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
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.
To use the right soil for your tree is an important part of bonsai care. Since your bonsai will grow in a shallow pot which means that the roots will spread out shallowly and slow down your tree's growth. On the other hand, if your tree was growing in the "wild" it would grow tall due to the root systems deep growth into the earth. Forcing the roots to live in a shallow container is one of the fundamentals to why your bonsai will stay small. This also means that regular potting soil is usually too dense and collects too much water which will slowly make the roots waterlogged, causing the roots to rot and later, the tree to die.
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 in Bonsai Care
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.
Ideally, in bonsai care, you want a balance between too much and too little. Don't over water-but don't underwater either. Make sure your water is at room temperature, as you don't want to shock your plant with either cold or hot water. If you use tap water, let it sit out overnight so that the chlorine and other chemicals can oxidize out of the water.
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.
The fertilizer you want to use every other week or so is a completely balanced fertilizer, which means, 1 part phosphorous, 1 part nitrogen and 1 part potassium. Remember to never fertilize a dry or sick tree, the shock could actually kill it. Before fertilizing, make sure to give your tree plenty of water.
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.
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
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.
To use the right soil for your tree is an important part of bonsai care. Since your bonsai will grow in a shallow pot which means that the roots will spread out shallowly and slow down your tree's growth. On the other hand, if your tree was growing in the "wild" it would grow tall due to the root systems deep growth into the earth. Forcing the roots to live in a shallow container is one of the fundamentals to why your bonsai will stay small. This also means that regular potting soil is usually too dense and collects too much water which will slowly make the roots waterlogged, causing the roots to rot and later, the tree to die.
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 in Bonsai Care
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.
Ideally, in bonsai care, you want a balance between too much and too little. Don't over water-but don't underwater either. Make sure your water is at room temperature, as you don't want to shock your plant with either cold or hot water. If you use tap water, let it sit out overnight so that the chlorine and other chemicals can oxidize out of the water.
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.
The fertilizer you want to use every other week or so is a completely balanced fertilizer, which means, 1 part phosphorous, 1 part nitrogen and 1 part potassium. Remember to never fertilize a dry or sick tree, the shock could actually kill it. Before fertilizing, make sure to give your tree plenty of water.
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.
About the Author:
Paprika Claesson is one of the writers for the site BonsaiMaster.com.au, She writes about bonsai care Click here to get your own unique version of this article with free reprint rights.
No comments:
Post a Comment