Sho Fu Society: We can 'Bonsai' that

As Kay Karioth walks through Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, she spots potential.

“We can ‘bonsai’ that,” Karioth says, pointing to a knee-high shrub. She can’t identify the species, but she knows that with enough pruning, it could make a nice addition to her already blooming bonsai collection.

“You can take that and stick it in a shallow pot and in a year you could have a bonsai,” Karioth said. “You can ‘bonsai’ almost anything, except for maybe a magnolia.”

Her expertise comes from 10 years as a member of the Sho Fu Bonsai Society of Sarasota. 
 

With more than 60 members, the group  has been helping residents interested in the ancient art form cultivate their green thumbs for more than 40 years. It is among the largest bonsai groups in the state. Visitors at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens will recognize the art from the display that is maintained daily by curator and Sho Fu Bonsai Society member Richard Dietrich.

Some of the most prized bonsai trees that the club maintains are on display. The Asian-inspired exhibit only adds to the mystery behind the bonsai.

“The mystery is how do you get the big tree into a little pot?” said Janet Lovesky, Sho Fu Bonsai Society vice president.

Lovesky joined the group four years ago after killing a bonsai by over-watering. It was a bonsai that she kept indoors, although she has since learned that is not a suitable environment for bonsai.

“Most people will go to the gift shop or market, and they’ll buy a bonsai there and bring it home,” Lovesky said. “The first thing they do is put it up on a coffee table. Bonsai are supposed to live outside.”
 

Through classes and guest lecturers hosted by the Sho Fu Bonsai Society, Lovesky learned the key to achieving a bonsai tree.
By pruning, wiring branches and pinching buds, the tree is restricted from growing taller. The tree’s roots are also limited because of a shallow pot.

Almost any tree can be made into a bonsai. Karioth has taken clippings from trees and plants to start a bonsai tree. Bonsai can also be purchased. The artist who shapes the tree can also determine the price tag. The most Karioth has spent on a tree is $450.
That investment is reason enough for Karioth to take precious care of her bonsai. With more than 150 at her home, she considers her bonsai as more than plants.

“It’s like having pets,” Karioth said. “You can’t go off and leave them when you go on vacation. You need someone to watch them.”