The best type of soil for bonsai plants is any soil that is made of composted tree bark or any type of foliage. Provide nutrition to bonsai trees with help from a sustainable gardener in this free video on bonsai gardening and plant care.
A hotly debated topic among bonsai followers is about soil. While watering is vital to the care of bonsai trees, so too is the type of soil as the soil is involved in delivering nutrients to the tree.
With the care of bonsai trees, we are trying to keep the tree small and the root system shallow, so we need to use a different composition of soil than that of an ordinary house plant.
We want our house plants to grow larger and to do this, they require their root systems to become deeply established so that they can retain as much water as possible for growth. Potting soil is heavy and can stay damp for a long time. If we were to use this ‘heavy’, water retaining, soil for our small trees with their shallow roots, rot will start to set in.
There are so many types of soil specially for bonsai trees. Bonsai generally need a loose fast-draining soil – but again it depends on your type of tree, its pot and where it is sited.
With bonsai soil, you must look for two things. The first is whether it will retain water properly and absorb nutrients from the air around it. Bonsai trees are very sensitive towards moisture and need gases in order to survive.
The second most important quality that you should look for in bonsai soil is that it will drain water quickly. If the soil retains too much moisture then the roots will be subject to rot which will kill your tree very quickly.
While all bonsai soil will do essentially the same thing, some soil mixtures differ in their composition which will have an effect on the way that they work. Some will have more nutrients and some will have less. Again it is important to know what type of tree you have to you can ensure it’s potted in the right soil for your specific plant so you should investigate the needs of your individual bonsai before making a choice.
Generally speaking, experts on the care of bonsai trees recommend a mix of around 30 percent sandy grit and 70 percent humus for deciduous trees and vice verse for evergreen needle plants.
There are many premixed soil solutions that you can purchase that will cater to the needs of your tree.
To make sure that I was getting relevant information for my particular plant, I took a visit the nursery where my plant had come from to ask for some help on the proper care of bonsai trees. I was told that due to the shallow root system of a bonsai, it is important that the tree receives adequate amounts of air circulation via free drainage, while at the same time retains enough moisture and nutrients necessary for growth and good health.
They told me that the secret in the care of bonsai trees is in providing the right amount of water, air, nutrients and light. Bonsai comes in several varieties and each has different requirements in terms of these vital ingredients.
So for the present time, I decided that I am staying with the pre-mix solution from my local nursery. After all, the tree has remained alive and well in their care – up to the time I got it. They seem to be a decent quality and its saves me from having to work out the percentages and materials required to mix my own.
When I have learnt more about more about the care of bonsai trees, I intend to take a more “hands on” approach and mix my own.
But for the present – the pre-mix will be fine for my bonsai tree.
To discover everything you really need to know about care of bonsai trees <<= = Click this link NOW!” Also, here’s another great article about bonsai trees care”
One of the most important parts of growing and nurturing a Bonsai tree is making the right soil selection. You have a choice of going to the local garden center and picking a soil that is suitable for your Bonsai tree or you can make your own mix with a variety of soils.
One thing that all Bonsai experts agree on is that the right soil for your Bonsai tree should be loose and facilitate water drainage. Some good examples of loose soil are shale or clay. Many Bonsai enthusiasts prefer to use volcanic soil from Japan as it is not very compact and has many nutrients that a Bonsai tree may require. However, the soil for your Bonsai tree should also be able to withhold moisture or else you will see your beautiful tree wilting away before your eyes. Therefore, when making a soil selection, these to aspects should be foremost in your mind.
Another factor that you should think about when selecting the right soil for your Bonsai tree is aeration. The soil should be able to breathe, so to say; and this will facilitate movement of oxygen into your tree.
These are some of the guidelines that you should follow when selecting soil for your Bonsai tree. Remember, there is no perfect soil that suits all Bonsai trees. If you are growing many different varieties of trees, it goes without saying that you may require many different types of soil. The best thing that you can do is be knowledgeable about your Bonsai tree and ensure you keep the above mentioned factors in mind when selecting soil for your Bonsai tree and you will not fail.
Kavita Masthoff is a freelance writer. She runs two websites — Quality PLR Articles and Bonsai Tree Care Tips. You can download a free report from Bonsai Tree Care Tips on Indoor Bonsai Tree Care.
Product Description Lava Rock is a naturally occurring volcanic cinder that has a porous structure which makes the material lightweight and highly moisture retentive. Incorporate into your bonsai soil mix to increase drainage (aeration). It will absorb up to 40% of its weight in water. Small lava rock (1/4 to 3/8 inch) is the best “sand” component around because it is “sharp” and has very irregular surfaces…. More >>
Learn about the special soil you need for growing bonsai trees, in this free video. Expert: Mike Hansen Bio: Mike Hansen, owner of Midwest Bonsai, has been growing, caring, selling, and instructing others in bonsai care for years. Mike is an expert bonsai master.
The practice of Bonsai began in China and Japan hundreds of years ago, and is simple the miniaturization of naturally occurring plants and trees. Bonsai trees are not “special small” trees, but rather trees that ave been slowly miniaturized from their full size.
The main areas of tree care are the following:
Watering your Tree
Bonsai Trees require more watering than most plants, as they are grown in less soil and the soil itself is free draining (meaning it doesn’t retain the water and lets it pass through). The type of tree, the sunlight it is exposed to all factor in to how much watering should be done. You can tell if your Bonsai Tree needs water by looking at it, feeling the soil and if you prefer; by using a moisture meter to be certain.
Fertilizing your Tree
Bonsai plants are grown in smaller amount of soil compared with other trees and plants, therefore fertilizing and feeding your tree is key. You will want to fertilize once in the Spring and once again in the Fall to ensure maximum health and growth. Your fertilizer should contain chelated iron, nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash. Make sure before you fertilize, to water your tree and then apply less than the recommended amount.
Misting your Tree
Bonsai trees and plants in general thrive in a humid environment, something that is somewhat uncommon in most of the world. Some gardeners would recommend misting your plants, to recreate this humid environment. The issue with misting is that it’s only a short term benefit to your plant. We recommend placing a tray below your tree, which you fill with water and allow natural evaporation to do the work to create humidity. Make sure the plant is setup off the tray so the roots are not sitting in the water constantly.
Sunlight for your Tree
Bonsai trees thrive in a sunny location, and only with a few exceptions (repotting, extreme trimming) it should live permanently in a sunny spot. It’s a good idea to leave your plant within a foot of a direct source of ultraviolet light. Southern (east/west okay too) exposure is best, if you plan to grow in a northern exposure location you may need the assistance of grow lights. Do not use Incandescent light as it is much too hot and does not provide a complete spectrum of light. Choose your type of tree wisely as some do better in less light and some require lots of light.
Trimming & Pruning your Tree
One of the main attractions of Bonsai ownership is the possibility to shape and mold your tree to meet your vision and desire. However there are fundamental concerns you need to keep in mind whilst pruning your tree. Balance is very important, and keeping a nice even distribution of branches over the your roots below is key to keeping your tree healthy and complete. You begin shaping your tree when it’s very young, and continue to shape even as your tree ages year after year. Butterfly shears are used to remove leaves and branches as needed. Large branches should only be removed with a concave cutter. Maintaining your trees appearance while minimizing the appearance of pruning is essential.
Protecting your Tree (from disease and pests)
Similar to many other trees and plants, bonsai are vulnerable to attacks by diseases and various pests. If you keep your bonsai in excellent health, you can ward of insects who are attracted to dyeing and weak trees. A healthy amount of light, fresh air and clean soil will ensure your bonsai stays healthy and gives you years of enjoyment. Insecticide soap spray is an option, however you should re-apply on a regular interval to prevent attacks from coming back.
Training your Bonsai
Expanding on the training idea of pruning and trimming, bonsai can be further trained using copper wise or hemp rope. The copper wire is rooted at the base of the tree and than wrapped around the trunk and branches, which allows your to train the branches to grow in your desired direction and shape. The wire should be wrapped closely but not too tight and the bends created should not be too extreme as to damage the branch. Once the wire starts biting into the bark, it should be removed. Removal should be done by snipping the wire at each bend, do not un wrap the wire as it can damage the branches and bark.
Soil for your Tree
When discussing watering above we noted that Bonsai trees use free draining soil, which means that it passes the water through and does not retain like typical potting soil. The makeup of the soil allows the roots of your bonsai to breathe freely. Bonsai soil comes in two main types, conifer and tropical mixtures. When you repot your tree make sure to do so with dry soil.
Repotting your Tree
As your bonsai grows and matures it will need to move containers. However unlike most repotting we do not upgrade our pots to larger sizes. When the bonsai is repotted the roots should be trimmed to fit the previous container size. Average time between repotting is 5 years, however it should be checked annually to verify root ball size. When trimming the root ball, do not remove more than 1/5 of the root material. Finally when repotting keep the bonsai out of the sun/light for at least a week.
