This is something I found interesting to share in a short post especially with those who may be looking for bamboo-related activities and hobbies.

Penjing means ‘miniature landscape in a container’. There are different styles and variations of Penjing with or without rocks and other embellishments and its history can be traced back 1200 years to the Tang Dynasty.

What is the difference between Penjing and Bonsai? Penjing is more natural and wild usually displayed in the form of a landscape scene whereas Bonsai is a refined stylistic depiction of nature often in single tree displays.

I first came across the term Penjing in the book, ‘Bamboos of China by Wang Dajun and Shen Shao-Jin (@1987 by Timber Press ISBN 0-88192-074-6)

The book has the following recommendations for growing dwarf bamboo:

 1.     Select small shoots in early spring, (equivalent to the  start of the wet season I guess, in the tropics) and separate from mother plant, keeping the rhizomes intact where possible.

2.     Plant them in a 12 to 14 “ pot with sandy soil and plenty of humus as potting material. Add some manure at the bottom of the pot.

3.     After potting, bury the pot in a sand bed up to its rim.

4.     Keep soil moist but never waterlogged.

5.     Apply weak liquid fertilizer once a month after plants are established.

6.     Do not shade except on hot and dry days.

7.     The plant will be dwarfed and can be divided again once crowded 2 to 3 years.

8.     Further dwarf plants from division, layering, cuttings or rhizome cuttings to make good Penjing subjects.

9.     Combination of rocks and bamboo is very attractive Adding water and other objects. 

10.  Maintenance rock and bamboo penjing is relatively  simple by watering, applying fertilizer and removal of old culms.

Dwarf bamboo with small leaves and thin canes from the Bambusa  (multiplex and ventricosa) and Phyllostachys (bambusiodes) variants and species of Sasa introduced form Japan are the ones usually used for Bamboo Penjing.

 If this interests you, have a look at Chad Sinclair for a more contemporary and specialist view of Bamboo Penjing practice. Chad is a Canadian living in Chengdu, China and has active Facebook (Bamboo Penjing Community, Bamboo Penjing Canada) and YouTube accounts on the topic.

Something bamboo and different that one might consider for the next hobby or business , perhaps?