If you are considering buying a bonsai, it is recommended that you gather enough information about general horticulture and basic care for potted plants. Growing a bonsai will not be accomplished successfully unless you have gained sufficient knowledge about plants and have acquired deep understanding on the specific bonsai care instructions.
If you are in a possession of a bonsai that you do not have any idea what specific specie it belongs to, then you won’t be able to properly take care of it. Thus, before you try knowing the basic bonsai care instructions, make sure you have determined the type of plant you have. For instance, if it belongs to the deciduous bonsai type and you decide to place it indoors, then you are likely going to kill it. Likewise, a tropical bonsai placed outdoors in intensely cold temperatures will also die. If you can’t figure out the particular bonsai specie, get help from people who will be able to identify the plant for you.
Your research will probably tell you that watering is the most challenging among the bonsai care instructions. Your bonsai is more likely going to die with improper watering technique more than all the other causes combined. Check daily the moisture content of the plant’s soil by inserting a chopstick or toothpick through the soil. If the chopstick or toothpick is not wet but merely damp, it is time to water the plant thoroughly.
Light and the site where you will be putting your bonsai at, are also part of the bonsai care instructions. Bonsai needs light. However, its light requirements differ according to location, plant specie, and climate. Thus, some plants may need the sun’s full impact, while others may simply require a dose of indirect sunlight throughout growth season. If you live in places or houses where it is impossible to let your tropical bonsai get its required share of sunlight, then it should be placed outdoors all throughout its growing season. If your bonsai is seeing the sun less often than it’s supposed to, you may use artificial light to compensate for the absence of real sunlight.
There are really no specific bonsai care instructions that will work for all types of bonsai. Since various species have different needs, they all should be treated distinctly from one another. After all, no two species are ever alike. They may look the same, but they are always varied in some other way.
There are several causes why bonsai go into permanent dormancy, but most bonsai are lost because of inappropriate watering techniques. The proper bonsai care does not really require your 24 attention, but it does necessitate some real understanding of the bonsai plant.
Watering is known to be the most important aspect in bonsai care. However, watering is a learned skill, and there is no one strict rule regarding it. Water requirements differ for each type of bonsai, the type of soil used for each, and the kind of pot each is in. There are other factors that may affect water requirement and the time that watering needs to be carried out such as moisture retention of the soil, weather conditions, size of the pot, and humidity. But even if water requirements are variable, it is still crucial that the tree does not totally dry out. You can check the soil’s dampness by inserting a chopstick or toothpick into it.
Pruning is another element of bonsai care. Although pruning is not necessarily done on a new bonsai plant, it is necessary for those who have achieved some growth. Pruning is the process of trimming the plant into a desired shape. Since trimming and pruning are expressions of art, there are really no definite shapes to follow. However, there are guidelines on how to properly carry out the act.
Not a lot of people know that lighting plays a vital role in bonsai care. Every living thing requires various amounts of sunlight to grow, so consider that when you choose a site for you bonsai. If there is too little sunlight in the area you have in mind, make sure that artificial light is available to suffice for it.
Generally, fertilization is not a huge requirement in bonsai care. The number of times you need to put fertilizer is based on the type of bonsai and potency of the fertilizer used. However, it is not advisable to fertilize a very dry and unhealthy bonsai.
Repotting has also an impact on bonsai care. This process is recommended done on a bonsai in order to give it a good root system and a fresh supply of soil. Most bonsai necessitate repotting after two years, although this also depends on the plant’s growth and the size of its pot.
The proper bonsai care is not that complicated. If you have real passion for the plant, it will all come out naturally.
Culturing a bonsai tree is a very good hobby. However, it will require proper knowledge and patience to grow it with very incredible results.
Choosing the best bonsai tree to grow can be a bit difficult since they have several different species. The Bamboo tree, for instance, reminds one of an authentic Japanese garden. Asians consider the Braided Monkey tree a bringer of good luck. Among different bonsai species, the Ficus bonsai tree is considered among the favorites.
The Ficus bonsai tree is a small version of the Banyan tree. This type of bonsai tree is ideal for indoors. They also come in different varieties all suitable for indoor placement. The most popular specie of the Ficus bonsai tree are the narrow-leaf Ficus, dwarf Ficus and the weeping Ficus.
The most important thing to remember when growing a Ficus bonsai tree is that the plant should be placed indoors through the entire year although fresh air and sunlight is also beneficial. Like most bonsai trees, the Ficus tree should never completely dry out for a long period of time and regular checking of the soil is recommended. To water the Ficus bonsai tree, you need to let it soak in water for at least ten minutes and then completely drain it. This will be enough to keep the soil wet for a certain amount of time.
Bonsai care also requires repotting the plant. It is advisable to repot the bonsai tree every couple of years. Trimming the roots is also needed. The Ficus tree naturally grows very slow and if you see small growths that are covering the container, do not wait for the next year but instead immediately repot the plant. The perfect time to repot a Ficus bonsai tree is during spring. Once the tree is transferred to a bigger pot, water the plant meticulously the same way as instructed above.
In feeding the soil, it is not advisable to use rapid-growth fertilizers. You only need to feed the Ficus plant when it is needed and in very moderate amounts because over use of fertilizers can also kill the plant. For pruning and trimming the branches, you need to remove most of the plant’s new growth during spring and in the first weeks of fall. Remember to be artistic enough in trimming the branches so that the shape and style of the plant will be beautiful.
The purpose for wiring ficus bonsai is to hold the branches in place in order to shape them. The bonsai wire remains around the trunk and branches until the tree can hold it’s desired shape, then the bonsai wire is removed.
The Juniper bonsai tree (Juniper Procumbens Nana) is a very small plant that originated in Japan. This bonsai tree was also made famous because of the movie “The Karate Kid” and every time people think of a bonsai tree the Juniper bonsai tree comes into mind. In Japan, because of the very cold climate, it is all right to leave the plant under direct sunlight. However, in other countries it is kept indoors because of the changing seasons.
The Juniper Bonsai Trees has a very hard trunk that does not flower and because of these features it is considered very easy to trim and train. This specie of bonsai also grows fast and with long branches they can be trained in a variety of styles except the broom style. The branches are easy to train and shape because of their good response to wiring. Other species of bonsai trees are very hard to reshape because of their stiffness although it is still possible. In other words, the Juniper bonsai tree is the perfect plant to design according to your style.
Another advantage of culturing a Juniper bonsai tree is that it can be placed indoors or outdoors even during the winter season although the temperature should not go below 59 degrees. During winter it is very important to protect the wiring from frost.
Some guidelines when growing Juniper bonsai tree:
Temperature and lighting:
If you plan on placing the Juniper bonsai tree indoors, make sure that it will receive at least two hours of direct sunlight everyday. To avoid the plant from drying out, place it far from an air conditioner. Also, make sure that the roots are protected from heat and cold. Always check the soil of the plant and make sure that it is not dry. If the plant is placed outdoors, water it every two days. The plant should be placed in direct sunlight during winter to survive the freezing cold.
Soil feeding:
Do not use rapid-growth fertilizers and application of fertilizers should be done moderately. They should only be applied on the soil and not on the plant because it could die.
Trimming and sculpting:
The new growth of the plant should be removed during spring and fall. The trimming should be carefully and artistically performed for a beautiful result. The roots of the Juniper bonsai tree should also be trimmed every two years.
Culturing a Juniper bonsai tree is a great hobby because it is a good stress reliever.
Few subjects in bonsai care are as complicated as watering. What should be the simplest task is actually the most complex. Improper watering is the most common cause of death of bonsai trees. In fact, apprentices in Japan will perform many other duties during their first few years before being trusted to water the trees.
Bonsai soil is unlike regular potting material. It is porous and allows very rapid drainage. As a result, frequent and generous watering is necessary. However, over watering is just as dangerous to the bonsai’s health. Too much water can promote the growth of harmful fungi and lead to root rot.
Both of these damaging extremes can be avoided, though. By following these tips, the complex art of bonsai watering can be converted to a healthy practice that anyone can accomplish.
The first step is testing the soil moisture content to determine how much water your bonsai needs. As a quick check, touch the surface with your thumb. If the surface feels dry, it is. Gently scrape back any ground cover, gravel, or surface dirt to better assess the soils requirements.
A more accurate test can be completed easily by using a standard moisture gauge. Appearing like an ordinary thermometer, analog or digital displays will provide an accurate reading of soil moisture content.
Moisture gauges only detect water near the tip; so as a result, only tell part of the story. Dry spots can be present within the pot. Dry spots are especially dangerous if they are near the roots. As roots spread throughout the pot over time that can be a lot of places.
To ensure that all of the soil is adequately moistened, once a month dip the pot up to the base of the tree into a container of water for a few minutes. Carefully remove by lifting by the pot, never by the tree. If the soil is correct, and the plant is not root bound, any excess water will drain out the bottom of the pot into the tray under the pot.
Only permit a small amount of water to remain in the tray. Draining excess water from the tray will ensure that any extra water in the pot has a place to go, and doesn’t collect around the roots.
Water daily, making sure that water runs all the way to the bottom, but doesn’t pool to the extent of filling up the tray. Water left standing in the tray makes it impossible for the pot to drain and encourages mold growth.
More than daily watering may be required depending on the type of soil in the pot and your climate. The amount of water necessary also varies from one species to another.
Pines and other conifers need less water and they do well with moderate drying periods. Deciduous and flowering trees require more moisture than conifers. Curled leaves on deciduous trees indicate dryness. Make sure that flowers are not wilting when they should be blooming.
Some experimentation, accompanied by careful monitoring, will be necessary to adjust to your specific tree and circumstances.
How many people know that bonsai can be grown from seeds? Although there are no magic bonsai seeds which can turn into the perfect-looking bonsai tree after being planted, the bonsai seeds can still grow into the “dwarfed trees” that we have all come to love. That is, with certain growing procedures and every bit of your patience.
Most people will probably tell you that growing a bonsai tree from bonsai seeds is a clear waste of your time. But even if this is known to be the most time-consuming among all methods, this is also the one that will give you the most rewarding experience.
The Japanese has a term to define the cultivation of bonsai from bonsai seeds - misho. This process may take a lot of time, but it allows one total control of the tree’s growth right from the start.
Initially, you need to gather the “right” kinds of seeds according to the type of bonsai tree that you like to grow. Various horticultural shops have plenty of these available.
Once you have gathered the bonsai seeds, it is necessary to place them in water for the night in order to differentiate which seeds are potentially viable and which ones are not. Those that will float are not usable, but the ones that will sink are those that you will be working with.
Before sowing your bonsai seeds, make sure that you have chosen a pot that is about has a depth of 15 cm or 6″ and features a drainage hole. The lowest portion of the pot, or a quarter of the pot’s total volume should contain an earth mix, a mixture of akadama and fine gravel in equal proportions.
On top of that layer, you need to put a mixture of fine akadama, potting compost, and fine gravel in ½, 1/4, and ¼ ratios respectively. This particular layer should be about 1″ below the pot’s rim. Place the bonsai seeds on top of this layer, making sure that they are about 1″ to 2″ inch apart from.
Finally, put in the last layer which is composed of a mixture of potting compost and akadama in equal ratios. Spray water on top of the seedbed using a nozzle with fine spray.
It may take years before you can finally see a nice bonsai tree. However, what can be more fulfilling than knowing that you grew it from “scratch” yourself?
When you are growing a bonsai tree, you may have observed that the bottom does not grow as fast as the top, a “phenomenon” known as apical dominance. This makes pruning a bonsai a necessary process in order to enhance its growth and maintain its shape.
Not all plants respond well to pruning, especially when it is done at an inappropriate time. Pruning a bonsai properly entails knowing the type of plant it is and which time of the year is best to prune it. Usually though, pruning of new growth is done within the growing season, while pruning of old growth is carried out during mid-autumn.
A bonsai which is remained unpruned for sometime will eventually look like a typical tree, and creating a bonsai means starting the whole process all over again. Thus, to prevent this from happening, pruning a bonsai should be done habitually.
Pruning a bonsai can be done in two manners: finger pruning and leaf pruning. Finger pruning is pinching the new growth that sprouted at the top or does not complement the shape of the bonsai. Pinching is done by removing the growth using your forefinger and thumb. Your other hand should be holding the branch where the growth is attached to. This pruning method for coniferous bonsai is better than using scissors because it does not create an unnatural impression on the foliage.
Leaf pruning a bonsai is mostly done during the summer. Deciduous bonsai and tropical plants are pruned by cutting around 60% to 90% of their leaves using fine scissors. The remaining leaves should be enough to supply energy to the tree.
The previously discussed pruning techniques are those which can be done above the ground. Pruning a bonsai can also be accomplished by trimming below the ground. Root pruning becomes essential when the root has grown too much to be in the same pot. Thus, you need to thin it down to make it fit more comfortably inside the pot. However, when trimming the roots, make sure that you do not cut off more than what is necessary that you will deprive the tree of enough feeding roots. Watering should be done after this process.
Pruning a bonsai is basically like giving a person a nice haircut. There are various styles and methods of achieving a particular look to choose from.
Using the right bonsai soil mix can be very beneficial for a bonsai tree. There are a lot of enthusiasts who use ready-mix bonsai soil from nurseries and garden shops but it is quite expensive. Because of frequent re-potting during spring, most bonsai hobbyists or gardeners learn mixing soils on their own.
There is a wide variety of soil ingredients to use. For starters, choosing which type of soil to use can be very difficult. It is important that the bonsai soil can hold moisture and nutrients needed by the plant because the health and beauty of the bonsai tree heavily depends on the quality of soil.
The soil should have good hold of water but excess water should also be drained quickly to avoid build up of salts. Good air intake of the soil is also vital. The soil mix should have small-sized gaps so that the roots can have enough air. A well-mixed inorganic soil allows air to continually flow into the soil while a packed down organic soil can hinder water and air flow that can cause damage to the roots.
An organic bonsai soil is comprised of dead plant substances like peat, dead leaves and barks. An inorganic bonsai soil is composed of fired clays and volcanic lava. This type of soil can be found in garden centers and nurseries.
Although most bonsai plants require soils good for water retention and draining excess water, there are species that have their own requirements for intake of nutrients and water. For example, Pine trees and Juniper trees need lesser water intake meaning they require less-water-retention type of soil. However, flowering and fruit-bearing species require soil mixes with high level of water retention.
When mixing your own bonsai potting soil, the percentage of water-holding material should depend on the specie of the tree that will be planted. For a free-draining soil, high ration of grit should be added making the soil drain all excess water while increasing the quantity of water-holding material, which also increases the retention of water in the soil.
Proper knowledge on what soil to use is very essential for a healthy and beautiful bonsai tree. It is fine for starters to use a ready-mixed bonsai soil from a nursery or garden center for the first few times. However, the use of inorganic soil is the most recommended.
