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Junior Member
 
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Last Login: 16/11/2008 13:21:43
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| This dwarf Chinese rhododendron/Impeditum pink flowers, called out to me this weekend at my local gardening centre i put it into a bonsai dish and put it on my kitchen window sill as it very cold and will enjoy the flowers, then keep it outside , instant bonsai.or is it. But is it really a bonsai? 
5" blue glazed dish rhodonddron impeditum 
5" blue glazed bonsai dish.Rhododdron impeditum purple flowers
Topiaryjoe/London
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Forum Member
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| I like it, will have lovely small purple flowers. It will be far better off kept outside, it will eventually die if kept indoors
UK- zone 8
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SENSEI?
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| Loads of buds there Joe. I hope that the re-pot doesn't result in losing any. Of course its a bonsai - Its a plant in a shallow container isn't it?
My name is Don and I'm a bonsaiholic.
My imaginary friend Givitago takes over when I'm not sure of myself in print. He's not a complete fool - several bits are missing.
This message has been created using 100% recycled electrons
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Genius
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The definition of a bonsai is what? "A tree in a pot"?  So it's a bonsai, I think. Obviously not one nurtured from a small plant by you, but....!  Do you think you'll ever think of it as one?
...Location: Trowbridge, Wiltshire...
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Forum Member
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But didn't we have this discussion some time last year "in another place"? And wasn't it the general view that although "bonsai" means "tree in pot" it cannot mean "any old tree in pot". For me, the rhododendron in the pot as shown is a true bonsai but would be even more so if it lost a few branches and began to develop more of a bonsai outline. Sorry if I sound a bit picky - I don't mean to be - but as the owner of probably the largest collection of seedlings in pots in the south of England I am very sensitive to seeing all those lovely developed bonsais from Ed, and Stymie, and Dick, etc. Oh well ... one day ...
Surrey John says "keep pruning".
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Forum Member
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I agree John, although by the literal translation of bonsai means 'tree in pot' the essence of bonsai is to create the illusion of a mature tree that just happens to be housed in a pot, otherwise I could call the standard lilacs i have in pots on my patio could be called bonsai. Bonsai has to have form and structure to it bought about employing various techniques, and is as much art as horticulture
UK- zone 8
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Genius
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The Chinese form of bonsai is much more relaxed - a plant allowed to grow in a more natural manner, without the distortions, wiring, tweaking, etc. of what people think of as "bonsai", i.e. the involved technique of Japanese bonsai. When it comes down to it, "bonsai" means "tree in a pot", so it's quite legitimate to say the little Rhodo is bonsai, albeit one form of the art.
...Location: Trowbridge, Wiltshire...
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Forum Member
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| So, I'm wondering..... If we agree that bonsai means 'tree in a pot' then should the discussion be about whether the plant concerned is a 'tree' or a 'bush'. For my mind many untrained starter 'trees' are in fact still bushes and what is missing is the proportion of trunk to branches that makes a tree like appearance. This would make Joe's rhododendron a bush but with a bit of snipping and pruning to reveal more trunk and branch it could become a tree.  Daryl
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Genius
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Forum Member
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| Yes Penny - I agree totally. Fuchsias in pots are bushes until they are trained or pruned to reveal a distinct trunk and branches at which point they become a tree and can be called bonsai. Not a very scientific theory but just my own personal opinion Daryl
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