Rosemary Bonsai Tree

The name given to the aromatic herb rosemary (Rosmarius in Latin) means “dew of the sea”.

Rosemary leaves have an extremely sweet fragrance that adds an incredibly appetizing taste to any recipes.

The tree of the rosemary is very hardy. It can withstand dry seasons without much watering. This tree can also survive even in colder temperatures if planted in a bonsai pot because it can easily be moved to other locations.

Its flowers ranged from pink and purple through to blue and white.

Rosemary is highly versatile. It can be used as garden decor (hedges) or landscape (topiary), makes for great medicinal herbs and can also

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Some Facts About the Bonsai Tree

When most people hear the word bonsai, the first thing that comes into their mind are those dwarfed trees grown in a small pot.

Bonsai is a Japanese word that means planted in a container. It is the art of making a miniature from a fully-grown tree complete with landscape designs in a shallow, small vessel.

Most people think that bonsai literally means small or tiny. This is why they often refer to small things or people as bonsai. This reasoning is generally because of the mini version of a tree in a pot.

The best bonsai pots are made from ceramic or porcelain. Plastic and metal containers can also be used but they should be as rigid and strong as the ceramic and porcelain pots to work well. This is because the pots are not just going to be a plant holder but need to support a mini tree.

Bonsai as a type of gardening art originated in China centuries before it was mentioned in Chinese documents in 600 A.D. Ancient Taoists formulated the idea of imitating the dwarfed trees in the forest, by means of planting and growing miniature ones in a pot. They achieved this through constantly cutting and pruning them to their desired height and width.

Those Chinese artists called this art “Penzai”, which literally means tray plant. Penzai was introduced in Japan around the 11^th century where it was later known by its present name bonsai. Five centuries after this, bonsai art found its way into the western world, through the Japanese traders, where it was welcomed and embraced with much enthusiasm in middle-class society and most especially by royalty.

How To Make a Rosemary Bonsai Tree

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Rosemary is one of the preferred varieties to be planted as a bonsai tree.

Their stems’ natural slender growth and beautiful but very tiny flowers make rosemary popular among bonsai planters. Added to that is their fresh, sweet aroma that can add a feeling of calmness within the house.

Here are some simple steps to follow if you want to make a rosemary bonsai:

Important Note: A dwarf variety of rosemary tree is the best to use as a bonsai plant due to its natural small size.

Pick a small rosemary plant that has a firm but upright stem and lots of branches to work with
Think of a design you want to create before trimming away branches. You can try drawing your desired bonsai style. Cut off all small branches just above the roots
Remove all dead roots, branches and leaves. Do this before placing the plant into the pot. Be extra careful not to break the rosemary from its stem
Start putting the tree into the pot. It’s best to choose a large but shallow pot to allow the roots and foliage more room to grow
Remember to always press the soil gently to prevent any air pockets from forming
Circle the new sprouts with a soft wire to support the stem
Water the plant now but be sure to wait for it to drain out of the holes before stopping. If air pockets form, add more soil, and water it again

Taking Care of a Rosemary Bonsai Tree

Rosemary bonsai should always be partly dry before watering it again as it dies if constantly wet. Consequently, the plant should never be left too dry before rewatering
Bonsai plants are generally intended for indoor displays but, just like other indoor plants, it also needs adequate natural light. Place it somewhere where the sun’s rays can penetrate it directly. Rosemary needs at least 6 to 8 hours of sunlight daily and then to be left in a cool temperature of 5 to 7 degrees C
Since rosemary grows fast, repotting to a larger container is necessary when the tree starts to outgrow its first pot. It needs more space to thrive and to achieve your desired size for your bonsai. Afterward, repotting is required every 2 years

Important Note: When repotting rosemary bonsai, the entire tree should be uprooted very carefully from its present pot. Pop in some new soil to promote healthier new growth and fertilize as soon as the bonsai tree has been replanted.

Fully-grown rosemary bonsai should be nourished with a liquid spray fertilizer every 3 weeks except during the winter season when the tree should stop growing. However, freshly planted rosemary bonsai should be fertilized weekly to encourage growth until it’s repotted. Use a non-acidic fertilizer that also contains potassium and nitrogen
Pruning should be conducted periodically to prevent the bonsai tree from growing bigger than you would like. Trim minimal parts of the roots and cut all leaves that will hinder your design
Do not put wires on old trees as they will tend to break down

Wrap Up

We hope this article has been of great help in your quest to create your own Rosemary bonsai tree.

If you have questions or feedback, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We are always very happy to help and we’ll get back to you promptly.

Happy planting!