Bonsai Secrets

A bonsai is a microcosm containing within it, 
unchanged in everything but size, 
the mystery of the universe.
- Colin Lewis

The Japanese word ‘bonsai’ refers not only to a dwarf tree, but also to the art of growing miniature trees in a tray or low pot-saucer. Originated in China many centuries ago, this art was eventually adopted and named ‘bonsai’ by the Japanese. It soon gained popularity and didn’t take long to become known all over the world.

A bonsai is heavy with symbolism. A self-contained little world, some practitioners believe that a bonsai holds the entire Universe: The world is symbolized by a ‘miniature mountain, ’ the bowl represents ‘learning’ and the trunk with its branches shows “the whole” and “a part of the whole.”

The bonsai has also been linked to various deities: Trees with split or forked trunks are usually chosen for worship. Therefore, trees with those distinctive elements are used by Japanese masters of bonsai in their works as a form-building. 

One of the most important elements of a bonsai is its shape. Pruned into a triangle, it symbolizes:

• The life-giving forces of the Earth
• The sacred Buddhist mountain of Sumer
• The triad of Heaven – Earth – Man.
• The trikayya, or three bodies of Buddha (sambhogakaya, nirmanakaya, dharmakaya) 
• Birth – Life – Death
• Body – Mind – Soul

This elegant plant also fits beautifully into any interior. A meaningful gift, a bonsai is considered by many to bring positive energy and good fortune to those who receive it.

ALISSAR® bonsai is available from:

The Flower House, Amman, Jordan 

The InterContinential Flowershop by ALISSAR® (Dubai Festival City)

Galleries Lafayette, The Dubai Mall

Looking for bonsai care tips? Click here!

How to Care for Your Bonsai

Though they are a little more delicate than your average indoor plant, caring for a bonsai is actually fairly simple if you follow a few basic guidelines for watering, fertilizing, positioning and repotting your tree. 

Watering. Water thoroughly once the soil gets slightly dry; never allow it to become completely dry. 

Fertilizing. As Bonsai trees are generally placed in small pots, regular fertilization is required in order to replenish nutrients that are essential to the tree. Using a special ‘bonsai fertilizer’ can be convenient, but any fertilizer will do (be careful not to use too much, though). Follow the instructions as stated on the fertilizer’s packaging regarding quantity and timing. 

Positioning, temperature and sunlight. Deciding on the right location for your tree is crucial for its well-being. First make sure that indoor trees are placed in a warm environment; outdoor trees generally require much lower temperatures and should be placed outside (depending on tree species, of course). Either way, most species prefer a bright spot, with at least some direct sunlight. 

Re-potting. Re-potting your bonsai will not keep it small; instead it will supply the tree with new nutrients that it needs to grow and flourish. How frequently you will need to repot your bonsai depends on the size of container/pot and tree species. Fast-growing trees need to be repotted every two years (sometimes even every year), while older, more mature trees need to be repotted every 3 to 5 years. Re-potting work normally needs to be done during the early spring when the tree is still in dormancy. Repotting in early spring will also ensure that any damage done to the root system will be repaired soon, when the tree starts growing. Choosing the right soil mixture is crucial for the health of your trees; it should drain enough to prevent the roots from rotting, while absorbing enough water to supply the tree. 

Thanks for Visiting us at the Bride Show!

Excited brides-to-be, exquisite fashion and, of course, ALISSAR® flowers: That pretty much sums up The Bride Show, which was held at the Dubai World Trade Centre earlier this month.

It was a big year for the event, which celebrated its 15th edition with 350 exhibitors and more than 16,000 visitors. The ALISSAR® team was pleased to welcome a number of Emirati, Arab and expat visitors to Stand 2B45. Not only that -  we also took time out to enjoy the incredible catwalk shows!

A big thank you to everyone who stopped by our stand and best wishes to everyone getting married this year!

How Flowers Can Boost Ancillary Revenue in a Hotel

Floral décor is a compulsory addition for hotel interiors. But flowers do more than offer aesthetic appeal; in fact, they can actually contribute as an ancillary revenue stream.

How? Well, let’s consider the main operations of a hotel: Rooms, F&B and Banqueting (in this context you could even consider Concierge as one of the main operations as well). Each division serves a specific need for each guest, whether that is accommodation, an event venue or food. Once these basic requirements are met, additional needs will oftentimes arise for things such as amenities, decorations, compliments and gifts. This is the niche for floral sales.

The trick, of course, is knowing how to take advantage of this opportunity. This is where ALISSAR®'s Total Floral Solutions can help: We provide complete know-how along with a trained team of professionals to handle the A to Z of your floral operations. With a deep understanding of the hotel industry and extensive experience in serving the world’s leading hotel chains, we’ve thoroughly analyzed the needs of our clients and found that they enjoy good potential for earning extra revenue when they start including flowers in their offerings.

Our team has created a set of sales tools to enhance demand and increase additional revenue streams from floral products. They include:

Our professional catalogues (complete with photos and descriptions of each offering) will help staff to present and sell floral products to the end customer, thus adding extra value to the services you offer your guests. And all floral sales are commission-based, which provides each division with extra revenue.

Our goal is to build a long-term partnership with each of our clients, and we strive for solutions that benefit everyone. That’s why our hotel services include joint work of all our departments to provide high quality, creative products as well as marketing tools that are customized to each property.

Flowers and Mood

Want to feel happy and satisfied? Then spend some time with a bouquet of flowers.

That’s according to a recent behavioral research study conducted at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, which also discovered that flowers encourage positive social behavior far beyond what is normally believed.

"Common sense tells us that flowers make us happy," explains Dr. Jeannette Haviland-Jones, professor of psychology at Rutgers and lead researcher on the study. In effect, nature is providing us a simple way to improve emotional health in our high-tech, fast-paced life. 

Researchers also found that:

•  Flowers have an immediate and universal effect on happiness, regardless of whether the recipient was young or old (or somewhere inbetween)
•  Flowers have a lasting, positive effect on moods. Study participants said they felt less depressed, anxious and agitated after receiving flowers
•  Flowers bring us closer to our loved ones. Participants also reported that having flowers around led to increased contact with family and friends.

"Now science shows us that not only do flowers make us happier than we know,” Dr. Haviland-Jones concludes. “They have strong positive effects on our emotional well-being."

(To read the full study from Rutgers, click here.)

Visit us at the Bride Show!

The Alissar® team will be on hand to help you plan for your special day during the Bride Show, which will be held April 4 to 7 at the Dubai International Convention Centre.

Visit us at Stand 2B45 to meet our friendly staff and to see samples of the beautiful work we can do for you.