Basic bonsai care is not hard to learn even if you are just starting out as a complete beginner. The process of caring for your bonsai is both a rewarding and meditative process that will help you appreciate the art of bonsai
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: The Basics
The Basics of any garden is the appropriate combination of the right soil, the correct amount of light and right amount of water.
There are, however a few things that differentiates bonsai trees from other plants. Most people starting out with their first tree don't know that most bonsai are bred to be outdoors. There are certain species that could survive indoors, so if that is your plan make sure to do some research on the ideal species for your conditions and also but be prepared to give it around 12 hours a day of fluorescent light.
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.
Bonsai soil is usually a mix of sand, loam, and organic leaf mold or peat moss. The climate you live in determines what exact soil to use. I suggest to ask your local nursery, bonsai shop or local bonsai enthusiast what soil is the right one for your tree.
Water and food
One of the questions that people just starting out with their bonsai is "how often should I water my bonsai?" It is hard to give one answer to that question because it depends on so many factors, the species of your bonsai, the climate were you live, humidity, seasons and other factors.
You want to find that balance between too much water and too little. It can be a bit confusing at first. If you are using tap water it can be good to let the water sit overnight to get rid of the chlorine and let other chemicals oxidize. Do not use cold or warm water to water your plant, room temperature is best to not shock your tree.
Wet the soil first, which will increase the bonsai's ability to take in more water. Afterwards, soak the soil until water runs out of the drainage holes in your training tray. Make sure that the entire soil mass gets wet. Watering is best done daily in the early morning, before the plant begins its daily photosynthesis cycle. You can also mist your bonsai on a daily basis to help it retain its necessary 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.
So with the right bonsai knowledge, the right soil, the appropriate amount of light and water and fertilizing every other week you should be on your way to growing your first beautiful and healthy bonsai tree. The art of bonsai doesn't have to be a difficult or tricky journey, just remember to stick with the basic fundamentals of bonsai care. - 15266
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: The Basics
The Basics of any garden is the appropriate combination of the right soil, the correct amount of light and right amount of water.
There are, however a few things that differentiates bonsai trees from other plants. Most people starting out with their first tree don't know that most bonsai are bred to be outdoors. There are certain species that could survive indoors, so if that is your plan make sure to do some research on the ideal species for your conditions and also but be prepared to give it around 12 hours a day of fluorescent light.
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.
Bonsai soil is usually a mix of sand, loam, and organic leaf mold or peat moss. The climate you live in determines what exact soil to use. I suggest to ask your local nursery, bonsai shop or local bonsai enthusiast what soil is the right one for your tree.
Water and food
One of the questions that people just starting out with their bonsai is "how often should I water my bonsai?" It is hard to give one answer to that question because it depends on so many factors, the species of your bonsai, the climate were you live, humidity, seasons and other factors.
You want to find that balance between too much water and too little. It can be a bit confusing at first. If you are using tap water it can be good to let the water sit overnight to get rid of the chlorine and let other chemicals oxidize. Do not use cold or warm water to water your plant, room temperature is best to not shock your tree.
Wet the soil first, which will increase the bonsai's ability to take in more water. Afterwards, soak the soil until water runs out of the drainage holes in your training tray. Make sure that the entire soil mass gets wet. Watering is best done daily in the early morning, before the plant begins its daily photosynthesis cycle. You can also mist your bonsai on a daily basis to help it retain its necessary 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.
So with the right bonsai knowledge, the right soil, the appropriate amount of light and water and fertilizing every other week you should be on your way to growing your first beautiful and healthy bonsai tree. The art of bonsai doesn't have to be a difficult or tricky journey, just remember to stick with the basic fundamentals of bonsai care. - 15266
About the Author:
Paprika Claesson writes for the Australian site BonsaiMaster.com.au, Most of her work is about bonsai care
