Category Archives: Bonsai

Bonsai Care

Bonsai Care

The very word ‘bonsai’ conjures so many thoughts to many people.  Almost a warrior sound yet in reality the word bonsai refers to a miniature tree called a bonsai tree.

Where Bonsai Started.

Most of us associate bonsai with the Japanese.  Apparently the art of bonsai care and development as we know it today originated in China and was known as Pensai in China.  Pensai as it was known has been traced back to around 600 a.d. and subsequently made it’s way to Japan

The word “Bonsai” comprises of two parts ‘bone’ meaning tray and “sai” meaning plant, which when literally translated equates to “tray plant”.   We are so emphatic to ensure that we correctly call bonsai – trees when part of the derivation of the word does in fact mean plant.

In the care of bonsai trees we’ll take a few clear topics:-

O    Watering bonsai
O    Light and Humidity for my bonsai tree
O    Bonsai Feeding

How frequently to water a Bonsai.

The first question most budding bonsai carers ask is “How often should I water a bonsai tree?” and the answer depends on many different factors.  Watering and caring for a bonsai tree is a constant balance between too much and too little. 

Variables to consider are when caring for your bonsai tree are:-

O    The type of bonsai tree.
O    The time of year is it – winter, summer, spring or autumn (fall).
O    The location of the bonsai tree within your house or garden.
O    The location of your property – i.e. Alaska or Arizona.

How should I water a bonsai tree?

The “best” way to water is to first wet the soil a little, this will improve the soil’s ability to take in or absorb a larger volume of water, and then you should water thoroughly until the soil is saturated. Make certain that the entire soil mass gets wet – every time – you water and wait for the excess to run out of the drainage holes to be sure.

When should I water a Bonsai tree?

The “best” time to water is probably early in the morning, before the bonsai tree begins its day of growing activities.  Also take a look during the day if the bonsai tree located in a particularly hot and dry place.  Bonsai trees do not grow when the soil is too wet and they do not grow when the soil is too dry.  A bonsai tree takes in water and nutrients during the ‘in between’ periods.

Work out a sensible watering schedule that is realistic and achievable and try and maintain a regular caring plan for your bonsai tree.

What kind of water should I use to water a bonsai tree?

Water your a bonsai with room temperature tap water.  If the water is too hot or too cold it may “shock” the tree’s roots. If you have the ability, facility and time to collect rain to water – great. 

Light and Humidity for my bonsai tree.

What light does a bonsai require?

Lighting is critical to your bonsai tree and keeping it healthy. Unfortunately there is no scientific formulae to ‘how much light’ does my bonsai tree need.  Light requirements vary within the type of tree and the layout and design of your home.

What is the best kind of light for a bonsai?

Sunlight is by far the best type of light for bonsai trees and most other members of the planet earth! If the window providing most light is a convenient place then by all means use the best window klocation.  It’s all down to balance – you don’t want to have your bonsai tree in a ‘windy’ hallway – even if it is the brightest place in your homw.  If you preferred location doesn’t get too much light then utilise som e artifical light. So, in a case like this you need to find an alternative and more practical location and use some type of artificial lighting system.  A simple ‘grow-light’ and timer will be a low cost and practical solutuion.

What about humidity and my bonsai tree?

Humidity helps to reduce water loss and a very dry environment cuase a bonsai tree to naturally loose it’s water content.  Obviously avoid artifical and local causes of ‘dryness’ – i.e. don’t place next to a fire or heater.  Indoor bonsai trees slow their growth in winter and do not need as much water.  If you have a dry home (lacking humiditry) you can place your bonsai on a “humidity tray” filled with pebbles – this is probably improves your own environment too! The tray should be kept wet at all times so as to increase humidity levels.  The other very simple solution is a spray.  Using room temperature water spray the bonsai tree with a fine mist or spray.

Bonsai Feeding

Why Do Bonsai Need Fertiliser?

The bonsai environment is ‘artificial’ and therefore requires our intervention, help and care in order to maintain the health and development of the bonsai tree. The simplest way to achieve a healthy bonsai tree in addition to frequent watering is a frequent dose of fertiliser to the soil.

What type of fertiliser to use?

Use a balanced fertiliser to feed your bonsai tree – typically 20-20-20, at 25% strength, every other week. The numbers 20-20-20 are the percentage, by weight, of the N-P-K (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) contained in that fertiliser. These elements will enhance the growth of your bonsai tree.

What Does N-P-K Stand For & What Does It Do?

N – Nitrogen is responsible for the size and amount of new growth and, to some extent, the green colour of the leaves. Nitrogen is required for cell division         and, also, protein manufacturing.

P – Phosphorus is also necessary for cell division and is associated with good root growth and flowering.

K – Potassium activates cell enzymes and is related with overall healthy cell activity.

Bonsai Fertiliser Notes

O    Always water your bonsai thoroughly before fertilising and never use fertiliser on a dry tree.
O    Never fertilise a sick tree, as fertiliser is not medicine.
O    If you are not sure how much fertiliser to use, follow the directions on the label and never use more than recommended.
O    Fertiliser is a good thing, but too much is a bad thing.

Bonsai in your backyard garden

Bonsai plants are essentially trees and shrubs that are trimmed and clipped to maintain them at a miniature size, compared to their wild cousins. The plants and shrubs thrive on this procedure, simply because they get a lot of care, consideration and have a life expectancy comparable, even greater in some cases, than their wild counterparts.

Bonsai is often mistaken as a process of abusing and depriving a plant, in order to keep it’s growth stunted. Actually, the opposite is true – these are some of the healthiest, most pampered and well looked after plants on the planet. Bonsai can be bought from essentially anywhere in the world, their popularity has seen a large increase in the growth of specialty stores, devoted to the developing and caring of Bonsai.

Of great importance, is to be aware that the roots of Bonsai are also pruned, once or twice a season. This is mainly because this restriction assists with the miniaturisation of the plant. Also keeps the balance between above and below ground (very Zen), prevents the plant from becoming pot-bound, also allows for sculptural effects using the roots (over rocks and such).

Now, if you plant your Bonsai in the ground, there is nothing to restrict the root growth – and off they will go! This will result in an explosion of vigorous growth up top. Obviously, digging the plant up every 6 weeks or so, to prune the roots is going to do more damage than good, to the overall health of the plant.

So, you are left with the fact that, you are going to have to maintain a constant regime of clipping and trimming, just to keep the plant in check. Ultimately, you are going to get tired of this – and that is a fact. Also your beloved little living sculpture, will end up looking like a ball on a stick.

The whole point of Bonsai is to emulate the normal growth of a plant, only in miniature. All the restrictions of trimming and fussing, slow the whole growing process down so that it is comparative to the overall size of the plant, and to the amount of time it took to get there. Do not plant Bonsai in the ground, unless you can afford an army of gardeners that enjoy fruitless endeavours. (They won’t)

Backyard Bonsai do well and look great on a patio, or in a courtyard, and some of one of the most healthy Bonsai specimens are indeed to be found growing outside. Nevertheless, it is of great importance that you buy your Bonsai from a outlet close to your home area, therefore making sure that your new specimen can contend with the conditions you are likely to subject it to. Should you reside in high temperature areas of the united states and are considering buying on the Web, you shouldn’t be purchasing a Bonsai from a cold climate area, as there is a good chance it will not survive in your particular locale.

Do outside Bonsai require much less treatment than a house, or indoor Bonsai?

Simply because you have placed your Bonsai outside, does not mean you can ignore it and just expect it to maintain the miniature form, or even survive for that matter. A Bonsai that isn’t clipped and trimmed, will cease to become a Bonsai and will simply turn into a straggly looking bush or tree, in a tiny pot.

Maintaining your outside Bonsai in a container (there are purpose-crafted pots made specially for Bonsai), which is the usual, sensible and most practical way to do it, try to resist bringing it into the house for any extended period of time. No matter how unwell it may appear it will doubtlessly not appreciate the abrupt change in environment. If the plant doesn’t look all that flash, this will more likely be due to some reason other than being outdoors. Check the watering situation first, then look at other factors; too much sun can cook the roots inside a pot, depending on what it is made of; is it situated in a breezeway?; is your dog doing the watering for you?

The most healthy and hardy of Bonsai can probably tolerate a day indoors, perhaps two, at the very most, as a center piece with bragging rights. Putting your Bonsai indoors during the cold months and placing it anywhere near a blazing heater, is undoubtedly going to burn the leaves if not the roots, and your prized specimen will probably perish from dehydration, too. The opposite can also be true, bringing a Bonsai in through times of high temperature and plonking it near to the air conditioning unit, is the same as a surprise frost in summer and will also kill your Bonsai.

Do not put your outdoor Bonsai in the shower-room.
There are many folk that think that placing plants in the shower-room, with all that steam, sort of tropical-like, is a good idea. Not really. The heat from the steam actually dries plants out rapidly, so your plants must have adequate watering to counter this. Steam also opens the pores in the leaves, basically they perspire, leaving them in a weakened state – then what are you going to do? Can’t just dump them outside again, the shock will doubtless kill them. Solution: just leave them outside.

I hope this helps to explain a bit about outdoor Bonsai.bonsai1