June 2020 - Highway Durban

The type of tree you grow, says Ant, depends really on the environment in which you’ll be
keeping it. Deciduous species such as Chinese or Japanese elms, olive, acacia and crabapple
trees are good for outside, but be sure to pick a species that can grow to full size in your region.
Coniferous trees, junipers, pines, paper bark or fig trees all make excellent choices too.
‘If you’re foraging for a bonsai tree,
select a tree with a sturdy trunk,
but one that is still quite young.
Choose a tree with roots that spread
evenly in every direction, and dig
around the tree and extract a large
amount of soil along with the roots.
I’ve managed to gather about 30
different species over the years
including Bougainvillea, fig, Baobab,
Ficus, African Olive, Boxwood,
Juniper, and Acacia to name a
few, and they all grow well here,
but each requires its own unique
handling and care.’
Based on Ant’s experience, he
says it can take several months for
a seed to germinate depending
on the species, while some finicky
and slow-growing tree species
need several seasons just to break
their seed coats. Seedlings need to
be nurtured properly, progressive
plants must be potted (Ant
makes his own potting soil using
a little help from nature and the
Umgeni River), and then there’s the
trimming, weeding, shaping and
tying. Something he does daily, as a
means of relaxation.
Like most other plants or trees, Ant
says bonsais are at their most beautiful
in spring when they sprout leaves and
flowers.
‘In spring, trees begin to use the
nutrients they stored during the winter to
sprout new leaves and grow. Since a tree
is in transition during this time of year, it’s
a good time to repot the plant (adding
extra nutrients to the soil) and begin
trimming.’
42 Get It Highway • Berea • Durban North June 2020