As a college student, I well understand the myriad demands upon an individual's time. Combining full-time school and a full-time job, as well as, perhaps, a full-time significant other, can leave very little time for anything else. On the other hand, I also well realize the way empty time can stretch out forever, and one lazy day without anything to do can seem like a week. The cultivation and enjoyment of mini-Bonsai plants can be very rewarding and productive, though you may want to have more than one day to devote to it. They are known for their exact miniature detail of normal-sized plants, complete with tiny leaves and fruits. With proper care and feeding, bonsai may survive throughout many generations.
Bonsai hails from China, where it was originally known as pun-sai, the practice of cultivating single specimen trees in small spaces. Their coiled trunks originally symbolized Chinese dragons and the mystique of mythical nature, and the bonsai tree remains to this day a revered and respected part of popular Chinese culture. It was spread to Japan through assimilation, where it took on new symbolism as the perfect fusion of man and nature. They were prominently displayed for guests and nobles as a symbol of a unified home, though traditional pruning and cultivating weren't introduced until later. The bonsai was not popularized around the world until Japan abandoned their isolationist stance in the late 19th century. For more information on the history of this interesting hobby, visit www.bonsaisite.com.
If proper care is taken with a young bonsai tree, they will yield pleasing results. Wiring may be used to encourage growth in different directions to achieve a more traditional, curved trunk. To view examples of these, visit www.bonsaisite.com/mini.html. Bonsai can be developed from seeds or cuttings, and may attain growth between five cm and one meter.
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*Credit for the image and a good deal of the supplementary information is directly attributable to the grace and generousity of www.bonsaisite.com, which, by the way, is an excellent site for anyone considering a bonsai tree, and a pretty nice site even if you're not. All information taken from this page must have the consent of the author above and, through him, www.bonsaisite.com.