Like 'em short and shapely? Try your hand at bonsai

How about a pet plant for the new year? A touchable, vivid little conifer in a pot, resembling bonsai, can become a fun hobby as well as a favorite patio adornment.

RANDALL C. SMITH / ISELI NURSERY

The artistry opportunities of shaping dwarf conifer bonsais are unlimited. That is particularly reflected when they are bunched tightly in entry areas or on decks.

Bonsai enthusiasts may accuse me of heresy, but I'm going to suggest a simple start at bonsai without following the ancient rules. You'll pick out a small evergreen conifer plant and nurture it so that it stays small rather than leaping to great heights.

To keep them small, start small. Visit your favorite independent nursery; many have separate displays of dwarf conifers that resemble bonsai even before they've left their spot on the nursery shelf.

Many conifers, such as Douglas fir, can grow up to 100 feet tall, but those in the dwarf category vary in eventual height. Look for plants that are labeled as growing from 18 inches to 3 feet over 10 years. Some reliable pines are Pinus mugo 'Valley Cushion' and Pinus mugo 'Humpy.' For fascinating texture, the feathery Cryptomeria japonica 'Tansu' appeals. And if you like gold plants, check out Hinoki cypress 'Nana Lutea' (Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Nana Lutea'). The designator 'Nana' generally indicates shorter stature.

Don't be alarmed by their jaw-breaking names; talk to the nursery staff, and simply pick out a small one that appeals to you. A terrific local retail and mail-order source is Coenosium Gardens in Eatonville; www.coenosium.com.

Pot them: Choose a pot that's barely bigger than the original growing pot. Be sure it has excellent drainage holes and is sturdy enough to take cold weather. These plants like to spend winter outdoors, so small wood containers or high-fired ceramic or attractive plastic will work. Do not put a saucer under the plant. Good drainage is essential, and the roots will rot if they sit in mucky water. Untangle and trim off any long, circling roots before repotting.

Add some grit to the soil: Pick a potting soil that has perlite or pumice in it, and buy an extra bag of pumice to add about 1/4 by volume. Or add 1/2 by volume of "cactus mix." The objective is to get more open spaces into the soil.

Care is simple: Keep the plant outside on a deck or patio year-round. Water when the soil is completely dry; once a week in summer is fine. Overwatering will kill these plants. Fertilize once a year, using half-strength of a complete fertilizer with trace elements, like Alaska fish fertilizer.

Pruning can be fun: True bonsai requires shaping to meet specific, ancient standards for form and stature. You won't have to worry about rules, but you may find that looking carefully at the plant, turning it round and round and removing a branch here or there to reveal the trunk may make it more pleasing and sculptural.

You'll see change as spring brings soft new growth; the color and texture of small conifers will alter through the seasons. Some, like the cryptomeria, turn bronze or red in fall. On my deck, several small conifers in pots give me year-round pleasure for minimal effort. The most fun is choosing new ones!

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