Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Project by Travel Man #5 - Water Bonsai

My initial encounter with bonsai trees was during my childhood days. My second elder sister successfully grew a miniature orange tree.

My hubbing days prompted me to feature a hub regarding bonsai. It's been growing each day and I believe I can show you my fully mature bonsai tree after a year (with all the wiring and branches, etc.).

To remind you again about bonsai, let's have this short overview of its meaning and how it has been part of the Japanese culture.

The Japanese people is known for innovating nature's natural beauty. One of it is making miniature trees or the popularly known art of bonsai.

Now, Filipinos are not new to this kind of plant innovation. Small business entrepreneurs came up with the idea of altering the way bonsai is made.

Why not utilize the water as the base of the selected plants to be made as bonsai? Is it possible.

Yes, it is. In fact, water bonsai is growing as a home-based industry here in the Philippines. With the use of online business transactions via internet marketing, water bonsai pioneers are reaching Filipinos abroad and other enthusiasts and sell their products for as much as $20 dollars per plant.

In time, this will be a booming small-scale industry. The secret lies on the powder grower that the water bonsai pioneers are keeping the information sealed from the interested public.

As for me, I am concocting my own mix of powder grower that I can share here based on the experiment we used to do during my biology class in high school.

If you can still remember the portioning of the organic fertilizer we used as we water the control and experimental set-ups, then you can also based your DIY (Do-It-Yourself) project at home - WATER BONSAI!

• empty glass bottles/plastic bottles - Instead of selling it to the junk store, you can utilize empty bottles for water bonsai.
• Styrofoam - It will be used to seal the growing powder solution inside the bottle
• masking tape - to ensure no air will pass through the sealed bottle with the use of the styrofoam.
• powder grower - There are available powder grower at the local store, situated at the agriculture/farm section. You can ask the store clerk for the special powder plant grower, solely made by Mr. Edwin De La Torre of Global Water Bonsai Enterprise.

I can proudly say that it is a Filipino technology that was conceived by Mr. De La Torre in order to promote environmental awareness regarding the benefits of having indoor plants. Being an agriculturist and expert in botany, he was able to mix the right proportion of the powder grower.

How I made my Water Bonsai

1. I used a typical glass bottle. I cleaned it well so that the water solution will be transparent.
2. I experimented on the urine-water solution. We all know that human urine contains urea (an important form of organic fertilizer).
3. I chose a cutting of one of my garden plants, like that in the picture.
4. I secure its stem by passing it through the styrofoam and fitted it to the rim of the bottle.
5. I used the masking tape to further secure my water bonsai.

WATER BONSAI is now becoming a craze here in the Philippines.

The credit is given to Edwin dela Torre for the innovation that has been featured on the weekly program :Kabuhayang SWAK na SWAK c/o ABS-CBN Channel 2 last August 13, 2011.

Included in this hub is part of the footage of the show, wherein, Mr. dela Torre explained how he conceived the idea of using water and the powder grower instead of the typical selected soils for his bonsai.

He and his partners are able to help recycle empty bottles (both glass and plastic) and design it creatively, much to the amazement of the surprised buyers.

The most useful tip to make your water bonsai grow for a long time is to keep it away from direct sunlight.

You can always change it's location to maintain its glowing appearance. You can also add the following as reminder on its benefits in your life.

1. natural humidifiers - Plants inside your room can soften the air by increasing the oxygen presence inside the house.
2. congestion remedies - Plants clear congestion that you can experience due to colds or fever. Herbal plants are the most appropriate to be your companion inside your room.
3. prevent allergies - Immunity to allergens will be improve by exposing yourself on water bonsai.
4. air purifier - If a member in the family smokes inside the house, plants can filter chemicals in the air and purify it.
5. improves health - Personally, plants inspire me. By just looking at them, I always felt relaxed after a days work, especially inside the house. It also makes us less stressful by appreciating its presence.
6. pet alternative - If you don't have live pets at home, like dogs and cats or birds, plants are the most available thing to enjoy inside your room.
7. improves sleep - The presence of water bonsai will never make my sleep difficult.
8. removal of air contaminants -Aside from cigarette smoke, dust in the air and other contaminants will be lessened with the presence of plants inside the house.

With water bonsai, you will never need to buy plastic trees or flowers that can only contribute to your irritation if dust accumulates on its features.