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[C223]Caring For Bonsai Trees

by Lanny Hintz, Lan

Bonsai trees are small or miniature trees that are placed in pots or trays. According to the World Book, the bonsai word means “tray planted.” It originated among the Japanese and Chinese aristocrats a long time ago and is currently a popular hobby among plant enthusiasts worldwide. You can find several kinds of bonsai trees like the typical ones which are the formal upright trees or those that are bended and curved artistically for aesthetic purposes. Not all trees are suited to be grown into bonsai trees. The popular ones include evergreens, pines, fruit trees like cherry and plum just to name a few.

Caring and growing bonsai trees are difficult and it often takes years of practice for some to master the art of growing them. The trees have to be properly pruned to keep it small and healthy. It entails a lot of patience, time and skills for that matter. Before deciding on a particular bonsai tree, plan on where you want to put it. Some types can be grown outdoors and some indoors. If you prefer to have it indoors, choose those kinds that are well suited for the indoors.

Bonsai trees require special attention and care for it to thrive. Bear in mind that we have constrained the tree's growth into a pot or tray. Since bonsai trees are planted in an area with a limited amount of soil, you need to check the frequency with which it needs to be watered. We have to keep the soil moist and damp to ensure that it has enough supply of water to nourish it. You can check the dampness of the soil by placing your finger about several centimeters deep into the soil to feel if it is dry or you could use a water meter if you have one. If it is necessary to water it, give it enough water and ensure that it drains through the bottom of the holes in the pot or tray.

For its daily dose of sunlight, place your bonsai tree outdoors especially if it requires some direct sunlight. To ensure soil nutrients regularly schedule fertilization for your bonsai plants.

These are just some of the basic things you need to do to properly take care of your bonsai plants. Before buying any bonsai always ask and research for more information to ensure that your bonsai will live for more years to come.

Watering - This is the most important aspect of caring for bonsai, especially for bonsai that are kept indoors for too long. Two things to remember about providing water for bonsai are the type of soil and species. Different soils will absorb and retain water at different rates and different tree species have varying degrees of water need.

A rough rule of thumb is that approximately 75% of water gets taken up via the root system and 25% via the leaves. Because the leaves are an important water absorption surface, you should ensure that you keep them soil and dust free.

Make sure that you don't use excessive pressure when watering your bonsai. A fine mist will generally be adequate. You can get watering bottles that expel water in a vapour form which are excellent for this purpose. Tap water is fine for watering bonsai just ensure that it's of a medium temperature, neither too hot nor too cold.

Soil choice is also critical to the health and longevity of your bonsai tree. You should match the soil type to the tree species. A rough and ready guide is that 30 per cent humus and 70 per cent grit should be used for needled evergreen bonsai trees and 70 per cent humus mixed with 30 per cent grit for deciduous trees. You will need to ask advice or get a good book to help you with soil choice for the rarer species.

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.

First, consider the style you've chosen for a particular bonsai. Draw an imaginary line over your bonsai and cut the branches that protrude, obstruct or deviate from that line. Second, prune to redirect growth to one area. If you prune the left side heavily, you will redirect growth to the right side.

You should prune leaves and buds with care. Always keep in mind that you're growing a miniature tree and you have to exert the discipline on the tree in order to achieve this. The tree will always want to grow to full size so if you leave it to its own devices, that's what will happen.

You're going to have to exert a lot of loving care if you're going to achieve your objective of a beautiful bonsai tree. It's going to involve a lot of work over a long period of time, but if your heart's in it, I think you'll find it well worthwhile.

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Both Lanny Hintz & Alan Allport are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Lanny Hintz has sinced written about articles on various topics from Hypnotherapy, Leadership and Guide Guitar. Lanny Hintz writes about ,. Lanny Hintz's top article generates over 27100 views. to your Favourites.

Alan Allport has sinced written about articles on various topics from Health, Diabetes Treatment and Bonsai. Alan Allport is a long-time bonsai tree enthusiast who has had a bonsai site at for several. Alan Allport's top article generates over 2900 views. to your Favourites.