🌿 My Bonsai Adventure — Chapter 2: Gathering the Essentials

After that moment of inspiration,
I knew I couldn’t just sit and dream about bonsai.
I had to begin — even if the beginning was small.

So I told myself:

“First step: gather the essentials.”

It felt almost like preparing for a quiet little mission,
one that required patience, curiosity, and a bit of courage.

🌱 1. Choosing the Plant

Standing in front of a row of small saplings,
I felt a mix of excitement and responsibility.

Which one will be my first bonsai?
Should I choose something forgiving?
Something strong, something graceful?

There were ficus plants with glossy leaves,
tiny jade succulents with soft green pads,
and the elegant Chinese elms waiting silently.

Each carried its own personality.

But then I remembered Kunio Kobayashi’s words
about choosing a tree that “speaks” to you.

So I didn’t overthink.
I simply looked…
until one young plant quietly felt right.

That was enough.

🪴 2. The Soil Mixture

Next came the soil.

Bonsai soil isn’t just dirt —
it’s the foundation of life for the tiny tree.

I learned that the best mix needs to be:

• fast-draining
• airy
• light
• full of tiny spaces for roots to breathe

I picked up a bag of bonsai soil,
feeling the texture between my fingers.
It was gritty, earthy, and full of possibility.

This wasn’t just soil.
It was the beginning of a future forest
in miniature form.

🏺 3. The Pot

Selecting the pot felt surprisingly important.

A bonsai pot isn’t only a container —
it is part of the art.

I held each pot carefully,
turning them in my hands,
imagining how my tiny tree would look sitting proudly inside.

Shallow or deep?
Brown or ceramic blue?
Oval or rectangle?

In the end, I chose one that felt calm and balanced,
the kind of pot that didn’t try to steal attention
but quietly supported the tree’s beauty.

It felt like choosing a home.

🌟 And Everything Came Together

Plant
Soil
Pot

Three simple things.
Yet holding them together made my heart feel full,
as if the adventure had truly begun.

There was still so much to learn —
watering, pruning, shaping, patience.

But for now,
just gathering these essentials felt like a victory.

A first step.
A promise.
A new beginning in a small pot.