Bonsai is the art of cultivating these miniature trees and has been a function of japanese culture since the early fourteenth hundred. But which was once enjoyed only by the wealthiest upper berth class and high-level citizens of japanese company, has nowadays become an art form enjoyed by people all over the worldly concern. 1 This guide explains everything you need to know about how to care for a bonsai tree so that you can cultivate this art form to fit your unique tastes and find your own indoor (or outdoor) tree expression!
Bonsai Tree Care: 5 Steps for Healthy, Flourishing Results
Learning how to care for a bonsai tree 6 can be intimidating at first. here are a few pointers to help anyone care for their bonsai tree. It is a well-put and handy template with quick tips for easy reference. After you have chosen the assortment of bonsai you want to grow ( based on the tropical needs of the plant ), follow these steps. Related Reading : How to trim a Bonsai corner perfectly with goofproof technique
#1. Placement: How To Position Your Bonsai Tree
To figure out where to put the bonsai, you ’ ll need to know what kind of tree it is and whether it ’ s an outdoor or indoor plant. 
The most popular type of bonsai trees, such as pine, juniper, and spruce up trees, are outdoor plants that should be exposed to the elements just like their larger counterparts. Outdoor bonsai trees are besides deciduous, which means their leaf change with the seasons. Maples, elms, and ginkgo are among them. Indoor bonsai trees are typically subtropical species that require coherent temperatures throughout the class to thrive. adulteress plants, hawaiian umbrella trees, and ficus trees are examples of these. 1 The rest is fairly simple once you ’ ve determined what type of bonsai tree. hera are some general guidelines for positioning bonsai trees that should apply to all kinds of bonsai trees .
- Positioning: Keep the bonsai away from direct heat or drafts.
- Lighting: Place the bonsai in an area that receives plenty of sunlight.
- Humidity: Bonsais require humidity to keep their soil moist.
Indoor Bonsai Location Tips
In most homes, the merely place a Bonsai will thrive is near a south-facing window, as plenty of light is all-important for the health of your tree. even a few feet away from a window, the light intensity drops importantly, slowing growth and finally killing your Bonsai. 
Indoor bonsai are typically ( substitute ) tropical corner species such as Ficus or Carmona, which necessitates a relatively high humidity charge. Placing the Bonsai on a humidity tray will aid in this process. Place indoor trees in a localization that maintains a coherent temperature throughout the day. 2
Outdoor Bonsai Location Tips
Depending on where one lives, most trees must be kept outside all year. The annual cycle is critical for the health of most trees ; for exercise, overprotecting the tree during the winter season will weaken the tree. 
As a cosmopolitan convention, place the outdoor Bonsai 7 in a bright, well-lit placement. If the summers are particularly hot, offering afternoon shadow will benefit the trees, but you may need to protect the trees during the winter using clear plastic or bringing them in, depending on you growing robustness zone. 2
#2. Watering: How To Water Your Bonsai Tree the Right Way
lacrimation is the most crucial aspect of learning how to care for a Bonsai tree. The frequency with which a tree should be watered is determined by several factors, including the tree ’ second species, size, pot size, prison term of year, soil mix, and climate. Understanding a few basic guidelines will help one sympathize and identify when a tree needs to be watered. Under-watering is the leading campaign of bonsai tree death. The soil layer is prone to drying out cursorily due to its shallowness. Water bonsai trees a soon as the top layer of soil appears dry. Watering frequency can vary depending on the type and size of your corner, angstrom well as the type of dirty one uses, and can even be once a day. As a solution, rather than following a act, it is best to water each of the bonsai plants individually. The independent finish of watering the bonsai tree is to completely saturate the settle system. Continue watering until body of water escapes through the drain holes to ensure proper saturation. many bonsai trees come with a tray to collect excess urine to allow for proper drain .
- Overwatering can be harmful to the bonsai tree as well. Yellowing leaves and shriveling of smaller branches are signs of an overwatered bonsai.
- Overwatering a bonsai causes its roots to drown in water and deprive it of oxygen, preventing further growth to support the tree.
- Overwatering can also be caused by poorly draining soil.
Inspect your bonsai tree on a daily basis to ensure that it is by rights watered. The general rule is to water angstrom soon as the dirt appears to be dry. 3
How Often Should You Water the Bonsai? (Practical Tips)
The frequency with which a Bonsai should be watered is determined by a variety show of factors, and providing an demand scout is impossible. The winder is to examine each tree individually. The guidelines below outline what to look for and how to determine when to body of water the Bonsai : 
- Water The Trees When The Soil Gets Slightly Dry
Don ’ triiodothyronine water the tree if the territory is distillery besotted, but besides don ’ metric ton let it dry out. As a novice, one must check the territory moisture with their fingers about one centimeter ( 0.4 inches ) deep. Water the tree if it appears to be slenderly dry. This will become clear as one gains experience. When the tree needs water, one will be able to see it quite than feel it .
- never Water On A even footing
Keep an eye on the trees individually to see when they need to be watered. Avoid watering all of the trees on a daily footing until you are convinced about the tree ’ mho needs .
- Use The Proper Soil Mixture
The soil concoction has a significant impingement on how frequently trees need to be watered. Most Bonsai trees thrive on a 12 to 14 to 14 proportion of akadama, pumice, and lava rock. If you ’ re unable to water plants on a regular basis, use a concoction that retains more water by using more akadama or flush compost in their pot. 3
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Self watering planters can be used, but make certain to check out the full instructions and capabilities before using it. Another option is to chose mist for plants sprayers to help keep your Bonsai tree hydrated .
#3. Fertilizer Ratio: Fertilizing Your Bonsai Tree
regular fertilization during the growing season is essential for Bonsai survival and growth. Trees can normally extend their root organization in avocation of nutrients, but because Bonsai are limited to the fairly bantam pots they are planted in, they require proper fertilization to replenish the nutritional contentedness of the territory .
Fertilizer’s Fundamental Components
Any fertilizer contains three basic elements : nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium ( NPK. ) nitrogen promotes the growth of leaves and stems, arsenic well as above-ground increase. Phosphorus promotes goodly root growth equally well as the increase of flowers and fruits. potassium improves plant health in general. Different NPK ratios are frequently used by growers for respective plants and at different times of the year. Experts, on the other hand, advise using the same NPK ratio throughout the Bonsai growth cycle. In addition to the three macronutrients ( NPK ), fertilizers can contain a kind of micronutrients such as iron, manganese, boron, molybdenum, zinc, and copper .
When Should Fertilizer Be Applied?
many Bonsai trees should be fertilized throughout the growing season, from early spring to mid-fall. Based on the diverseness, meter of year, phase of growth, and health of the tree, older and more mature trees are much fertilized less frequently. All year hanker, indoor trees can be fertilized. 3
Which Fertilizer Should You Use?
It is critical to select the proper fertilizer for the Bonsai plants and apply it in the proper quantities. For outdoor bonsai, use a fertilizer with relatively high nitrogen contented, such as NPK 10:6:6. In the spring, a more ration fertilizer like NPK 6:6:6 is preferable for summer, and a low Nitrogen fertilizer such as NPK 3:6:6 is preferable for fall. Experts recommend using a balanced fertilizer across the emergence cycle and gradually decreasing the amount applied toward the end of the growing season. subtropical tree species are typically observe indoors and are not submit to seasonal changes. They grow all year and require reproducible fertilization, so use a balance fluent fertilizer for indoor Bonsai and follow the instructions on the intersection box. There are a few exceptions to using unlike NPK ratios that should be mentioned. A eminent Phosphorus fertilizer, such as NPK 6:10:6, can aid in the flowering growth of a Bonsai tree. For older or more mature Bonsai, using a fertilizer with a importantly reduced Nitrogen message or minimizing the book of fertilizer used can be beneficial. Bonsai fertilizer is like to other types of fertilizer, but purchasing from an on-line Bonsai memory ensures you get the proper NPK values to encourage Bonsai growth. Biogold is a popular fertilizer among Bonsai aficionado, but any fertilizer with the appropriate NPK value will suffice. Fertilizers come in liquid, solid, synthetic, and organic forms .
What Amount of Fertilizer Should You Use?
The amount of fertilizer 8 one uses and the frequency with which they apply it can differ depending on the fertilizer they purchase. To ensure that one feeds their Bonsai correctly, they should follow the instructions on the fertilizer box. To avoid salt buildup, they should make sure their Bonsai is planted in proper, well-draining Bonsai land. alternatively of stimulating growth, one can choose to consider reducing the commend measure of trees that are no longer in train. If using solid fertilizer, it is beneficial to use fertilizer covers to ensure that the fertilizer remains in place. Overfeeding the trees will have grave ramifications for their health .
#4. Pruning and Shaping Your Bonsai Tree
Pruning is necessary for maintaining bonsai trees ’ minor and compress supreme headquarters allied powers europe. Pruning is classified into two types : sustenance cut and structural cut. 4
Maintenance Pruning
sustenance snip helps to strengthen the tree by stimulating new growth. By removing unseasoned shoots and leaves, one exposes the leaves beneath to sunlight and atmosphere, which strengthens the tree and improves its overall health. 
Branches, buds, and leaves are examples of areas that require care cut. Pruning encourages the growth of smaller branches and gives one control over the form of the tree. Trimming bud aside from branches encourages the growth of smaller leaves by producing more compress leaf growth. typically, one should prune their bonsai tree when they notice modern growth that is changing the determine of their tree in an unfavorable way. Pruning flowering bonsai should be done in the spring to encourage more flowers to grow the follow year .
Structural Pruning
structural snip is a more advanced method that should be performed only while the tree is dormant. It entails the removal of the tree ’ sulfur basic structural branches and necessitates the expertness of a professional to ensure the tree ’ south recovery. Wiring the branches of the bonsai corner is another way to by rights shape it. Wrapping a thin wire around certain branches allows one to control their shape and growth pattern. Wiring is best accomplished in the winter when the bonsai tree ’ sulfur leaves have fallen off. Keep an eye on the branch ’ mho growth and consider removing the wire as needed. If the ramify grows excessively quickly, it may grow into the wire, causing scar .
#5. Soil Selection: Choosing the Correct Bonsai Soil
The secret to selecting the correctly dirt for the bonsai is to select one that provides adequate drain. To improve drain and incorporate air into the dirt, add large granules to the land mix, such as volcanic rock or stones. The ideal soil combination should also be capable of retaining water, which can be enhanced by the addition of clay. Fertilizing the bonsai ensures that it receives the nutrients it requires to stay healthy. 9 A wholesome bonsai fertilizer is composed of equal measures of nitrogen, morning star, and potassium. Before fertilize, thoroughly watered the tree, as it is damaging to fertilize the tree while the land is dry. To avoid overfertilization, read the fertilizer ’ sulfur instructions cautiously .
Repotting Your Bonsai
Repotting is an significant separate of keeping the bonsai tree healthy. Repotting is done to eliminate surfeit roots that can end up causing the tree to starve or not obtain adequate nutrients for its size. Repotting besides guarantees that the corner can continue to flourish in a minor container. Repotting bonsai trees should be done every two to five years, depending on how quickly they grow. 4 
The trace are the fundamental steps for repotting a bonsai corner :
- Remove the tree from its pot with care.
- Trim away the outer layer of roots with sharp shears.
- Inspect the root mass for rot and cut away as needed. These areas may indicate that the bonsai is not receiving adequate drainage.
- Remove any brown or green spots from the pot itself.
- Cover the drainage holes with mesh squares to keep the soil from falling out.
- Place the tree on top of the soil at the bottom of the pot.
- Soil should be used to fill any remaining holes or gaps where the root once existed.
Which Bonsai Grows Best Indoors?
Indoors, one can grow a diverseness of subtropical and tropical trees. The Ficus Bonsai is the most coarse and easiest to care for. The Ficus is very resilient and tolerant of low humidity, making it a great option for beginners. Dwarf jade, hawaiian umbrella ( Schefflera ), Fukien tea ( Carmona ), and Sweet plum are besides popular indoor Bonsai ( Sageretia ). The tree will thrive indoors if one can master how to care for a bonsai tree and look after it properly. 4
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Why Can’t You Keep Non-Tropical, Temperate Bonsai Indoors?
As previously stated, temperate trees undergo a moment of quiescence in the winter. The annual growth cycle ends during this period of dormancy, and the tree prepares for the future bicycle, which begins in early spring. Weather conditions and light intensity gradually decline over several weeks, which does not occur if temperate trees are kept in the house. This time period of dormancy is unnecessary for tropical and subtropical trees. Bonsai trees not only look cover girl and elegant, like all trees, they sequester small amounts of carbon paper emissions. While a Bonsai garden may not have a giant impact, you can go even further and invest in tree planting carbon paper stolon strategies that are designed to rebuild existing ecosystems. Offered by the best carbon set-back companies, these types of plans work to rebuild the satellite while besides reducing your eco footprint. Knowing how to care for a bonsai tree is all that’s needed to jump into this wonderful, artistic and natural hobby.
