How To Care For A Bonsai Tree

Various types of bonsai trees exist and each have their own specific needs, so it is important to learn the basics of how to care for a bonsai tree so you have a foundation to build your knowledge on. Bonsai tree care can be very tiring, but also very important and rewarding. Forms of water, humidity, pruning, housing, climate, and trimming are very important in the day to day care of a bonsai tree. In this article we will discuss the basics for Bonsai care to help you off to a good start.If you are looking for more detailed information, check out our Ultimate Guide to Bonsai Tree Care.

How To Care For A Bonsai Tree – The Basics

Water Treatment

Bonsai must have the proper watering to maintain a healthy and strong tree. When learning how to care for a Bonsai, a good rule of thumb is to once a week place the Bonsai tree in water. The tree will remain in the water until the bubbles stop reaching the water surface, essentially soaking all of the soil.  All the parts of the Bonsai should absorb the water.

Remember that watering the tree is an important part of caring for a Bonsai tree, finding the correct balance of water the tree needs is very vital for overall tree health. Too much water can rot away the roots, which will have a negative long term effect on the Bonsai tree. If the tree receives too much water the tree could die, too little water will eventually kill the tree also. An important tip on water for a Bonsai tree is to make sure that the soil is always somewhat wet, but not soaking wet. Never let the tree dry out from the soil, which is an indication of not enough water for the tree. Watering is an essential skill when learning how to care for a Bonsai tree, as you need to get it just right for each different species.

Soil

The type and mixture of soil is also very important part of caring for a Bonsai tree. Soil makes sure that the bonsai tree will have the proper nutrients and continue to grow strong along with maintaining good health. When choosing and inspecting Bonsai soil it is important to understand how much you will need to use. Make sure that you understand how the water will be retained in the roots. If the water is not retained properly than the tree will not be able to absorb the proper nutrients. If the proper nutrients are not absorbed than the Bonsai tree will become weaker. Each species of plants will require a slightly different mix of soils depending on the region of origin  so its always good to do a bit of research before re-potting to make sure you get the right mix.

Bonsai Pot Shape

Another thing to consider wen looking at how to care for a Bonsai tree is the pot your tree will grow in. Generally, the Bonsai pot should be two-thirds to three quarters as wide as the bonsai tree. The height of the Bonsai pot should be able to cover the trunk, but the height can vary based on the growth of the tree. It is important for the pot to have a good shape for future growth of the Bonsai tree. If the pot is too small than the tree will lack in growth.

Bonsai Climate

Climate protection is a very important for caring for a Bonsai tree. Many bonsai trees benefit from shade to protect the tree from drying out in hot conditions. The shade procedure is most beneficial in the summer as most Bonsai plants stay in the sun in winter and fall months. It is always important that the Bonsai tree is able to stay inside and outside.

Light

As stated above under climate, light is an important factor when looking at how to care for a Bonsai. Bonsai trees absolutely need light to survive. The light can be natural from the sun or artificial from regular lights. Many people will leave their tree in some form of natural sunlight for between 5-8 hours per day. The natural sun light time varies depending on the tree. Some people do not like putting their trees outside so an alternative approach would be to put the tree next to a window or glass door, but make sure it is not in direct flow of air conditioning, as this will dry out the tree very quickly. It is a good idea to have your Bonsai placed outside at least once every few days just as a safety measure, being that they are a smaller tree they are very fragile when taken out of their normal growing environment (i.e when taken inside).

Trimming

Trimming, which is similar to pruning, is an important way to shape and promote growth of  your Bonsai tree. Trimming can be very stressful for bonsai tree enthusiasts because if a mistake is made then the tree can be ruined forever, but it is a very important skill to learn when learning about caring for a Bonsai tree. The consensus is for a Bonsai tree to grow outward to keep the tree compact with a good shape. It is important to follow directions when trimming, especially if you are trying to make the tree into a unique historical shape.

Re-potting Bonsai Trees

After a year or so of growth, depending on the tree, you will have to re-pot your Bonsai tree. The reason for re-potting is because the roots will become stuffed and will have difficulty growing in a smaller pot. If you do not re-pot the plant than the tree will lack growth and root strength, so learning how to properly re-pot a Bonsai is an essential part of learning how to care for a Bonsai. When re-potting the bonsai tree it is important to select a pot that will help the tree continue to expand and grow. Each tree is different so the size of the pot will vary based on the tree.

Bonsai Tree Kits

Sometimes bonsai tree enthusiasts can get confused as to what they need for their tree. You can purchase a Bonsai kit that will help the tree with its progression and make it that little bit easier to learn how to care of a Bonsai tree. The kits vary based on the type of tree, but the good part about the kits is that they provide great information for Bonsai tree enthusiasts. The kits will tell you what to do with a tree and how to do it. The information will help the person keep a strong and growing tree.

Caring for bonsai trees can be a tough task; however, they learning how to care for a Bonsai tree is well worth the reward. Caring for a bonsai tree can be a very exciting hobby and one that will pay off for MANY years to come.