- Balite tree - if you look at this one, you can feel the eery and horrific feeling because of the urban legend, and yes local folklore, that it is the home of the "enkantos", "anitos" (the beings of the underworld) and the un-restive souls of people who doesn't want to leave the earth. If these specimens are trained enough to the extent of manipulating even its root, it will be a rare find and of good value. It needs a lot of water to survive though.
- Sampaloc (tamarind) - This is the most beautiful of the Pinoy Bonsai and one of the hardest specimens to propagate and train. Even though it will consume more of your time, after training and much work on it, it will be worth the while.
- Akasya (Acacia) - It will take years to train this one, but it will turn out to be very beautiful because of its barks, leaves and branches. It also needs a lot of water and time to grow its roots and leaves to maturity.
- Bougainvilleas - These are the easiest to propagate bu it is preferred if it is very old in age. It has it's natural bonsai beauty in it.
- Sagat - It is the hardest to propagate but the beauty of its trunk and branches even with very litter leaves makes it elegant and beautiful.
- Narra - It is prohibited to cut these trees but it is permitted to grown into a bonsai, but all I can say is, good luck if you want to try this one.
Suitable Plants for Pinoy Bonsai
Every plant can be turned into a bonsai, as they say but there are species in the Philippines that are very suitable and yes, beautiful specimens. Here are some:
Bonsai Hunts
A bonsai organization by Ilocanos in the northern part of the Philippines have these regular trek into the woods to find suitable plants to turn into Bonsai.
The fun part is that they have the time to share talking about bonsai and everything related to the art. They plan it weeks before the activity and usually done before the rainy season. Permits and documentary requirements are filed at the Forestry Bureau of the Department of Natural Resources to allow them go hunting in the restricted and regulated forest.
Extra care is observed in gathering specimens and there are only kinds of plants are permitted to be carried off the mountains. Growing plants that grow dangerously near each other, where in they will kill each other as they grow, are permitted to be taken.
The hunt is over after the group have their own specimens prepared for a trip home and after a hearty lunch.
The fun part is that they have the time to share talking about bonsai and everything related to the art. They plan it weeks before the activity and usually done before the rainy season. Permits and documentary requirements are filed at the Forestry Bureau of the Department of Natural Resources to allow them go hunting in the restricted and regulated forest.
Extra care is observed in gathering specimens and there are only kinds of plants are permitted to be carried off the mountains. Growing plants that grow dangerously near each other, where in they will kill each other as they grow, are permitted to be taken.
The hunt is over after the group have their own specimens prepared for a trip home and after a hearty lunch.
How To Take of Your Pinoy Bonsai
As said before, never have a bonsai if you are not responsible enough to find time to take care of it. With bonsai comes great care and responsibility. Here are ways to do it right.
In the Philippines there are two seasons, rainy days and summer. It should be noted that there are certain things to consider with the seasonal patterns.
Rainy Days.
At the start of the season this is the best time to prune and spruce. Trim time as they say because these plants grow leaves and roots. When the near the end of the rainy season, in the months of November and December, time to repot and add some "nutritious soil" on the pot.
Summer.
It should receive enough sunlight in the morning and have the patience to turn it so that every leaves have even supply of that light. When afternoon comes, place it in a shade or design a shade that light strikes the plant in the morning and shaded in the afternoon. Remember, never water your plants in the afternoon.
It is fun and relaxing to have a bonsai plant, but it would be a disaster if you are the only one who benefits on the situation. Take care of your bonsai and it will take care of you.
In the Philippines there are two seasons, rainy days and summer. It should be noted that there are certain things to consider with the seasonal patterns.
Rainy Days.
At the start of the season this is the best time to prune and spruce. Trim time as they say because these plants grow leaves and roots. When the near the end of the rainy season, in the months of November and December, time to repot and add some "nutritious soil" on the pot.
Summer.
It should receive enough sunlight in the morning and have the patience to turn it so that every leaves have even supply of that light. When afternoon comes, place it in a shade or design a shade that light strikes the plant in the morning and shaded in the afternoon. Remember, never water your plants in the afternoon.
It is fun and relaxing to have a bonsai plant, but it would be a disaster if you are the only one who benefits on the situation. Take care of your bonsai and it will take care of you.
Charit
One of the most neglected plant from where it came from. It sat in a corner for over a year and nobody in the house of the owner knew that it existed. It was in the backyard along with overgrown plants overshadowing it.
It was only an accident that I've found it. I was looking for an empty pot to place an ornamental to bring home and there it was, sitting lonely and alone.
I told the owner, aunt of my wife, that I will take the plant with or without her permission. We'll it was just a joke and luckily she said I can take it. That's where I got the name, Aunt Charit.
It's a bougainvillea with very thin leaves of yellow green, so thin that the rachis is very visible, and we are still wondering what color of flowers it will have.
It was only an accident that I've found it. I was looking for an empty pot to place an ornamental to bring home and there it was, sitting lonely and alone.
I told the owner, aunt of my wife, that I will take the plant with or without her permission. We'll it was just a joke and luckily she said I can take it. That's where I got the name, Aunt Charit.
It's a bougainvillea with very thin leaves of yellow green, so thin that the rachis is very visible, and we are still wondering what color of flowers it will have.
Spiderplant
I've wondered how old this bougainvillea is every time i see it every morning when I enter the building where our office is located. I thought this was a young plant at about three or four years old. Notwithstanding my itching curiosity, I asked the oldest guy in the building, only to find out that the plant was placed there the very day the building was completed.
The building where the plant is found is owned by General Authority in Civil Aviation (GACA) of King Khaled International Airport, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. I researched about it on when it was completed, it was in the early 80's which means that the plant is already more than 30 years old.
The plant is always trimmed every time it reaches the height of the wall and is only watered through a tube because the building is found beside the airport in the middle of the dessert.
I guess the spiderplant will never cover wall unless someone stops cutting it's branches. Climb on!
Amanda
This fortune plant found its way to my room when one afternoon after going to the market I spotted this beautiful plant, in a plant store, at a roadside along the Arabian dessert, a route from King Khaled International Airport. I bought it for 35 Riyals, a very good price for such a beautiful plant.
The problem is, I live in a flat at the second floor with windows without any provisions to put a plant on. I have to place it near the window in the kitchen every morning before I go to work to at least have its dose of daily sunlight. One other problem is the dry humid air here in Riyadh, giving me pressure to have extra time for this plant because I have to make sure it's water requirements are met.
I'm planning to add two plants more instead of buying a humidifier to have a more nose friendly air in the room. I know it will get more of my time but its always good to have fresh air inside a room, inside a flat found in the middle of the dessert.
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