last updates. I tied a copper wire to the new branches to form it on my desired design and position.

My Model Bonsai

This is how I want my Bonsai to look like.


After one month there are only few improvements. New leaves are already growing in some of the trim branches but the leaves are still big and are not proportionate to the size of the trunks. There are still few leaves, very far from the tick leaves I want to, like in my model bonsai tree. I also accidentally killed one of the branches; I have twisted it too much when putting the copper wire.

Bonsai Training

Since the tree that I will train into bonsai has been selected, I have transferred the selected tree to the pot I created and did some pruning and trimming of leaves and root.


Following my guide whom I posted earlier, I cut some unwanted branches, buds and leaves.


I already cut this tree before that is why the mark of it is showing. I elevated it a bit to show the root, it also exposed the part of trunk that is previously covered by soil. Being covered by soil for a long time gives the trunk a matured look. I also tied copper wire to some of the branches. The selected tree almost looks like a bonsai already because it has been in the small pot long ago.

How To Make Your Own Bonsai?

{ I already have some basic knowledge on how to grow bonsai tree, which I learned from observing and reading some bonsai growing technique in the Internet, newspaper and magazine. I actually keep a newspaper clipping, which will be my guide in growing the bonsai tree. I have decided to post it here for others to read.}



1. Trim off excess leaves from the trunks to show the lines and potential branches that to be retained or removed later.




2. Cut Off unwanted trunks from the base going forward. To create a tree-like effect, leave at least 1/4 inch of space between the base and the first trunk.




3. Tie wire around the branch. Secure first one end of the wire to the base of the chosen branch, then carefully and gradually wind around in a spiral up to the end of the branch.




4. Bend branch slightly with your fingers to achieve the desired shape, taking care not to break any part and making the bends look natural.




5. After wiring, trim off excess leaves.




6. To create an upright style, cut off the top leaves. Leave the plant for three to five months until there are new growths of branches, then start pruning again excess trunks.




7. When the tree is nice and beautiful, transfer the plant to a prepared tray with potting medium.




8. Arrange the plant and top the soil with moss.