Bonsai is a Japanese method of cultivation used to create miniature trees. Many species of plants can be used to create bonsai trees, including cannabis.
Bonsai growing is relatively simple. It is done by:
- Training the plant sideways
- Consistently topping the plant to keep the height down
- Trimming the roots (though it was not necessary for this outdoor bonsai as it was harvested within 6 months)
To begin I recommend buying a bonsai kit, high porosity soil, and a nice pot on Amazon. That has everything you need to get started.
Although this site is typically dedicated to Hydroponic growing, Bonsai plants are easier to display and transport when grown in soil. Perhaps one day the doctor may try the “Kratky Method” on a bonsai plant, but for now, I’d say stick to soil with decorative rocks on top.
Wire from the bonsai kit is used to train the plant down during the growth phase. Wrap the wire in a spiral pattern around the stem. Keep training and trimming. You should aim to form a 90-degree bend a few inches up from the base of the tree as seen below.
Cannabis is a very fast-growing plant, some may even say weed. For this reason, it is important to stay on top of trimming and training. If left to grow too far without training the stocks will become brittle and hard to manipulate.
Bonsai plants can be flowered and produce very nice buds because of the consistent trimming. When flowering a bonsai plant follow the same nutrient schedule we recommend in the grow guide.
