There is nothing particularly hard about the growing and care of bonsai trees, but they do require constant care in order to thrive.
Bonsais require the same three ingredients essential to all plants – soil, water and light. The trick in providing the proper care of bonsai tree is ensuring they get just the right amount of these crucial elements. While it’s not difficult it does require a little specialist knowledge and without the proper application of that knowledge your bonsai will probably very quickly die.
Many people new to the care of bonsai trees assume they should tend to it in the same manner as any other potted plant. Despite the fact your bonsai is potted, it is not, in any true sense of the word, a pot plant. It is a miniaturized tree and as such thrives best in the same conditions as a normal tree of the same variety. Most bonsai therefore prefer to be outdoors, however it does depend on where you live and what kind of climate your tree is suited to.
In order to provide the best care of bonsai trees you need to do some research to determine the conditions that best suit your particular variety of tree. If you live in an area where it snows during winter, leaving a tree outside is fine, and probably best, if your tree has been adapted by nature to those conditions [such as a fir or juniper]. You may find your bonsai prefers to be outdoors in winter, rather than cosseted inside. However if your bonsai is a more tropical plant, such as a bougainvillea, leaving it outside in even a mild frost could prove fatal. Check exactly what conditions are native to your particular tree and find a position which produces the closest match.
Watering:
Correct watering is also vital to ensuring your tree stays alive. Because the roots of your bonsai have been trimmed there is less mass to undertake the task of taking up water to feed the tree, therefore frequent watering is a must. You may not need to water every day, but you should make a daily check of the moisture content of the soil in your bonsai pot. If the soil gets too dry your tree will begin to lose leaves and, if left completely dry for several days, it will quickly begin to die. However keeping the soil too wet can encourage fungal growth and root rot, also leading to the demise of your bonsai.
One easy way to check the moisture level is to poke a small stick, like a toothpick or chop stick, into the soil. It may be dry on the surface of the pot but still contain moisture around the roots. You may find you need to water your tree several times a day during a hot summer but leave it without for days, weeks or possibly even months during the winter.
It is also a good idea to occasionally ensure the roots get a good soaking by popping the bonsai pot in a tray of water. Do not, however leave it in too long and also ensure your pot has plenty of drainage holes to allow excess water to run out.
Finding the right balance can be a matter of trial and error but one handy little trick is to get used to judging the weight of your tree, pot and soil. About one quarter of the weight should be water, so if your pot is feeling lighter than normal it is probably time to give it a drink.
Soil:
You can use any good quality potting soil for your bonsai, though it must be free draining. However some garden centers and specialist shops sell special soil mixes to provide extra specical care of bonsai trees. These specialist soils are usually freer draining than one-size-fits-all mixes and have less in the way of fertilizers which helps limit growth. The soil in your pot will need to be changed at least every two years, and is generally done when you repot the tree.
Light:
Try to ensure your bonsai is shaded from the sun during the hottest part of the day. But again, each variety of tree prefers slightly different conditions and you should try to emulate its natural habitat as much as possible. Because plants naturally grow towards the light, it is a good idea to turn your plant regularly so that all sides get an equal amount.
The care of bonsai trees can be likened to the care of a small child. Like babies they require constant and tender loving care. It can be very costly learning through your mistakes. It is easier on the pocket and also less frustrating to learn the proper techniques before attempting the care of bonsai trees.
To save yourself money and heartache with your care of bonsai trees bonsai trees care
People that are not yet completely familiar with the art and horticulture of bonsai suppose that bonsai trees and plants must be grown indoors. This belief may be because all bonsai trees and plants are planted in small pots rather than planted in the garden, or perhaps they saw their first bonsai at an indoor garden show.
Sometimes this misunderstanding can result in the early on and untimely death of the beginning bonsai artist’s first tree, which may deter him/her from making another attempt at growing a bonsai. So be sure that you understand that some plants and trees are emphatically classified as an indoor bonsai tree, while others are more suited to be grown outdoors.
The trees and plants that are generally considered to be indoor bonsai are those that are native to tropical and subtropical climates, and they are being grown as bonsai in a more temperate climate. If you want your indoor bonsai trees and plants to thrive then you must be sure to keep them in a warm and humid environment, similar to that environment where they come from. Providing the appropriate levels of humidity is usually the largest challenge for the indoor bonsai gardener. One easy way to keep the humidity levels up for your indoor bonsai is to spray it frequently with a mister.
Indoor bonsai trees do not have the same growth patterns as bonsai trees that are grown outdoors because they are not subjected to the same seasonal light and temperature changes. As an illustration, a hardy deciduous outdoor bonsai will go through the cycle of new growth in spring, fullness of growth during summer, loss of leaves in the fall, and then a dormant spell of rest during the winter. Because they are generally native to topical and subtropical regions which don’t experience dramatic seasonal changes, indoor bonsai trees are usually “evergreen”, meaning that they are green all year. Under certain conditions an outdoor bonsai plant can stay green year-round rather than lose it’s leaves in the fall and go dormant during the winter.
The methods of pruning and training indoor bonsai is much the same as with outdoor bonsai, with the exception being the timing of the training and pruning. Pruning, cutting, grafting and other training methods are usually only done during preiods of growth and dormancy on outdoor bonsai plants. Indoor bonsai often have a continuous growing period, although they tend to be more active in the spring and summer.
You are better off shopping for a suitable plant to make into an indoor bonsai tree at a nursery or garden center than to purchase one at a supermarket. There is a wide variety of plant and tree types to choose from to create an indoor bonsai. You can even take some ordinary house plants and train them to become bonsai. In Part II of my article on Indoor Bonsai, I will report how to choose the best plant material for your bonsai, and also offer a list of 4-5 plants and trees that are greatly suitable as indoor bonsai, as well as highly suitable for the beginner bonsai enthusiast.
Mike Andrews is a gardener and author and has been a devoted enthusiast of the art of bonsai for many years. Read all of his additional articles on bonsai trees, including those relating to the indoor bonsai tree on his website at www.myjapanesebonsai.com. Please visit and sign up for his FREE 7-part mini-course on how to grow and train miniature bonsai trees.
In Part I of my article on Indoor Bonsai we talked about the distinctions between an indoor and an outdoor bonsai, and typically what characterizes an indoor bonsai tree. In this report we’re going to focus on a few of the most widely regarded indoor bonsai plants, and additionally recommendations on how to pick the top plant material from your nursery or garden center.
There are lots of different suppliers from which you may easily find very good quality plants and trees for your indoor bonsai tree project. A specialist bonsai nursery is the very best place to buy a bonsai tree, and here you will be able to find out what kind of potting mixture is used and when the plant should be repotted.The very best place to find bonsai plants and trees is at a nursery that specializes in bonsai trees. The men and women at the nursery can provide a great deal of care suggestions, including the type of potting material that was used, and when it ought to be re-potted next. If you don’t plan to start from scratch with your bonsai tree you could purchase a plant which is already established as a bonsai. This can be fairly expensive however. Another great place to get plants and trees which might be suitable for bonsai is at your nearby garden center. Remember that employees at these kinds of retailers are going to be less knowledgeable about bonsai however.
Another approach is to take a house plant that you already have at home and begin training it as a bonsai. This is a a lot less pricey approach to get started in the hobby, and would be a little less painful if you lose the plant. Don’t improve the likelihood of killing your first bonsai plants by purchasing from the bargain table. These plants are usually unhealthy and definitely will lower your chances of long-term success.
Be sure that the foliage on any plants that you are considering buying are bright green and healthy looking, and that there are no clues of insect damage or disease. If there are any new buds on the plant they should have firm young shoots. It will be easy to determine if the plant has not been getting enough water because the buds will be dried up. Trunks and limbs need to be strong and healthy. If you familiarize yourself with the many different styles of bonsai before you go to the nursery you will be able to choose plants that are ideal for the style that you want to create.
The following is a list of plants that would be highly suitable as an indoor bonsai tree and for beginner bonsai enthusiasts:
Java Fig (Ficus benjamina) You can buy this as an established bonsai or you can buy it as a houseplant and modify it into a bonsai. The java fig will stay green all year round. Several bonsai styles work well with the Java fig including, the broom style, the cascade and semi-cascade style, the informal upright, and the slanting style.
Chinese Elm (Ulmus parvifolia) You can buy this as a houseplant and train it as a bonsai yourself, or it is widely available as an established bonsai. Ulmus parvifolia is a semi-evergreen. It can be grown either inside or outside. As an indoor plant is will keep it’s leaves and stay green all year.
Chinese Box (Murraya paniculata) You can buy this as an already established bonsai or you can buy it as a small potted houseplant at a reputable garden store and modify it into a bonsai. The Chinese box is a favorite indoor bonsai plant. It is native to China and India. After flowering it produces small berries that change from orange to bright red.
California Juniper (Juniperus californica) This plant is commonly available as an established bonsai. You can also buy it as an ordinary houseplant and train it yourself. Juniperus californica is a favorite for an indoor bonsai, and is a great plant for the novice bonsai grower. Typical styles that you will often see this plant trained as are the informal upright, the slanting style, and the cascade and semi-cascade styles.
Jade Plant (Crassula ovata) You can buy this as a houseplant and train it as a bonsai yourself, or it is widely available as an established bonsai. This is an evergreen with flattened succulent leaves with a scalelike appearance. The Jade Plant shows best when trained in the slanting, informal upright, or broom styles.
This is just the tip of the iceburg in terms of the variety of plants and trees that are suitable for indoor bonsai. As your skills as a bonsai grower improve you will be able to add many new speciaes and varieties to your bonsai collection.
Japanese bonsai gardening is a hobby that is fascinating, affordable, and easy to get involved in. Bonsai can be enjoyed by people of all ages, and can last a lifetime. Click this link to learn more about growing your very own indoor bonsai tree, and sign up for your FREE 7-part introductory mini-course on how to grow miniature bonsai trees. Or, to get started growing your own bonsai trees trees right away check out the highly regarded “how-to” bonsai book “Beautiful Bonsai Secrets”. Peace.
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Kahi Ching, Hawaii-born and raised, award winning artist in the 2nd & 3rd dimension exhibited a selection of bonsai trees from his very own collection at Kahi Gallery. Most of his trees (which are very large scale) have been saved from construction sites and dumping grounds and at times have been resuscitated. A few have dubbed him a plant doctor and others consider his efforts as helping the earth and going Green. Since Kahi also draws and paints, he also shows new bonsai portraits of select trees.
