Pune: This monsoon, Pune’s plant lovers are turning their attention to bonsais, with a noticeable spike in interest in the Japanese art of growing and shaping miniature trees in containers. The cooler, wetter months provide ideal conditions for nurturing these miniature trees, and enthusiasts are signing up for classes to learn pruning, wiring, and shaping techniques. “I have travelled to many South East Asian countries and they have amazing bonsai creations. I have always been interested in the art of bonsai making and plan to attend some classes this monsoon,” said Kirti Deshmukh, a resident of Wagholi. Sahil Khanna, a resident of Kondhwa, learnt basic bonsai art last year but wants to learn different bonsai styles this year. “I learnt basic repotting and cutting but want to learn advanced bonsai styles, so I will be doing a set of classes this monsoon,” he said.From classic ficus and juniper varieties to flowering bougainvillea bonsais, demand is growing both among seasoned collectors and first-time hobbyists. “There is a lot of moisture during the monsoon and this humidity promotes root growth. This is the season when plants are then prepared for flowering in Oct-Nov. Re-potting during this season gives plants fibrous roots,” said Shailaja Kapila, a bonsai artist in Pimpri Chinchwad, who has over 100 fruit and flowering bonsais collected over the last 35 years. She also conducts workshops every month which attract a lot of bonsai enthusiasts.Bonsais are gaining popularity among beginners in India as an accessible way of combining gardening with art. Easy-to-maintain varieties like ficus, jade, and bougainvillea need basic care to grow. NIBM-based bonsai expert Mangala Rao, who has been practising bonsai for the last 45 years, said that for plants, the sap is very active during the monsoon, so when repotted, the plants settle well. “One should make sure that repotting is done when it is drizzling and not when there are 2-3 days of heavy rain as it could lead to root rot. Monsoon is also a good time to prune and cut drastically, as there are good chances of survival,” said Rao, who is conducting a workshop for the ladies club of Armed Forces Medical College.Monsoon is also the season when plants get diseases or fungus easily owing to the excess moisture in the air. “I regularly put fungicide and preventives like neem oil ahead of the monsoon so that plants don’t catch fungus. Bonsai is like meditation and I enjoy the process of seeing my plants grow over the years. I have some bonsais which are over 30 years old,” said Nishtha Shinde, a resident of Bavdhan.Pic courtesy: Mangala Rao
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