Category Archives: Bonsai

Advice on Caring For a Bonsai Tree

Bonsai which is an interesting technique of growing the adult trees in a miniature form was originated in Japan a long time ago. In fact when you see a banyan tree that looks like a 50 year old one with all its long branches, shoots and cylindrical roots but at the same time the height is just 4 to 5 feet then this becomes very unusual and exciting.


This is the reason why many people take keen interest in decorating the most exposed corner of their house with a Bonsai tree. But there are few things that are essential when it comes to taking proper care of a Bonsai tree. The most important elements are water, light and fertilizer.


Watering the Bonsai Tree


Water is the main component that a tree uses to prepare its food. A bonsai tree might die within its tub if you do not water it for continuous 48 hours. But then again excess water can act like poison to a bonsai tree. Now this is a fact that you will need to identify the right time to water your bonsai tree.


You can do this by judging the soil. Dig the upper surface of the soil and look at the inner part. If it is moist enough then you do not need to water it anymore. If it is dry then do not delay in watering them.


Fertilizing the Bonsai Tree


The soil that surrounds the roots of the bonsai tree contains very little nutritional value. Moreover the slightest bit of the minerals and other nutritional particles simply wash away when you put water everyday. But they need regular supply of food in order to survive and the bonsai trees just like other normal trees collect their food from the soil.


This is the reason why fertilizing the soil on a regular basis is very important. The most important elements required for its survival are nitrogen, potassium and phosphorous. You should apply the fertilizers which are rich in these 3 mineral contents. In fact the type of fertilizer will also depend on the species of the bonsai tree.


Keeping the Bonsai in Light


The rays of the sun are the basic necessity for any plant. There are many people who keep their bonsai plants at one corner of the room as a part of decoration and completely forget about taking them out regularly in the sun. This is the reason why the bonsai trees often become weak and gradually die.


So always place your bonsai tree in the sun-light for several hours in a day. But scorching heat of the sun and high temperature is harmful for the bonsai. Hence it is always advisable to keep them under some kind of shade which will shield the bonsai tree from the stark light but benefit them equally.

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The Choice of Bonsai Soil Can Have an Impact on the Cultivation of Healthy Bonsai

Bonsai is the art of cultivating plant into miniaturized version of the actual trees. Although the same seedlings are used, the techniques used in grooming the plant stunt its growth. The roots and the crown are constantly pruned so as to fit into the tiny container, thus dwarfing its growth.

The right mixture of bonsai soil will contribute to a healthy plant. It came in many varieties that you can get it from the gardening shops and nurseries. There is a necessity to mix in the correct proportion, making them costly and the fact that bonsai needs to repot every two years. The right mixture of soils will help it to absorb the nutrients as well as supporting enough moisture for the plant to thrive. Drainage for the plant is as essential as achieving good air circulation for the roots, so there is a need to achieve the ideal mix.

To make the hobby of planting bonsai as inexpensive as possible, some bonsai planters mix their own soils from dead plants and many other types of organic matter to achieve the right proportion. Different types of plant require different proportion of soil mixture as some plant need more moisture to thrive as compare to others.

One very essential point to note in bonsai soil mix is that the bonsai is contained in a very shallow pot with just the right amount of soil to help it to grow throughout the whole year. The plant will only be healthy and blossoming if you achieve the right proportion of bonsai soil mix so that it can absorb sufficient water and nutrients.

Asides from sunlight to produce chlorophyll, bonsai needs the ideal bonsai soil to absorb the right amount of water as well as retaining nutrients for it to flourish. Coupled with that, you need to provide drainage for the plant too as the absorption of too much water will lead to quick decay of the roots.

You have to ensure that the bonsai soil mix is thorough and there are some basic rules that you need to adhere to as different plants have differing needs where water and nutrients are concerned. In mixing bonsai soils, the ratio of water retaining ability also vary according to different plant.

The right ratio is in the region of fifty-fifty but in recent times, inorganic soil becomes popular in nurturing bonsai plant. Although organic soil is inexpensive and you can easily get your hands on it, the quality is not the most ideal. Inorganic soil, on the other hand can hold up well without breaking up and the ability to retain water as well as draining off excess amount of it qualify it as the best.

It is important to keep yourself knowledgeable on the topic of bonsai soil mix and the various types of soil before going ahead with mixing them. Once arm with sufficient knowledge, you can then rest soundly that the task of cultivating a healthy bonsai will be so much easier.

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