Philippine Cinnamon Starter Bonsai
Bonsai is a living art, and I love being around them. Without a doubt, being with bonsai trees is like being in an old forest in my own small garden!
Why Philippine Cinnamon?
First and foremost, according to Dr. Jay Picardal, one of the few experts on the Philippine cinnamon, there are only around 672 to 105,894 Philippine cinnamon trees per square kilometer (100 hectares) in the Philippines.
For example, in the town of Don Salvador Benedicto (DSB), Negros Occidental, Philippines where our cinnamon project is located, our partner farmers estimated that there were only 50 cinnamon trees remaining in the entire town of 170.50 square kilometers (17,050 hectares) in 2017. Consequently, this is equivalent to only 3.41 cinnamon trees per square kilometer (100 hectares). Therefore, it is so tragic that DSB is even part of the Northern Negros Natural Park (NNNP)!
To sum up, we chose Philippine cinnamon because we want to raise awareness on the plight of this genus. We believe that the more people get to know the beauty (art) and practical uses in food, medicine, cosmetics and organic pesticide of the Philippine cinnamon are, the more they will plant and care for it. As you know, we only love those we know!
What is the Philippine Cinnamon Bonsai Starter?
The Philippine cinnamon kaningag is the Cinnamomum mercadoi species of the Lauraceae family. This seedling came from our partner farmers, and they gathered the wildlings from their own mother tree, or from a fellow member farmer.
We asked a local veteran gardener and bonsai creator to make us a Philippine cinnamon starter bonsai that we can place on our table at home, office, or in the garden. In the forest, the Philippine cinnamon can grown up to 30 meters (98 feet). That’s the same height of the Seda Capitol Central Hotel here in Bacolod City. Indeed, how beautiful it would be to imagine having a dwarf of that on your table that you can enjoy in your twilight years, and that you can pass on for generations. Cool! 🙂
The seedling was then given to Mr. Alfredo Vibar Jr., who has been gardening and creating bonsai since 1980s.
After he receives the 1 foot seedling, he prunes it, if necessary, and wires it into shape. He then uses the cement pot that he made, puts compost, and places the seedling into the pot. Then he covers the soil with pebbles.
How to Care for the Philippine Cinnamon Bonsai Starter?
- Decide how tall you want your bonsai to be. When it reaches that height, trim.
- Water the seedling once a day.
- Place in partial shade or bright shade.
How to order the Philippine Cinnamon Bonsai Starter?
You may order here, and we accept payment via GCash or Credit Card.
Our dream is plant all the 19 endemic species of the Philippine cinnamon, and to have a bonsai of them, too!
I hope you’d considering having this beautiful art in your home or office. Salamat po.
