Care of Bonsai Trees – Taking The Pruning Knife to Your Plant

bonsai trees

Taking a knife to your bonsai tree for the first time can be a daunting prospect. The fear is that something will go wrong and your tree will end up looking ghastly, or you might even kill it. However proper pruning is an essential component in the care of bonsai trees

Pruning is necessary to give your tree its desired shape, then maintain that silhouette. Bonsai masters have, over centuries, devised stringent rules to provide growers with guidelines on the proper shaping and care of bonsai trees. For instance, the first branch should be about one third up the height of the trunk. If the first limb branches to the right, the second should grow from the opposite side with the pattern repeating as branches rise up the tree. They should also reduce in size as they ascend and there should be plenty of space between them.

The best time to prune depends largely on the type of bonsai you have. Some varieties prefer spring when the tree is about to undergo its most vigorous growth. Other varieties thrive better if pruned in the fall. You will probably need to do a little research on the maintenance and care of bonsai trees to determine the most suitable time for pruning your particular plant.

Your next step is to determine which branches detract from the appeal of your tree and earmark them for removal. That will mean taking out any that cross over the trunk or each other, as well as any that are growing on the wrong side or are too close to another.

Proper care of bonsai trees means it is usually necessary to prune hardest at the top of your tree where the growth is the most vigorous. If left alone, this top growth will pull nutrients from weaker, lower branches and spoil the look of your tree. Conversely, heavily pruning in one area will encourage growth in a weaker area.

When pruning branches it is best to cut them back to a bud that is pointing in the same direction in which you wish the tree to grow. This means any new growth will branch in that direction. A word of warning though – think carefully before making a cut and don’t get too carried away. You can’t put a branch back once it has been removed.

The best tools to use are secateurs or scissors,but make sure they are sharp enough to give a clean cut. Also ensure they have been cleaned first to minimise the risk of the wound becoming infected. A protective coat of suitable paste should be applied to any large cuts to minimise the risk of pests or diseases getting into the wound. Your pruning instruments should always be sharp and clean as blunt tools will leave a ragged cut more likely to lead to trouble in this regard.

Proper care of bonsai trees also involves pruning the roots. This is generally done every two to three years. Ideally you remove around a third of the root ball, snipping off the larger thicker roots. The mass of finer, hair-like roots left behind will be much more efficient at absorbing water.Very importantly, once you have repotted your bonsai after root pruning, you should give it a good soaking.

Once your tree is the desired shape you may still need to do what’s called maintenance pruning. This is a simple procedure able to be done using a finger and thumb to pinch off unwanted new growth.

As I stated in the beginning, pruning is essential for the proper maintenance and care of bonsai trees, and it can be scary wondering whether you are doing the right thing. However it’s this act which determines the shape of your tree, creating its unique appeal and thus providing the most satisfying aspect of this hobby. You simply need to think carefully, plan your moves and do your homework first.

Tags: Bonsai, care, Knife, Plant, Pruning, Taking, Trees

Taking Care Of Your Bonsai Trees

bonsai trees

Bonsai trees are extremely sensitive to their conditions and the caretaker needs to learn how to properly take care of these wonderful and attractive plants. Here are a few tips to ensure that you’re able to keep your tree healthy.

Bonsai trees are kept small by pruning the branches and roots and growing the trees in pots. A tree planted in a small pot is not a bonsai until it has been pruned, shaped, and trained into the desired shape. Bonsai trees are associated with artistic shapes and forms. This refers to the art of training and cultivating miniature trees in pots and containers.

Bonsai trees are not miniature naturally, but can be made out of any ordinary tree or shrub and are miniaturized through bonsai techniques. There are many different bonsai techniques, some are basic techniques while others are very advanced and only practiced by experienced bonsai masters.

These trees are living miniature trees and bonsai is the reproduction of natural tree forms in miniature. The practice of growing and forming these beautiful little trees has been going on for centuries in China and Japan. Bonsai trees are usually about balance, you do not want to get a tree that looks like it will fall over.

Branches that stick out towards you are also common pruning targets. Of course, what you prune from your plant should be your personal decision. Branches and twigs that can easily be bent towards the “good side” are tied together loosely with bonsai wire.

The more branches you can tie together, the more trees you will have for your little forest. Branch pruning should also occur near the start of spring. Pick the branches that you wish to keep and carefully remove the others.

Techniques cover both indoor and garden bonsai plants. Plants suited to bonsai pruning include ficus, azalea, Japanese maple trees, Chinese elm, bamboo, wisteria, gardenia and juniper.
Techniques such as cutting, pruning, and pinching are used to manipulate the pattern of growth and the result is a magnificent tree that is aesthetically pleasing to the eye. Today, Bonsai trees and their beauty fascinate western cultures.

Fertilize with a balanced tree fertilizer. Remember, bonsai are not houseplants. Fertilizer must be carefully monitored. Fertilization is usually very light and is usually applied in the spring just before new growth begins. During the summer bonsai may require daily watering, depending on the exposure and container size employed.

Trees are cultivated and groomed in a small container to stunt their growth and they are a beautiful miniaturized version of the real trees. It is possible to cultivate whatever trees you fancy. Bonsai trees are mostly outdoors and can often only be viewed indoors for a limited period of time before the tree is stressed and eventually dies.

Some reasons for this include improper temperature, humidity, air circulation and lighting. Bonsai trees are living miniature trees which increase in beauty and value as they mature over the years. Get into Bonzai trees for some are really dramatic patio or unique LIVING home and garden decorations.

Bonsai trees are intentionally allowed to become root-bound in their containers, and the roots, likewise, are pruned. But root-bound plants won’t thrive forever in that condition and bonsai trees must be re-potted every two or three years to leave the roots with new soil.

Bonsai trees are truly an art form. They are plants that are grown in trays or containers and developed so that they remain small. Bonsai trees are offered much more attention at their budding stage by the Bonsai farmer. The main aim of the Bonsai tree owner or Bonsai tree farmer is to provide all the conditions necessary for the Bonsai tree to grow up strong, healthy and aesthetic.

Tags: Bonsai, care, Taking, Trees

Taking Care Of Your Bonsai Tree In The Winter Season

indoor bonsai trees

Many people do not realize that most bonsai plants are outdoor plants. To properly cultivate and maintain most bonsai trees they should not be kept inside but should be outside year round.

There are a group of what are called indoor bonsai trees. These are from warmer climates and are usually non-traditional species such as palm trees. Because they are from a warmer climate they do need to be kept indoors in most locales.
However if you are keeping traditional native bonsai trees in the US then chances are that tree needs to be outside. Most people do not realize how important it is for these trees to be wintered outside in a natural climate. For your tree to have a healthy and natural growing cycle it is critical for it to have this period of winter dormancy.

To give your plant this necessary period you will need to winter it someplace outside. The best way to accomplish this is to remove the tree from it’s container and plant it in your yard.

In most native trees the roots are the part of the tree that is most sensitive to the cold. Most plants will start experiencing root damage at about 23 degrees Fahrenheit. To help avoid root damage you will need to take the plant out of its container and then bury it in the yard or garden.

If you bury the plant so that the bottom branches are just barely exposed this should help keep the roots below the frost line. You should bury it in a shaded area. During the winter days the sun can cause the plant to lose it’s water and the frozen roots will not be able to replenish it.

If you do not have a yard to plant the tree in for the winter you can use a large container. A large container about the size of a vegetable crate should be sufficient.

You bury the plant in the container just like you would in the yard. And set it somewhere outside where will be exposed to natural elements. If you use a container it is very important that you monitor the soil moisture closely and do not allow it to dry out.

You can also winter your tree in an attic or garage as long as it is not heated and has windows. Be sure to place the plant where it is exposed to the light from the windows. You will still need to water the plant almost daily if you choose this method. If you plant is a conifer you will want to rotate it about once a week to so that all sides of the plant will be exposed to the sunlight.
You can prepare your tree for it’s winter storage as soon as the last leaves have fallen off. At that time the plant is dormant and ready to be moved.

In the spring you can remove it from the yard and place it back in a container as soon as you see the first buds appear. If you allow your plant to winter indoors they will bud early. When they bud early the days will still be too short for proper growth and the leaves will have long gaps between them.

Tags: Bonsai, care, Season, Taking, Tree, Winter

Taking Care of Your Bonsai Tree

indoor bonsai trees

If you want a bonsai tree or if you are thinking of having one but don’t have enough knowledge about it, you might want to rein yourself in before getting one. You first need to learn the basics about bonsai tree care. Taking care of a bonsai trees isn’t as easy as taking care of any other plant that needs the usual watering, sunlight exposure, and fertilizer. In fact, it is quite challenging since it involves a number of different factors beginning with the type of bonsai tree that you have.

You have to be vigilant when taking care of your bonsai tree. Its container provides little protection, water and nutrients can easily be depleted. 

When watering your bonsai, you have to consider the species of your tree. Some species can tolerate constant moisture while others thrive in instances of dry periods. As a general rule, avoid heavy watering because it makes your bonsai tree more vulnerable to fungal infections and may cause the roots to rot.

Meanwhile, there should also be some protection to keep the moisture in the soil and prevent it from quickly drying due to wind and sun exposure. Excessive drying of the soil will produce massive damage to the roots of your bonsai tree and is the quickest way to kill your plant.   Another vital factor in bonsai tree care is about putting fertilizers on your tree. Because bonsai trees are contained in small pots, they have limited soil so nutrients are scarce. Thus, your bonsai needs three main ingredients – nitrogen, potash, phosphoric acid. Your bonsai will need less feed in spring and more in the fall. 

Providing your bonsai tree the adequate amount of sunlight is also essential to keep your tree lush. If you have an indoor bonsai tree, situate your bonsai near the window to receive enough light exposure. However, if it is an outdoor bonsai tree, you have to appropriate a shade to control the light being received by your tree as too much sun exposure may dry the soil.   Lastly, a young bonsai tree is normally repotted every two years and becomes less as it matures. Repotting and root-pruning helps the bonsai to develop as new roots grow to absorb more moisture and nutrients efficiently.

A well-maintained bonsai tree provides a beautiful ambiance. By following these tips, you are assured to enjoy its beauty for many years.

Tags: Bonsai, care, Taking, Tree