UPCOMMING EVENTS / NOTICES
Our gate is closed for security. Please hoot at the gate to get our attention to open.
Mon - Fri 8am to 5pm
Sat 8am to 1pm
Sun Closed
NEXT BRAT MEETINGS
- 1. What times are you open?
- Google and the website are correct
http://www.bonsaisa.co.za/index.htm
- 2. I was given a bonsai tree as present. What now?
- If it is unwanted, plant the tree in your garden or pass it on to someone who will look after it. If you want to start the hobby...welcome to a world of questions and rewards from Mother Nature.
Read our intoducion to Bonsai
or look at our help menu
- 3. Do you have a bonsai catalogue?
- We carry too many bonsai to sustain a catalogue. Every tree is different. It is always best for the recipient of the bonsai to come and choose. Everyone will have a different preference. Please navigate to Shop and see whether you can find what you are after?
- 4. How much is your bonsai?
- A young tree of about 2 years old will start at R50. A reasonable tree, that you can give as a gift, from R400 in a ceramic pot. The more you spend the better the bonsai.
- 5. Do you have BONSAI in stock?
- We carry about 20 000 trees in different stages of development. The trees are suitable for the Gauteng climate.
- 6. I am looking for a bonsai of a Willow tree, a Jacaranda, a Fever Tree or a Cherry Blossom?
- Their growth is too strong and dieback too much.
Jacaranda has a lot of die back..
Willow grows upwards. Wire it down and the next season the braches die off. So you start again.
Fever Tree hates its roots trimmed. Repotting usually kills them. They also naturally shred their branches.
Cherry Blossom want to grow in the cold mountains of Japan, not in the dry hot climate of Gauteng.
Spend your time on something more rewarding
- 7. What is the best tree for a starter as I am new to this?
- A tree that can grow in your garden have adapted to your climate. You will not have a handicap of growing trees from different climates.
Some trees may be frustratingly slow, such as wild olive. Juniper is always used as a quick starter tree,
- 8. I'm looking for a tree to live indoors or for my office?
- No tree will survive permamanetly indoors. Because they are starved of UV and eventually they will die, just like fish and reptiles that are kept indoors without a substituted UV light.. Tropical trees have adapted the best for long periods indoors. Typically they have large leaves to absorb more light.
We do not reccomend that trees stay indoors for longer than 2 weeks at a time.
- 9. How do I start a bonsai?
- Speak to a professional or join a club or group. We specialise in bonsai only, and this is not a sideline item. Ask detailed questions and if you can come back for help, if needed. Look at our help section. Some sellers are just after you wallet contents. Ask them some of these questions and guage the answers. Ask them to spell BONSAI and see if it is spelt BONZAI.
- 10. How much water do I give my bonsai?
- The biggest killer is lack of or too little water. Water quantity is also species specific. As a blanket statement, with our bonsai and soil mix, we recommend to water every day when it is not raining. The water will drain out the bottom drainage holes. You will figure out how much it needs, dependant on the species.
- 11. Can any tree be used as bonsai?
- Yes, but all trees do not make good bonsai. Stick to the tried and tested species. Stick to the species grown in your garden.
Trees like Pine develope a fungus in the Gauteng dry climate and usually die.
English Oak developes mildew and the leaf does not reduce easily.
- 12. How do you prune a bonsai?
- A complex answer. But depends on the bonsai style and species. Join a club or group. See below for a list of clubs.
- 13. Do you have fruit trees?
- Not all trees make good bonsai. Peach trees have big leaves as an example. All trees fruit and flower. Just some fruit is less interesting and poisonous.
- 14. Where are you located?
- 1.5km East from Olifantsfontein offramp. We are on Olifantsfontein Rd, at the first STOP street, comming from the N1
- 15. What soil do I use?
- There are many recipes for soil. Many soils are not good for bonsai growth. We mix our own based on washed grit and bark. This allows for airation, fast drainage, high water retention and has the highest cation exchange capacity (CEC) of all substraites. Our own mix based on these principles and is cost effective..
- 16. Do you offer courses?
- There is a list of links at the bottom of this page for clubs. Join a club in your area, to get cost effective, hands on expeience. Talk to us at the nursery and we will gladly try and inspire you and point you in the right direction. www.midwaybonsai.co.za meets at our nursery, every 3rd Saterday at 12 noon.
- 17. Do you sell bonsai in bags?
- Not bags, as the bag tends to fold, but hard plastic training pots and ceramics we do.
- 18. Our bonsai is battling. Can we bring it in?
- Yes, the advice is free. We can't raise the dead, so contact us before its dead
- 19. How old does a bonsai live?
- Potentially, more years than you have on earth. I have seen bonsai passed down to the 9th generation. Trees have been recorded at well over 5 thousand years. I dont think that this question will be answered in our life times.
- 20. Are you open on Public Holidays?
- We usually are. We are a family business. We try and post this info to our website. http://www.bonsaisa.co.za/index.htm
- 21. How must I cut the roots and repot?
- Very carefully, at the right time of year and for a meaninful reason.
Messing with the roots can kill the tree. You only need to repot when the tree or the pot is root bound.
There are detailed articles under our help section.
We are a Bonsai Nursery, based in Midrand, Gauteng, South Africa. We import pots, tools and accessories directly, enabling us to give the lowest prices. We grow and style our own trees, species suitable to the High Veld environmental conditions. We supply and consult to bonsai clubs and growers, corporates, nurseries, weddings, promotional gift companies and individuals.
