Bonsai care is a meditative and rewarding process, one which can be easy even for beginners. Through bonsai care, you will enjoy an appreciation for nature and humanity's ability to skillfully produce even more amazing artistry.
As a beginning bonsai gardener, you may have many questions about appropriate bonsai care. By understanding the fundamentals, you can build a firm foundation upon which you can confidently grow your skills and expertise, right along with your new bonsai garden!
Bonsai Care: First Things First
As with any garden, the basic elements that your bonsai plant will need to thrive are the right soil, the appropriate amount of light, and the right amount of water.
One major need that bonsai trees have that makes it a little more demanding to care for than your regular plant is the need of light. Most bonsai trees are bred to be outdoors but if you are planning on keeping your bonsai indoors make sure to do a little research in what species that don't need as much light. It could also be a good idea to invest in a light, most indoor bonsai trees need up to 12 hours a day of fluorescent light to stay healthy.
It is important to use the right soil for your bonsai tree. In the "wild" your tree's roots will grow deeply into the earth resulting in your tree growing tall. Since your bonsai will grow in a shallow container, you are forcing it's root system to grow shallow and wide. This is largely why the tree will stay small. Since the roots are very shallow, standard potting soil is to dense, trapping to much water which will slowly make the root system rot and your tree to die. This is why using a special bonsai soil mix is important.
In practicing proper bonsai care, you should purchase special bonsai soil, which is a mix of loam, sand, and organics, like peat moss and leaf mold. What soil you should specifically buy is determined by your local climate. Your local greenhouse or nursery, bonsai enthusiast, or Agriculture Extension office can help you determine which soil is perfect for your bonsai's care.
Food and Water for your bonsai
The most common beginner bonsai question is "how much should I water my bonsai?" The answer depends on a lot of factors, what kind of bonsai you have, how humid is it where you live, what season it is etc.
The balance in proper bonsai care is between too much and too little. It can be a bit tricky. Also make sure if you use tap water, that it is room temperature and also let it sit overnight to get rid of chemicals such as chlorine
First, wet the soil. That will make it easier for your bonsai to take in more water. After that, water generously until water comes out through the drainage holes. It is important that all the soil gets wet. It is preferred to water your plant in the morning before the daily photosynthesis cycle starts. If you live in a dry climate you can also mist your bonsai daily to retain its humidity levels.
As for fertilizer in bonsai care, use a completely balanced fertilizer (i.e., 20-20-20, which is equal parts nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium) every other week at quarter strength. A balanced fertilizer is ideal in bonsai care because your tree is considerably smaller than the plants the fertilizer is typically used for. Never fertilize a dry tree (the shock could kill it - make sure to water first!) and don't fertilize a sick tree; remember, fertilizer isn't medication.
Now you have the skills to grow your bonsai tree into a fabulous piece of art. Just stick to the basic bonsai care fundamentals. The right soil, the appropriate amount of light and water, and using the right fertilizer. - 16492
As a beginning bonsai gardener, you may have many questions about appropriate bonsai care. By understanding the fundamentals, you can build a firm foundation upon which you can confidently grow your skills and expertise, right along with your new bonsai garden!
Bonsai Care: First Things First
As with any garden, the basic elements that your bonsai plant will need to thrive are the right soil, the appropriate amount of light, and the right amount of water.
One major need that bonsai trees have that makes it a little more demanding to care for than your regular plant is the need of light. Most bonsai trees are bred to be outdoors but if you are planning on keeping your bonsai indoors make sure to do a little research in what species that don't need as much light. It could also be a good idea to invest in a light, most indoor bonsai trees need up to 12 hours a day of fluorescent light to stay healthy.
It is important to use the right soil for your bonsai tree. In the "wild" your tree's roots will grow deeply into the earth resulting in your tree growing tall. Since your bonsai will grow in a shallow container, you are forcing it's root system to grow shallow and wide. This is largely why the tree will stay small. Since the roots are very shallow, standard potting soil is to dense, trapping to much water which will slowly make the root system rot and your tree to die. This is why using a special bonsai soil mix is important.
In practicing proper bonsai care, you should purchase special bonsai soil, which is a mix of loam, sand, and organics, like peat moss and leaf mold. What soil you should specifically buy is determined by your local climate. Your local greenhouse or nursery, bonsai enthusiast, or Agriculture Extension office can help you determine which soil is perfect for your bonsai's care.
Food and Water for your bonsai
The most common beginner bonsai question is "how much should I water my bonsai?" The answer depends on a lot of factors, what kind of bonsai you have, how humid is it where you live, what season it is etc.
The balance in proper bonsai care is between too much and too little. It can be a bit tricky. Also make sure if you use tap water, that it is room temperature and also let it sit overnight to get rid of chemicals such as chlorine
First, wet the soil. That will make it easier for your bonsai to take in more water. After that, water generously until water comes out through the drainage holes. It is important that all the soil gets wet. It is preferred to water your plant in the morning before the daily photosynthesis cycle starts. If you live in a dry climate you can also mist your bonsai daily to retain its humidity levels.
As for fertilizer in bonsai care, use a completely balanced fertilizer (i.e., 20-20-20, which is equal parts nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium) every other week at quarter strength. A balanced fertilizer is ideal in bonsai care because your tree is considerably smaller than the plants the fertilizer is typically used for. Never fertilize a dry tree (the shock could kill it - make sure to water first!) and don't fertilize a sick tree; remember, fertilizer isn't medication.
Now you have the skills to grow your bonsai tree into a fabulous piece of art. Just stick to the basic bonsai care fundamentals. The right soil, the appropriate amount of light and water, and using the right fertilizer. - 16492
About the Author:
Paprika Claesson is one of the writers for the site BonsaiMaster.com.au, She writes about bonsai care
