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    A Bonsai worth $91K was stolen, here's everything you need to know about the miniature tree of life

    Synopsis

    The Ficus retusa Linn, at the Crespi Bonsai Museum in Italy, is believed to be the oldest existing bonsai in the world.

    For the second time in a row, Japan retained its top spot as the world's most powerful passport in 2019, according to the Henley Passport Index. The country became the world's most travel-friendly passport due to the document's access to 190 countries. In 2019, 27 countries were in the top 10 positions on the index, with 20 of those countries located in Europe, and three in Asia. Here's a look at all the top ranking passports of this year.
    A 400-year-old Bonsai worth $91,000 was recently stolen from a garden in Japan. A quick look at these tiny treasures.

    1. Seiji Iimura and his wife Fuyumi, two Bonsai enthusiasts in Japan, got robbed of seven prized miniature trees from their garden in Saitama. One of the couple’s stolen trees is a Shimpaku Juniper — one of the most sought-after Bonsai types among collectors which is worth over around $91,000.

    2. Stemming from East Asia and often associated with Japan, Bonsai is a delicate art-form based on specialist cultivation techniques. The miniature plants are grown in containers. They require expert care and mimic the shape of fully-sized trees.

    3. The word “Bon-sai” is a Japanese term which, literally translated, means “planted in a container”. This art form is derived from an ancient Chinese horticultural practice, part of which was then redeveloped under the influence of Japanese Zen Buddhism.
    Untitled-6Agencies
    The Ficus retusa Linn at the Crespi Bonsai Museum in Italy.

    4. Fertilising regularly during the growth season is crucial for a Bonsai to survive. Normal trees are able to extend their root system looking for nutrients; Bonsai however, are planted in rather small pots and need to be fertilised in order to replenish the soil’s nutritional content.

    5. A Bonsai needs to be watered as soon as the soil gets slightly dry. It needs thorough soaking so the entire root system is wetted.

    6. The Ficus retusa Linn, which is found at the Crespi Bonsai Museum in Italy, is believed to be the oldest existing bonsai tree in the world.

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