Bonsai in an Aquarium

[Shadow_Arbor]

One of my other hobbies is Bonsai. I have some red mangroves in 4 out of my six tanks and decided to start experimenting on one of them. I am attempting to give it the informal upright shape so I've started some very basic wiring when its still young and pliable. Not the best wiring, but I want to avoid wire marks so I've wired pretty loosely. I'll update in a few years lol.

Here are some pics:

[Fish Folk]

On 7/22/2021 at 6:17 AM, Shadow_Arbor said:

One of my other hobbies is Bonsai. I have some red mangroves in 4 out of my six tanks and decided to start experimenting on one of them. I am attempting to give it the informal upright shape so I've started some very basic wiring when its still young and pliable. Not the best wiring, but I want to avoid wire marks so I've wired pretty loosely. I'll update in a few years lol.

Here are some pics:

I have a question… how do you achieve the small leaves with bonsai? Do they grow back small if properly trimmed? 

[Shadow_Arbor]

On 7/22/2021 at 2:33 PM, Fish Folk said:

I have a question… how do you achieve the small leaves with bonsai? Do they grow back small if properly trimmed? 

This is a relatively new hobby  of mine. As far as I'm aware most trees used in Bonsai are trees with small leaves. Some schools of thought claim that keeping trees pot bound and removing foliage helps reduce leaf size. In general If you have larger leaves make a larger bonsai. The Red Mangrove leaves don't become too huge so I am not too concerned about this. It probably wont be a perfect classical bonsai as i can't keep it super pot bound, and I'm not sure I'll be able to develop good ramification in the pads but I'll give it a try. Worst comes to worst I'll have a funny looking red mangrove on top of my tanks.

 

I have just checked on google images. There are mangrove bonsai but not any kept in aquariums, as far as I can tell. I'll probably be putting one of my other young mangroves in a pot as this seems like a really fun long term project.

[Koi]

Very cool! Are you doing any other trees outside of aquariums?

[Shadow_Arbor]

On 7/22/2021 at 5:23 PM, Koi said:

Very cool! Are you doing any other trees outside of aquariums?

Yes, I'm currently working on a red flowering Calliandra, a Wisteria vine, two Juniper blue moons, and just got myself a Japanese mountain maple. I'm also trying to sprout some magnolia seeds I ordered from the States. Luckily I'm only 22 so I have time to watch the grass grow, so to speak.