"Breathing life" into ornamental kumquat trees.

Every Tet holiday, along with the vibrant pink of peach blossoms and the dazzling apricot blossoms, kumquat trees always hold a special place in the cultural life of the Vietnamese people. In recent years, in addition to traditional kumquat tree shapes, growers have created bonsai kumquat trees with unique forms that symbolize prosperity and good fortune.

These kumquat bonsai trees are being cared for by Mr. Hoang Manh Chien, owner of Chien Che kumquat garden on Trinh Kha street (Hac Thanh ward), before being transported to customers. Photo: Le Ngoc

Inheriting his father's love and passion for bonsai, Mr. Hoang Manh Chien, residing on Trinh Kha Street (Hac Thanh Ward), has been dedicated to growing kumquat bonsai for many years. According to Mr. Chien, shaping a bonsai tree seems simple, but creating a tree with soul, clearly expressing its meaning and message, and making a strong first impression on viewers is quite difficult. A beautiful kumquat bonsai must have a distinct form: an upright form symbolizing integrity and upward growth, a horizontal form representing stability, and a graceful, flowing form... When cultivating the bonsai, the grower meticulously calculates each main branch and smaller branch; each branch cut off and each branch retained is based on the grower's experience and sense of beauty... After the tree takes on the desired shape, caring for it to ensure it flowers and bears fruit in time for Tet (Lunar New Year) is crucial, determining its value and aesthetic appeal.

According to Mr. Chien, from the beginning of the year until April-May (lunar calendar) is the time to focus on pruning and shaping the trees; in May-June (lunar calendar), the roots are cut to stimulate the growth of a stronger new root system and flowering; from June to August is the period of fertilizing to regulate the fruit production, so that by Tet (Lunar New Year), the trees have both green and yellow fruit. Besides shaping the kumquat trees, Mr. Chien also skillfully grafts them onto driftwood, creating highly artistic works that attract connoisseurs of bonsai. This year, Mr. Chien's garden has about 400 trees, with prices ranging from 3 to 5 million VND. Although there are still nearly two weeks until the Lunar New Year, most of the trees have already been ordered by customers.

Walking around flower and ornamental plant stalls like Le Hoan Street and Lam Son Square (Hac Thanh Ward), rows of kumquat trees in various shapes and sizes, laden with fruit, are lined up; buyers and sellers chat lively.

At Ha Huyen ornamental plant garden on Nguyen Trai Street, Hac Thanh Ward, Mr. Nguyen Van Cuong, a customer, said: “Every year I choose to buy kumquat trees to decorate my home during Tet (Lunar New Year), because kumquat trees symbolize good fortune and prosperity. They have plenty of flowers, young shoots, green fruit, and ripe fruit. For many years now, I have preferred bonsai kumquat trees because they come in various sizes to suit different corners of my house, are easy to move in small pots, take up little space, and have elaborately shaped, unique designs… I usually choose trees with three canopies, symbolizing blessings, prosperity, and longevity.”

According to Mr. Nguyen Hoang Anh, the owner of a kumquat bonsai garden selling its produce on Le Hoan Street, "The process of caring for kumquats lasts all year, but in the months leading up to Tet (Lunar New Year), growers have to 'control' the trees to flower and bear fruit at the right time; requiring an understanding of the weather, irrigation, etc. In previous years, kumquat bonsai were grown in plastic pots, which didn't look very aesthetically pleasing, so this year we've switched to growing them in ceramic pots of various sizes to suit the shape of the tree; along with that, we combine them with human statues and miniature landscapes at the base to add more vibrancy."

Amidst the hustle and bustle of modern life, the craft of shaping kumquat bonsai trees still retains its unique character. Continuing the tradition of their ancestors and driven by a passion for bonsai, many young people have created various kumquat bonsai styles that blend tradition and modernity. These not only cater to customer demand during the Lunar New Year but have also become a popular year-round hobby. With skillful hands, each kumquat tree is not just an ornamental plant but a living work of art, carrying a message of prosperity and hope for a peaceful new year.

Le Ngoc

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/thoi-hon-cho-quat-canh-277490.htm