Like most hobby's and groups that share a common interest, the big world of these tiny trees has its own vocabulary. So as a free gift for you for visiting the world renowned Rose Rock Bonsai Blog (Ok perhaps calling it world renowned is stretching the truth just a itsy bitsy little bit. Truthfully though it is known by my neighbor and he went to Switzerland once, and my beautiful bride of the past 27 years was born in Germany. Yeah it was a U.S. Air Force Base but it was Germany. just sayin')
A
ABSCISSION - The layer of cork which forms at the base of the petiole on deciduous trees in autumn. This layer creates a seal preventing the flow of nutrients, causing the leaf to fall.
APEX - The tip of a shoot, from which extension growth takes place. In bonsai this point is dictated by aesthetic considerations and is not necessarily the focus of the tree's energy.
B
BANKAN - Bonsai style. A tree with a twisted or coiled trunk.
BUD - A tightly condensed embry shoot, usually protected by scales formed by modified leaves.
C
CALCIFUGE - A plant which cannot tolerate alkaline soil.
CANOPY - The foliage bearing upper and outer reaches of a tree.
D
DAMPING-OFF - A fungal disease causing seedlings to collapse during the first few weeks after germination.
DECIDUOUS - A tree or shrub which sheds its leaves each autumn.
E
EVERGREEN - A tree or shrub which bears foliage throughout the year.
F
FERTILISER - A substance which provides one or more essential plant nutrients.
G
GENUS - A group of related species.
GERMINATION - The process in which a seed sprouts from a seed into a seedling. Also describes the length of time that it takes a particular seed to take from being planted to sprouting.
H
HABIT - The natural shape or growth pattern of a plant.
I
INTERNODE - The distance between the leaf nodes on a shoot.
J
JIN - A branch or trunk apex which has been stripped of its bark, shaped, bleached and preserved.
K
KABUDACHI - Bonsai style (Clump). Several trunks arising from the same point on a root.
L
LEADER - The dominant shoot.
M
MAME - Miniature bonsai, able to sit comfortably in the palm of a hand.
N
NODE -A stem joint or the point at which a leaf or leaves are attached to the stem.
O
ORGANIC - Any chemical compound containing carbon. In horticulture the term refers to any compound or growing medium which is not manufactured or synthetic.
P
PHOTOSYNTHESIS - The process by which a plant manufacturers sugars by utilising light and chlorophyll to combine carbon dioxide and water.
Q
R
S
SCARIFICATION - The process of weakening a seeds outer coating to help with germination. There are different methods for this some of them may include, scratching them with sandpaper, nicking them with a knife, soaking them in water and sometimes even using fire.
STRATIFICATION - The process of simulating winter conditions for seeds to get them to germinate. Usually by placing them in a refrigerator.
SUCKER - A new shoot arising from the roots of an established tree.
SUISEKI - Small naturally occurring or shaped rocks which are appreciated for their aesthetic pr decorative value.
T
TAP ROOT - The main downard growing root of a plant or young tree.
U
V
VERMICULITE - A yellow or brown mineral found as an alteration product of mica and other minerals, used for insulation or as a moisture-retentive medium for growing plants.
W
X
Y
YAMADORI - A Japanese term that refers to the practice of collecting trees from the wild to create bonsai.
Z
