RESEARCH

AHTA JOURNAL OF THERAPEUTIC HORTICULTURE

Nine major themes emerged from the thematic analysis of the data. Notably, the study found that the therapeutic benefits experienced were consistent across participants, irrespective of their experience level or whether they were amateur or professional growers.

Program Types: Therapeutic

Population Groups: Older Adults/Seniors, Dementia/Traumatic & Acquired Brain Injuries, Mental Health Challenges/Trauma, Military/Veterans, Rehabilitation, Corrections/Justice-Involved, Neurodevelopmental Differences, Addiction/Substance Use Disorders

Setting or Context: Assisted Living/Long-Term Care Homes, Community Gardens, Public/Botanical Gardens, Farms, Healthcare Centre

Health and Wellness Outcomes: Improved Mental Health, Enhanced Emotional Well-being, Increased Sense of Belonging (Reduced Isolation), Improved Stress Management, Improved Cognitive Function, Sensory Stimulation, Increased Social Engagement & Skills, Greater Job Readiness & Vocational Skills

Allied Profession Intersections: Recreational Therapy, Behavioral Therapy

Type of Activity: Sensory Stimulation, Indoor Plant Care, Outdoor Gardening, Edible Plant Gardening, Greenhouse/Nursery Production, Growing Plants from Seed, Mindfulness/Visualizations

Evidence Type: Peer-Reviewed Studies, Observational Research, Qualitative Research, Quantitative Research

Measurement and Evaluation: Metrics for Mental Health, Program Effectiveness

Access: Free

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Summary

This journal sought to explore why and how people began bonsai, whether it provided therapeutic qualities, and the experiences of caring for bonsai among amateur and professional growers. The researcher, who had been growing bonsai for eight years and experienced therapeutic benefits, was motivated to conduct the study based on observations and discussions with fellow bonsai society members, noting the common experience of bonsai as a form of therapy for stress. A survey was chosen as the method to capture stories from the worldwide bonsai community.

The survey instrument was constructed using Qualtrics online software and employed convenience/opportunistic sampling. Contacts for 254 bonsai clubs, societies, and groups in the UK, USA, Canada, South America, Australia, and New Zealand were reached out to. A total of 161 amateur bonsai artists and 11 professional bonsai artists participated. The survey included demographic questions about age, country, and years in bonsai, as well as six open-ended questions asking participants about how and why they started bonsai, their experiences with successes and failures, their opinion on bonsai as a form of therapy, and what they had personally gained from the practice. Participants provided consent by completing the survey. The data from the open-ended questions was analyzed using thematic analysis to identify key findings.