Water Jasmine Bonsai - Wrightia religiosa

In theory, any woody shrub or tree can be be grown as Bonsai (or Penjing). Bonsai literally just means a plant in a pot, there are however some strict rules when it comes to form and styles in the art of Japanese Bonsai. The Chinese equivalent, Penjing is notably less ordered and often expresses more individual creativity. With that in mind I would have to say that our bonsai trees here are in fact penjing as following the rules has never been my strength!

Like all the trees in The Gold Bar, I have shaped, styled, cared and nutured them all myself from the beginning. But these Water Jasmine are especially important to us as we use the eddible flowers in The Gallery Restaurant, not just as decoration but because they have benefits for our bodies that you may welll be able to feel by simply smelling the flowers when the trees are in bloom. 

All bonsai trees require constant care, attention and a great deal of patience. These water jasmine are very fast growers and become root bound in their pots very quickly. At this point growth and blooming becomes resatricted so they need to be root trimmed repotted, usually in the same pot. New bonsai soil is added which is mostly inorganic lava rock, pummice etc, roots are trimmed and the tree is wired in place.

       

Trimming the roots tells the tree that there is space for growth, encourages small fibrous roots and helps reduce the size of the leaves, making the overall appearance of the trees more realistic.