Cannabis Bonsai - How To Grow Weed Bonzai Tree: Step-by-Step Guide
- 1. What are bonsais?
- 2. Plant training techniques for bonsais
- 2. a. Low-stress training
- 2. b. High-stress training
- 3. Before starting
- 4. How to grow your own cannabis bonsai step-by-step
- 4. a. Step 1 - preparing the pot
- 4. b. Step 2 - providing support
- 4. c. Step 3 - tying down branches
- 4. d. Step 4 - removing growth
- 4. e. Step 5 - reaping the rewards
- 5. The full history of bonsai
- 5. a. The best plants to practice your bonsai craft
- 6. In conclusion
A lot of people think that a Bonsai is a certain type of tree that grows small but little do they know, Bonsai literally means “planted in a container”, this art form refers to various training and pruning techniques that can be applied to certain shrubs and trees. Not all species can be grown this way but, luckily for you, cannabis seeds are great for this technique so if you want to learn how to grow your own cannabis Bonsai, here’s our guide!
1. What Are Bonsais?
Bonsai is an art form and a gardening technique with over 1000 years old, despite being associated with Japanese culture, Bonsai growing is actually an old Chinese practice that Japanese Buddhist eventually refined and developed even further. It was once reserved for only the most elite in society, but these days the knowledge of how to practice bonsai has spread worldwide. Canna-bonsai may be new to the game, but it works amazingly well and the results can be as beautiful as any other bonsai art.
This practice consists of growing a certain plant by applying training techniques to make a miniature version while maintaining the proportion and asymmetry, leaving no trace of man-made interaction. To achieve this, growers plant their plants in a small container and apply LST and HST techniques while restraining and sometimes pruning the roots, which will restrict growth and result in a miniature size.
2. Plant Training Techniques For Bonsais
When growing any kind of plant into a bonsai (including cannabis plants) there are basically two techniques applied; One is bending and/or tying down the branches which is a low-stress training method and the other is topping or fimming which is a high-stress training method.
Low-Stress Training
Low-Stress training (aka LST) is one of the main methods used by Bonsai growers to achieve the desired height and overall structure of a cannabis plant. This is achieved by bending and tying down the branches and main stem to make it grow sideways or in a specific way other than upwards. To perform these techniques correctly, you will have to use wire, string, or plant ties to bend a branch into growing in the desired direction, thus achieving the typical bonsai structure (when done correctly).
High-Stress Training
Many growers prefer topping or fimming to encourage side growth which may be more stressful for most cannabis plants but take less time and effort while keeping height more consistent and easier for your plant to grow several colas. But, when growing cannabis for your own consumption, topping once or twice (or even more) will do the job but when talking about cannabis bonsais it may not be the best option because, despite resulting in a shorter plant, it will not resemble a traditional bonsai tree so you will still have to apply LST techniques.
3. Before starting
Before starting with your own cannabis bonsai, there are a couple of things you should have in mind. First of all; In order for your bonsai to turn out as good as it can be, it’s better to use strains that tend to grow shorter and compact, with a thicker stem, and smaller leaves, so in general, it’s recommended to use shorter varieties. Due to the smaller size, it’s highly advised to use Indica-dominant autoflowers such as our Strawberry Pie Auto, which grows even less than Indica-leaning photoperiodic strains and will make it easier to control your cannabis bonsai’s height.
Also, have in mind that you won’t get big yields due to the final size of the plant so this isn’t recommended if you are looking to get a big harvest, it’s actually more of a hobby for home growers who want to experiment with new things. Second; Growing a healthy bonsai involves a lot of both HST and LST plant training and adjusting the amount of fertilizer you feed so despite being a small plant, it takes a lot of time and dedication to do it properly but it’s definitely worth it.
4. How To Grow Your Own Cannabis Bonsai Step-By-Step
So, in order to start growing your own cannabis bonsai, you’ll need the following:
- A cannabis plant seed or clone;
- Plant ties, wire, or string:
- Drill to make holes on the pot or tape to hold the wire, string, plant ties, etc;
- A bamboo or wooden stake.
Step 1 - Preparing the pot
You don’t necessarily need to drill the holes, you can get away by just using tape or flexible wires but making the holes on the side of the pot will save you from a lot of headaches.
So, start by drilling the holes (or making them any way you prefer); These holes are where you’ll be tying the branches so make sure the holes are wide enough for the material of choice to go through (either wire, string, plant ties, etc..).
Step 2 - Providing support
The most important aspect of bonsais is the appearance, to achieve this you can use anything you want or have available but most growers will use a wooden stake next to the stem or trunk to be able to position the stem in any direction you need to, allowing you to reach the desired shape easier. To position the stake, press the wooden or bamboo stake into the soil alongside the stem, just be careful so you don’t damage the roots.
Once the stake is in place, you can use a piece of string, wire, or a plant tie to tie your plant to the stake or use the stake to provide support and tie your branch to one of the holes you’ve made. Have in mind that a stake is not obligatory but can make things easier if it’s the first time you are trying to grow your own cannabis bonsai.
Step 3 - Tying down branches
Once your cannabis plant has completely developed around 3-4 nodes, you can go ahead and start with the plant training. Just like with the stem, you will have to bend the branches, and this is where the plant ties come in.
Before starting you have to envision which shape you want to achieve and once you have an idea, hold the branches in the desired direction and tie them to the holes you’ve made in the pot. Have in mind that the tie is just to hold them in place and let them grow in the desired direction so make sure you don’t tie them too tight to allow them to continue growing.
Step 4 - Removing growth
Despite the training methods applied to your cannabis bonsai, it’s most likely it will grow bigger than you anticipated or wanted to so it’ll come the time when you’ll have to prune it, aka remove some leaves and even some branches. Pruning mostly serves to give your cannabis plant that unique bonsai look but will also allow air to flow in between the branches (and eventually buds) which prevents mold and bugs so it’s important to do it correctly.
When pruning, make sure you only remove the new offshoot branches (the branches that grow from the main branches), it’s important you don’t remove the main ones because this will stress your plant and stunt growth.
Step 5 - Reaping the rewards
As said before, growing a bonsai cannabis plant isn’t ideal for those who want to get big harvests (obviously) but despite being small, your cannabis bonsai will flower so once your plant is ready, it’s time for harvest. Now, if you’re not a cannabis consumer or you don’t want to kill your plant, you can leave it be for quite some time but your plant will eventually turn into a male in an attempt to produce seeds. So, in the long run, even if you don’t consume cannabis yourself it’s best to harvest the buds at the optimal time. After you have harvested the flowers, it’s time to dry those nuggets of fun. Leave them in a dark, well-ventilated room. Temperature between 17 to 24 degrees Celcius and relative humidity between 45 – 55% is perfect, and in 7 to 12 days you should have beautifully dried weed ready for the curing process.
To cure those buds, chuck them into a sturdy mason jar. We cure weed to increase the aromas, flavors, and overall quality of the smoke. This is done by slowing that drying process for the very last of the moisture captured deep inside the bud. You want the humidity inside the curing jars to be around 55 - 65%. Be sure not to overfill the jars past about three-quarters full. This ensures there’s enough air for the buds to actually cure and not just stew in their own humidity. For the first week or so you want to “burp” the jars twice a day, then week 2 to 4 once every three days or so, and after that once a week is fine.
How long does it take to cure cannabis? Well, that's a bit of a contentious subject among cultivators. Some people are fine with a 2-week cure, but in our opinion, it needs a bit longer. Some strains can benefit from a cure all the way up to 6 months. 6 weeks is usually fine though if you can hold out that long! So, now you are left with an almost budless, yet healthy cannabis bonsai living work of art. What next? Well, with a couple of easy steps you can keep it living for years and years to come. Let the plant recover for 2 weeks or so after harvest (as this will put her in an extremely stressed state). Once ready, cut the top third of the plant cleanly off. The next third need to be defoliated and pruned, with any older, yellowing leaves removed. Keep a few fan leaves in this middle third, but remove most of them.
The lower third needs to be totally left alone, including any buds that may have formed there. This is highly important for the regeneration process to be successful. Once you have finished the pruning, it’s time to put the bonsai back under 18 hours of light and force her back into the vegetative growth stage. You need to feed her a good amount of nitrogen to help kickstart the vegetative growth. She won’t need the same amount of water as she did before the harvest, so be careful not to overwater at this stage. The bonsai will put on a little extra size each season, and although the potency of the buds does drop with every year, the beauty only increases. It’s amazing the shapes and designs canna-bonsais can end up in after multiple years of training!
5. The Full History of Bonsai
While the word we use today to describe the art form is of Japanese descent, the practice of creating miniature trees actually has a much longer and more complex history than you are probably aware of. The Chinese were the first to start the tradition of miniaturizing plants thousands of years ago. As far back as the 6th century, they were manipulating plants in the same way we do today, creating intricate and beautiful shapes. The Chinese called this practice ‘Pun-sai' or 'Penjing' and developed a number of techniques to control the growth of the plants. It was split into three main categories -
- Shanshui penjing - This involves shaping plants to resemble a landscape, often with elements of water and mountains. It is believed this type of bonsai originated as part of Chinese Daoist philosophy and meditation practice.
- Shuimu penjing - Where the primary focus was on the overall form of the tree, rather than a representation of a scene.
- Yingzao penjing - This type of bonsai was created to look like a specific species of tree, rather than an entire scene.
The art form was eventually brought to Japan by Buddhist monks during the Kamakura period (1185 - 1333). During this period, Japanese people began to appreciate the beauty of Pun-sai and started to adopt their own version of the art. The Japanese called it ‘Bon-sai’, which translates to “tray planting” in English. Over the centuries following, the craft was refined and developed into the art form we know today. The modern version of Bonsai is a pure evolution from the traditional styles, and still encompasses all the original aspects - miniature trees planted in shallow trays that are manipulated to create intricate shapes and designs. It is a popular practice across Asia and around the world, with many people taking up the art form as a hobby and even professional pursuit.
Today, there are several different styles of bonsai that you can create, each with its own unique look and purpose. Cannabis Bonsai, from all the evidence available. is a pretty new offshoot of the art. It skirts the line between traditional bonsai and horticulture, with growers manipulating cannabis plants into miniature trees in shallow trays. The process of creating a Cannabis Bonsai is much like any other - it requires dedication, patience, and lots of care to create a beautiful plant that will last for many years.
The Best Plants to Practice Your Bonsai Craft
While cannabis makes a great option for bonsai, it does come with a few downfalls. Plants need plenty of light and warmth to thrive, and the growth cycle can be hard to control unless you have a dedicated indoor area. That being said, there are still plenty of other plants that make great options for bonsai. The most common types of trees used in the art form are conifers, but they are anything but the only choice. Let's quickly run through some of our favorite trees to practice the calming art form.
Junipers
Juniper trees have dense foliage and thick trunks, making them the perfect choice for a bonsai. They also tend to be quite resilient and easy to care for, even when compared with other conifers. They also make stunningly beautiful living sculptures.
Japanese Maple (Acer Palmatum)
One of the most traditional plant options for bonsai is the gorgeous Japanese maple, and it is easy to see why. The Japanese Maple is a deciduous tree, so its foliage will change color with the seasons from sparkling green in the spring and summer, to a deep red in the autumn and early winter. The branches of this tree also form a magnificently delicate shape and look beautiful when trained into a bonsai form.
Ginseng Ficus (Ficus Retusa)
The Ficus is an evergreen tropical plant, and one of the most common plants used in bonsai. It is supremely forgiving for novice bonsai disciples and is a bit of an outlier when it comes to looks. Thanks to its tropical heritage, the Ficus has unique aerial roots that sprout from its branches and are perfect for forming intricate designs. It also looks great planted in a cascade or semi-cascade style.
Weeping Fig (Ficus Benjamina)
Another Ficus, but if you looked at the two side-by-side, you would be hard-pressed to tell. Unlike the Ginseng Ficus, which has aerial roots, the Weeping Fig is an example of a bonsai with drooping branches - hence its name. It also looks great in a formal upright style and is one of the easier plants to care for when it comes to bonsai.
Japanese Cherry Blossom (Prunus Serrulata)
This is one of the most iconic bonsai trees, and it has been a favorite amongst practitioners of the art form for centuries. The Japanese Cherry Blossom has delicate foliage that changes color through spring and summer, making it an absolute showstopper in any garden. It also looks great when planted in an informal upright style, or trained into a cascade form.
Chinese Elm (Ulmus Parvifolia)
Thought to be among the very first trees to ever go through the dwarfing process, the Chinese elm is a sturdy and easy-to-care-for bonsai tree. It has glossy, small leaves that can turn yellow or orange in colder months, making it an ever-changing showpiece throughout the year.
Azalea (Rhododendron spp.)
Last but not least, we have the Azalea - another popular choice for bonsai. It has a distinct look, with its large and colorful blossoms that appear on the tree during springtime. When trained into a bonsai form, it looks even more striking as the small branches and delicate foliage create an eye-catching silhouette.
6. In Conclusion
Despite not being the best idea for people growing their medicine, a cannabis bonsai is a great way to acquire knowledge on plant training while growing beautiful bonsais that will amaze even non-cannabis consumers; A time-consuming yet rewarding hobby suited for all growers. If you have experience with cannabis bonsais to help fellow growers with your tips and tricks, leave a comment in the comment section below!
