Bonsai is yet another Chinese import that has been given a significant Japanese stylization and refinement over the many years since it was introduced. The word Bonsai is even a Japanese version of the imported Chinese word “Penzai”. It was originally a form of deeper potted plant cultivation and the term for the style of cultivation so popular today, involving a shallow tray, was only adopted around the year 1800. Regardless of the relatively recent linguistic change, one of the longest surviving Japanese Bonsai trees today in the Imperial Palace’s collection in Tokyo is reportedly around 500 years old and is first documented as being cultivated as a Bonsai around the year 1600.

Cultivation of a true Japanese Bonsai can be started with almost any type of lasting tree or shrub as long as it grows proper branches and can adapt to a miniaturized Bonsai style pruning and root growing techniques. There are certainly certain species which have particularly good attributes for depicting a more microcosmic landscape. This includes such qualities as small leaves, needles, or flowers. Again, the concept is essentially to give the feeling of a full sized tree upon gazing at a Bonsai, and the art is basically yet another example of how important being compact is in Japan.

Let’s take a look at how Bonsai are started. One of the primary ways most Bonsai are started is by taking a cutting of a branch from a mature tree or shrub. The more mature the branch and the more properly its child branches are laid out, the more convincing the Bonsai is as a tree with a full trunk from the start. However, more mature branches can occasionally be more difficult to convince to begin growing roots. For this reason, younger branches are often chosen years in advance and potted for later training as Bonsai. There are ways to convince a tree branch to begin growing roots while still on a tree and this is a way of cultivation which can yield roots on a mature branch more easily. In addition to pruning the small trees, wrapping of wire around branches allows a grower to sculpt a Bonsai into various shapes by guiding its growth.

Bonsai are a wonderful way to enjoy a Japanese garden in a compact way. It is like having an ancient tree in a small tray.

Kinds Of Lights

There are many different kinds of lights used in hydroponic cultivation. These lights are normally used for indoor plants and plants that get absolutely no natural light. These grow lights are used with reflectors that help intensify light emissions and electrical ballasts that control the amount of current that is passed to the light.

One of the most common kinds of light used for large scale cultivation is the high intensity discharge lights (HID). There are two types of HID lights – metal halide and high pressure sodium. Metal halide bulbs are very efficient and have a broad blue spectrum that is essential for the growth of plants. It is because of this blue light that plants grown under metal halide bulbs look almost identical to plants that have been grown in natural light.

High pressure sodium grow lights have a strong yellow-red spectrum which helps plants to flower and fruit. Since they don’t have a very strong blue light, plants exposed to them at the growth stage tend to look a little unhealthy. These lights are also very efficient and can be used as a supplement to metal halide bulbs.

There is also a combination of metal halide and high pressure sodium bulbs that are available in the market. These bulbs have the ideal light spectrums and, when used, produce high yields.

Conversion lamps are used to light metal halide bulbs and high pressure sodium bulbs from the same fixture at different times. So you could actually use a conversion lamp to light a metal halide bulb in the growing stage of the plant and high pressure sodium bulb at the flowering stage. The best of both worlds!

The other kinds of light used are fluorescent bulbs and incandescent bulbs. Fluorescent grow lights generally have a broad light spectrum, are cheap and have a long life. The downside to these lights is that they are of low-intensity and have to be placed very close to the plant for its effects to be felt. Fluorescent grow lights are good for house plants that already get some natural light.

Incandescent bulbs are good for lighting rooms but are the most inefficient grow light. They have a high red light but a very low blue light. Though they are the most inexpensive of all lights, it would be a better idea to use another option for grow lights.

CFL Bulbs

Nowadays, everyone is talking about using environmentally-friendly CFL bulbs. CFL stands for Compact Fluorescent Light. These energy efficient bulbs are more long lasting than ordinary incandescent light bulbs. Using CFL bulbs puts you in a win-win situation. You pay lower electricity bills as well as protect the environment from poisonous greenhouse gas emissions. You can use CFL light bulbs almost anywhere in your business establishment. The only places you cannot use CFL bulbs are in motion sensor fixtures and lights that have a dimmer switch. On businesslight.com you could choose from Ushio coilights, Ushio single twin tube, double twin tube and the entire range of TCP CFL light bulbs.

Fluorescent Bulbs

Fluorescent light bulbs are also energy efficient. They use up to 20%- 40% less energy than incandescent bulbs. These bulbs are long lasting and come in a variety of styles. They are good for task lighting. You can even replace incandescent bulbs with fluorescent ones if the latter can be screwed in. Ushio and TCP T8 Fluorescent lamps, available on businesslight.com, save up to 40% of energy without losing the intensity of light.

Halogen Bulbs

Halogen light bulbs are another option. They are wonderful for task lighting. They are small and produce more light per watt than normal bulbs. If you want to highlight a certain piece of art, low voltage halogen light bulbs are your best bet. Remember that these low voltage bulbs need to be used with a transformer. Since halogen bulbs burn so intensely you have to be careful while handling them. Wait for the bulb to cool completely before you touch it. While cleaning it, use a clean and dry cloth. Ushio has a wide range of halogen bulbs.

Incandescent bulbs

Incandescent light bulbs are the most commonly used bulbs in the world. They are easily available and inexpensive. The power of these bulbs varies from 15 to 150 watts. You can get them in clear, colored and frosted styles. Incandescent light bulbs can be used anywhere in your business establishment. They are good for ambient and task lighting. While using these bulbs, never exceed the recommended wattage.

PAR light bulbs are normally used for accent and task lighting. PAR stands for Parabolic Aluminized Reflector. These bulbs can be incandescent, halogen or High Intensity Discharge HID). PAR bulbs have internal reflectors and prisms in the lens that enable it to emit a focused light beam. Halogen PAR light bulbs are great for accent lighting in your business establishment and in art galleries, museums and show windows. Ushio halogen light bubs with PAR can be found with PAR 20, PAR 30 and PAR 38 reflector designs. They also have in spot, narrow flood and flood beam spreads.