How To Care For Your Bonsai Tree

By: Alan Allport

The first thing to consider when looking after a bonsai tree is watering. Watering is the most important aspect of bonsai tree care. This is especially true if the bonsai tree is kept indoors for prolonged periods. How much water you need to give will depend primarily on two things: the type of soil and the species of bonsai. Different types of soils absorb and retain water at differing rates. You will also find that different bonsai tree species need differing amounts of water to thrive.

As a rule of thumb, about 75 per cent of water is taken up by the root system of the bonsai, but you should also remember to water the leaves. To help the bonsai take up water through the leaves you should ensure that you keep the leaves clean by wiping away dust and dirt at regular intervals.

Use gentle water pressure when watering your bonsai. If you use too strong a water pressure, you might wash away the topsoil and expose the roots. Use a misting hose or a spray hose with an adjustable spray nozzle and be careful of the water temperature. Good tap water is fine, just take care that the water that comes out of the hose isn't too cold or too warm.

The type of soil is also important to your bonsai tree. You'll need to match the soil type to the specific species. In simple terms, a needled evergreen bonsai tree will require a soil composition of 30 per cent humus to 70 per cent grit and the opposite for deciduous bonsai, i.e. 70 per cent humus to 30 per cent grit. If you have a particularly rare type of bonsai that you're not too sure about you should ask your local bonsai supplier for advice or get a good bonsai reference book and be prepared to make up a custom soil yourself.

Another important aspect of caring for bonsai trees is pruning. Leaves, branches and roots need to be pruned. This is probably the aspect of bonsai care that beginners have most trouble with and it is certainly true that skill in this area only comes with experience and knowledge.

Before attempting to prune the above ground aspects of your bonsai tree you should have a vivid image in your mind's eye of the tree shape you're looking to achieve. If you can do this and imagine a line around the tree in this shape you will be able to prune away everything that sticks out from this imaginary line.

Remember that this tree was never meant by nature to be this small. Because of this you are going to have to exert proper discipline on the bonsai to ensure that it gets trained into the shape you want and remains the size you want. If you don't put the requisite time and effort in your bonsai will start to become unruly in no time.

It is certainly true that you will have to put in some work to achieve the bonsai tree of your dreams, but all bonsai enthusiasts will tell you that your efforts will be well-rewarded.

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Alan Allport is a long-time bonsai tree enthusiast who has had a bonsai site at www.aa-bonsai.com for several years. For the best bonsai tree wholesale info you should check it out today.
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