The method of growing bonsai from trees taken in natural conditions is called "Yamadori". The trees that are most suitable for this method are those that, due to some natural circumstances, such as a lack of nutrients, have remained small.
The most suitable time to take your future bonsai out into the wild is early spring, before the tree begins to actively grow.
Of course, there may be some difficulties in digging up the tree and transporting it home, but it is worth it, as you can find specimens that are ideal as material for bonsai.
How to Grow Bonsai from Trees Taken from Nature
PRACTICAL CASE: Bonsai taken from nature.
1. Carefully dig around the tree in a circle, being careful not to seriously damage its root system.
2. Carefully lift the tree and place it on a damp cloth. Then wrap the root well with the cloth to prevent it from drying out.
3. To prepare the soil mixture, take the required amount of soil from the place where you dug up the tree.
4. Take a pot of the required size. At the bottom of the container (about 1/4 of the volume) place a mixture of small gravel and "akadama", in equal proportions (read the article about soil mixtures for bonsai).
5. Carefully unroll the root of the tree and place it in the pot. Fill the empty space with a soil mixture consisting of the collected soil and "akadama" in a one-to-one ratio.
6. Water the plant with a thin stream of water.
7. Plant the plant in a suitable pot and water thoroughly.
After planting the tree, place it in a shaded area and leave it alone until next spring.
During the first summer, you can fertilize the plant a little. After a year, replant your bonsai and begin shaping it.
