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Bonsai

Basic Tips for Caring your Bonsai Plants

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Who will not be touched by the finely cultivated bonsai plants? Unlike other kind of works of art, they have a life and require very good care from their owners. In this writing, I am about to show you some good tips to care for your bonsai plants.

* Understand Your Plant and Its Environmental Requirements

Generally, bonsai plants can be made from any type of trees. Hence, how you grow and care for your plant depends, in a large part, on the specific species it originates from. For example, if your bonsai is made from a tropical tree, it will not fare well in cold temperatures and will need special care.

It follows that your life will be a lot easier if you only pick up trees that will fare well in the specific environmental condition in your locality. Although they are mini-plants, their need to adjust to climate change is just like the regular-sized trees. In case you picked a special tree species, make sure you understand its specific caring needs.

* Water Your Bonsai Properly

Bonsai plants’ water requirements varies dependent on its species, the type of soil and the season. When there is a change in condition, the watering frequency needs to be changed. It is always good to have different watering plans for the different kinds of bonsai you grow.

It is a general rule that you should neither over-water nor under-water your bonsai plants. Use your fingers and nails to give the soil a feel. If the soil is moist, the water is sufficient; but if the soil is dry, you will need to water your plant right away.

In some cases, bonsai owners water once a day in hot days and once every two days or so in cold days. This is not a hard and fast rule though. Your plant may have different water needs.

* Grow Outside

If you live in cold regions and you have a tropical bonsai, you may have to devise some semi-indoor protection for your bonsai plant. However, generally, bonsai should be grown outside. Despite their appearance, they are not ornamental indoor house fixtures. Bonsai plants need sufficient sunlight. Otherwise they will get sick and may even die.

If you have a bonsai plant that is native to your place, then it may do well outside in the winter season. Just remember to provide protection for it in especially harsh days.

What was discussed in this writing are just some basic tips for caring bonsai plants. If you are a bonsai enthusiast, you will definitely like to study (or you may have already acquired) more in-depth details about bonsai, such as pruning, wiring, re-potting, etc.

Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned grower for bonsai plants, you may like to visit us for more in-depth information about bonsai care. You may also like to visit our main site for a complete guide on how to make your bonsai trees healthy and beautiful.

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Gardening Advice

Gardening and Caring for Your Rose Types

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Gardening and caring for the different rose types

WATERING

Roses are deep rooted and once they are well established are more capable than most plants of surviving mild drought spells. The first spring and summer directly after planting your rose is very important. During this period if the soil around your rose seems to be drying out give your roses a good soaking. Each rose could get about 2 gallons of water. In following years you will only need to water them if drought seems iminent.

FEEDING YOUR ROSES

As with all plants that provide us with beautiful blooms they need plenty of the correct nutrients. Give roses a good helping of blood, bone and fishmeal in early April, about two handfuls to each rose. In June a handful of specially prepared rose fertilizer will give your roses a huge lift. The magnesium and potash gives the rose a great kick. Just work the fertilizer in gently around the soil at the base of the plant.

MULCHING YOUR ROSES.

Mulching is a very simple task with great benefits. Mulching retains moisture, smothers weeds and generally boosts the health of your roses. Well rotted manure is best but garden compost or bark mulch can also be used.

DEADHEADING YOUR ROSES.

Deadheading spent blooms not only tidys up the rose but actually saves the plants energy and thereby encourages more bloom flushes. A light pruning of hybrid teas will encourage a second flush.

WATCH OUT FOR ROSE SUCKERS.

Shoots that emerge from rootstocks are known as suckers. These will be different in coloring and often by the amount of leaves, than what grows from the stems over ground. Gently scrape away the soil until you can see where the sucker is growing from the rootstock, tear the sucker away cleanly.

CONTROL OF WEEDS.

Mulching is the most effective method of controlling weeds and also the less back breaking.

Hoeing is not as effective and you must take care not to damage the stems.

Sowing other plants underneath the rose is also an option. The least favored option is the application of a rose-bed weedkiller. This will eventually damage the soil and thus your rose.

ROSE DISEASES AND PESTS.

This is an area that turns people off growing roses and really it shouldn’t. Roses have diseases and pests particular to them and as such regular treatment is very effective. The main problems are greenfly, mildew and blackspot.

There are plenty of products that treat these main three problems in one treatment. Performing a regular maintenance schedule starting in April will leave you with very few problems. Do make sure to follow exactly the manufacturers recommendations.

Your roses will respond brilliantly to a little regular maintenance and once you have started your routine there will be very little work attached. Issues will only arise once you neglect your routine and this is what often deters people from growing roses.