Those of you who have visited our farm may well have spotted a bonsai (or twenty!) dotted around due to Amrit's interest/mild obsession... we decided it was high time to pin Amrit down for a chat about them, and his new hobby of "bonchi"!
What is a bonchi?
A ‘bonchi’ is a bonsai Chilli. Chilli plants are not normally made into bonsai since they are not long lived, at least not in the UK climate. However, if you are prepared to try and overwinter the plant you can turn them into bonchi, which can be fun and it can provide a decent harvest for such a small plant. This Carolina Reaper is about 1 year old and was overwintered, having started off in Oct 2023. Amrit turned this Carolina Reaper into a bonchi and it was exhibited in our display garden at RHS Hyde Hall 2024 where we got awarded gold. The pot measures just 6 inches in length and the bonchi is under 25cm tall, including the height of the pot!
What first drew you to the art of bonsai, and what is your favorite thing about bonsai?
I like the idea of a miniature tree because it is a blend of art and horticulture. It takes a lot of horticultural care to keep a plant alive and thriving in such a confined pot. I have always grown bonsai as a hobby and there are a few dotted around the Chilli farm. So when I noticed that this Carolina Reaper was overwintering well, I decided to start training it.
How hard is it to create a bonchi? How should a beginner get started, and what is the best variety to use?
It isn’t hard at all. You simply need an old mature Chilli plant that has formed a thick woody stem. his also helps with overwintering since plants with thick woody stems will have a strong structure both above and below the ground. And from an aesthetic point of view, varieties with small fruits and leaves are better suited. So if you have a plant that you’ve grown all throughout 2024, you can prune it back hard and try over winter it for training into a bonchi.