Even though they rarely exceed a foot or two in height, they are fully mature. In the company of flowers, carefully placed rocks, and tiny statuettes, they provide scenes of compressed splendor. Art and nature overlap in such gardens, resulting in a scenic microcosm that conveys both restraint and freedom.
Bonsai have always been popular among the wealthier classes, who had the time to cultivate them at home for personal pleasure. But in recent years, demand for the miniature trees has expanded as more people seek to improve the aesthetic atmosphere of their home or business environment by purchasing commercially grown bonsai. As a result, this specialized form of horticulture has become a growth industry in Taiwan.
The huge banyan tree, with its masses of gnarled supporting roots exposed above ground, has long fascinated Chinese horticulturists, prompting attempts to cultivate it in bonsai form. One of the most successful gardeners to do so in Taiwan is Li Tien-lai. His ingenuity and skill have revolutionized the science of bonsai cultivation, making him somewhat of a local legend among horticulturists, and his bonsai banyans regularly attract overseas buyers, especially from Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Singapore.
Li grows his miniature banyan masterpieces in a large nursery near the banks of the Tamsui River. The property is in Sanchung, an industrial suburb of Taipei, which is a spot most conventional horticulturists would consider a less attractive choice than in the countryside away from the polluted metropolis. But Li chose to be closer to his customers, reflecting a business sense as effective as his green thumb.
A large garden, which fronts Li's nursery and surrounds his modest single-storied home, gives visitors an immediate introduction to some of his finest bonsai banyans. The striking beauty and gracefulness of each one illustrates years of patient cultivation and skilled restricting of growth while maintaining the "essence" or spirit of the full-size tree.
Banyans have always been popular in China. They provided shaded resting spots along roadsides and, most commonly, served as integral parts of temple courtyards. Villages often had at least one large banyan, and its extended branches, supported by their own root systems, formed natural enclaves for people to meet, relax, and gossip or sell goods.
The technique of growing dwarf trees in small pots has existed in China for millennia, and long ago evolved into a respected art ranking with flower arrangement and painting. Unlike the later, however, the artist must wait longer for results. "Because it takes several years for a banyan tree to grow into an interesting shape, the cultivation of bonsai forms has traditionally been a preoccupation of the rich or privileged," Li says. This time factor poses distinct problems for professional growers, because there is considerable delay before a cultivated tree appears attractive to potential buyers. "I have overcome this hurdle by applying a variety of scientific techniques to speed up the growing process," Li adds.
The "ginseng banyan" is named after the "human-shaped" root used in tea and herbal preparations.
In addition to the more mature bonsai lining his garden, there are hundreds of pots with banyans only two or three years old. Despite their comparative youth, the trees appear mature, especially because of their intricate root systems. This configuration is intentional and is one of Li's special horticultural skills. Because of the shape of the roots, his customers call them "ginseng banyans" after the popular "human-shaped" root used in tea and other herbal preparations.
"These demand constant attention from seedling to maturity," Li says. "Each plant is a cosmos unto itself, and I develop an affection and intimacy with everyone of them. I reserve a special place in my garden for the plants I like most, and sometimes I won't sell them. But even among those that are sold, I can still recognize them after many years. "
Customers buy the bonsai banyans as presents for their friends or employers, and the trees occasionally receive special publicity. "Once I was watching television and saw the hostess of the show present one as a gift," Li recalls. "The tree was described as a noble species — bred in China for many generations. But the plant was mine; it was impossible not to recognize it! I came to realize then how much my plants were prized. It's gratifying to know my trees are so respected, even if I don't always receive credit for cultivating them."
Banyan trees exhibit intriguing traits. One is their tendency to become more integrated with their immediate environment by wrapping trunk and roots around nearby stones, and by covering wide areas by gradually growing larger in circumference. This is accomplished when larger branches provide their own weight and nourishment support system. The process begins with beard-like projections appearing on thicker branches; these slowly grow and extend toward the ground, finally taking root and maturing into a natural "flying buttress" style of architectural support.
For the Chinese, the tree evokes thoughts of gods and nature spirits. To reproduce the striking appearance and spirit of the banyan in miniature presents a challenge few can tackle with striking success. And the lengthy cultivation and care of individual potted trees can become even more complex if a "landscape" result is desired. Here a bonsai is arranged with carefully selected rocks to produce added aesthetic power. These take more time to grow, but customer demand makes the additional effort worthwhile. A typical landscape bonsai can command a sale price of US$400.
Only the rich and leisured originally had the time to cultivate bonsai masterpieces. Recently, entrepreneurial horticulturalists have made them available to everyone.
Li carefully positions rocks among the roots of these trees as they grow. In time, the roots wrap around parts of each small stone, forming a cohesive whole. A full landscape in miniature can suddenly appear to the viewer simply by placement of the right stone in the correct spot. The task can be difficult. "Suitable rocks are hard to find," Li explains. "When I was in the army I used to hunt for rocks in the mountains, but conservation programs make that hard to do today. Many mountains and valleys are now off-limits to rock hunters. And if I do find a good stone, I must find a bonsai banyan that suits it. I have little control over this particular aspect of my work; it's nature's decision. But after years of experience I've discovered it's easier to find a rock for a plant I already have than to find a plant for a rock."
The pots so essential to the overall effect come from Yingko, a village in Taoyuan County famed for its pottery. A good quality brick-red pot fired from the iron-rich dirt of the area costs around US$15. But Li spares no expense in selecting ones that will best complement his plants by giving the most harmonious juxtaposition of tree, rocks, and pot.
Li's career as a horticulturist has unlikely roots. He earned his university degree in electronics. Neither he nor his family expected him to prosper cultivating miniature trees. But already, at the age of 37, Li makes more money than he dared dream possible during his college days. "When I was young I was more interested in studying the properties of soil than of integrated circuits," he recalls. "Plants seemed to draw me to them. I was 18 when I got married, and from the very beginning my wife cast a disapproving eye at my preoccupation. She disapproved of my habit of rummaging through rubbish heaps and garbage bins for discarded pots of plants. My salary was paltry, so you can imagine how she felt when I spent what little money I had on plants."
But Li's wife learned to accept his love of plants, and after he was discharged from the army, she even helped him pursue his interests. The young couple lived on the top floor of an apartment building, and Li used the roof as a private laboratory to experiment with new species of trees, grafting and replanting them when not at work.
"Times were hard in those days," Li says. "People were poor and reluctant to show interest in things such as plants that had no immediate practical value. My wife sold what she could of my miniature trees at the market, and that at least generated enough money to help me carryon with my experiments. It was during this period I decided to try growing banyans."
Most cultivators of bonsai banyans locate their nurseries in southern or central Taiwan where the warmer climate is considered more favorable for tree growth. But Li experimented with ways of offsetting the cool weather by regulating seeding, special grafting, shifting of pots, and numerous other techniques. He soon discovered that banyan growth varies with the season, contrary to popular belief. "I use this knowledge in a number of ways," he says. "For example, I can plant a new root in its first pot as autumn approaches, and by the following spring the root will have grown into the desired gnarled shape. This happens because even though foliage growth is slow in winter the root matures."
Ready for the market — a bonsai banyan should have the same proportions and beauty as the full-sized tree.
Because the exposed roots of the banyan are one of its main attractions, Li experimented with ways to speed their growth. Once, on a hunch, he tried hog manure and discovered it was ideal. Moreover, the roots he produced looked like ginseng roots, traditionally considered an auspicious shape. Li also discovered that the best soil for bonsai was sand from mountain streams rather than ordinary dirt. It does not retain as much water, and banyans flourish best in a comparatively dry living environment.
But just as Li was gearing up for his first attempt at mass production, a typhoon wiped out most of the plants on his roof. The disaster forced a complete change in plans, which in the long run benefited his business. He began looking for some land on which he could do even larger scale horticultural work. After finding a suitable site, he borrowed enough money to buy the land and purchase sprinkler systems and ground-leveling equipment. The substantial loan required years to pay back, but the results fully justified the risk.
"I built two greenhouses devoted exclusively to cultivating banyan seeds," he says. "Most gardeners go to southern Taiwan to find wild roots to start their bonsai banyans because the seeds are not easy to handle and often unpredictable. But I succeeded after many trials in finding a way to start with seeds, an accomplishment no one else could match."
The reputation of his "ginseng banyans" in the local market eventually drew both local and international interest. "Traditionally, it was the well-to-do or older generation that comprised the market," Li says. "But now young people flock to my stand at Pin Chiang Flower Market in Taipei. As for the foreign customers, my wife is a member of the local flower-arranging association, and she is constantly approached by overseas buyers during the activities sponsored by the organization. Local trading companies also ask me to export plants to Europe."
Sales are steady and profits substantial, but with the expanding overseas demand, Li faces a new problem: mass-production. The nursery is currently tended by his wife, two teenage sons, and a few temporary hands hired for weeding and spraying pesticides. But the large number of orders has started to wear out the whole family. "We used to starve because nobody wanted to buy our plants, but now we can barely cope with the demand!" his wife exclaims.
Li confronts one more challenge as well. Government urban development plans for a new local high school require him to give up some of his land. New property must be found soon, but land prices around Taipei are skyrocketing, with most space claimed for development. So far, he and his wife have not found a suitable new site. The family concedes the nursery may have to move far south of Taipei to find a tract large and cheap enough to keep them competitive.
Despite the impending adjustments, Li is not overly concerned. His skills and entrepreneurship have rescued him in the past, and he is confident the abilities that brought him his current fortune will bring him further gains in the years to come. Indeed, surrounded by his small cultivated wonders, Li appears to have absorbed their serenity. His own peace of mind illustrates one of the rewards bonsai banyans offer to those who love them.