Bonsai Trees vs. Dwarfing/Dwarfism
Bonsai is the Japanese art of growing miniature trees. Restricting the growth of the plant through various pruning and cultivating techniques results in a miniature version of the tree which demonstrates characteristics of the full grown tree. Bonsai trees are grown in containers/trays to limit root growth and provide easy access for pruning or shaping the plant as desired as the plant progresses through the growing phase. The Bonsai method can take years before a final tree is completed and requires constant care for the tree to stay in the desire size and shape. Bonsai trees are often wrongly consider being dwarfism or dwarfing of trees. In reality, the two processes are completely different in their approach to creating miniature trees. Click Here for more information on the pruning techniques involved in the Bonsai tree method.
In dwarfing, two methods of genetic manipulation are used to create miniature trees. The two methods are genetic engineering and selective breeding. Genetic engineering changes genes on a microscopic level while selective breeding alters genes looking at the macroscopic effects. In genetic engineering, genes are manipulated to control the growth process. In the specific case of creating miniature trees, genes that promote miniature characteristics or limit growth would be introduced into the genome through splicing. The resulting plant would be considered a hybrid of the two parent plants. Selective breeding is the process by which smaller than normal plant specimens are mated to promote the desire characteristic (in this case miniature trees). This process is repeated until the resulting miniature tree is of the desires size. To learn more about the genetic process visit our Website.
Depriving a plant of specific hormones during the growth process can also result in dwarfing of the specimen. However, the lack of hormones can result in the dwarf specimen not displaying some of the desired aesthetics or size. Practice or experience is the best the way to control the end result when using the hormone approach. For the purposes of creating display miniatures trees, the hormone method is not normally used.
Both the Bonsai art form and dwarfing are ways of growing many different miniature species of plants and trees. Whichever process is used, the end result is a miniature version of a larger tree or plant. At this point, the dwarfed tree/plant has some significant advantages to a Bonsai tree. Once the dwarfed tree is developed to the desired size, there is little maintenance (i.e. watering, removing dead branches, etc…) required to sustain the tree. However, the Bonsai tree will require continuing pruning and cultivation to maintain the desired size and shape. If not properly, this can result in the death or ruination of the Bonsai tree. The Bonsai tree method is essentially a larger commitment of time and resources.
So, if the desired miniature tree is one the can be taken care of with watering and some general maintenance, a dwarf tree is the proper selection. However, if you want a miniature tree that reflects your personality and want a hobby for life, the Bonsai tree is the proper selection. In either case, miniature trees have been a source of beauty and awe in private gardens and public arboretums for decades and will add a definitive touch to any décor.
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