If we translate the Japanese word Bonsai word for word, we get the composition (growing in a pot). This is why the Bonsai is a small miniature symbol of nature that grows in pots. Continue reading this article in TooPlant in order to learn more about how to grow and care for Bonsai Tree.
Introduction of Bonsai Tree
Before addressing how to care for Bonsai Tree, please allow us to give you a brief introduction about this houseplant.
Did you know that growing Bonsai is an ancient Chinese skill?
This art became popular among the Japanese from about 700 AD and continues to this day.
At one time only the richest aristocrats and high-ranking members of Japanese society could enjoy these plants, but now it is an art that people all over the world enjoy.
It is not uncommon to see Bonsai for the first time. The usual scenario is this:
you get a Bonsai as a Christmas or birthday present. You love it and want to keep it good so it grows well.
In this article, we want to provide you with information about how to care for Bonsai Tree, so stay tuned with Tooplant.
Care for Bonsai Tree
In this part, we will focus on the most important aspects which you need to take into consideration while treating this houseplant. The best methods of how to care for Bonsai Tree include as follows:
Caring for a Bonsai Tree is very different from caring for a potted plant. One of the main reasons for this is that this plant is grown in small pots, so it has little storage to receive and retain water and nutrients. Another reason is related to selected plants, a tropical plant needs high light and humidity, and if you want to keep it as a Bonsai, you should try to provide good indoor conditions for it. A job that requires a little effort. But with proper care, your Bonsai will stay healthy, beautiful and miniature for years. Especially since this plant becomes more crowded and beautiful over time.
Bonsai is a special houseplant and a miniature tree designed with special art. For example, its roots and stems are shortened and planted in a container-like pot. In order for the Bonsai to take on a special shape, it is pruned in a special way or its twigs are wound.
Bonsai originated in China and Japan, and they have been making Bonsai for centuries. Many people believe that the art of making Bonsai is a relaxing way for the body and mind and can help reduce stress. Bonsai needs attention and maintenance, but you do not have to worry too much about it. Our suggestion is to start with Bonsai that do not require much care, for example Ginseng Bonsai. The Bonsai plant grows slowly, about a few centimeters a year.
Bonsai Tree Light Requirements: What light is best for Bonsai?
Light is among the first important issues to care for Bonsai Tree. Bonsai grows in small pots in a well-lit environment. With this in mind, a place like window sills is a good fit. Bonsai should be kept away from direct heat.
So, as shown above, light plays a significant role to care for Bonsai Tree.
Bonsai Watering: How often should you water a Bonsai Tree?
In the rest, concerning the tips of caring for a Bonsai Tree, it is better to know that you should never be indifferent to watering Bonsai. Water the soil when it starts to dry; Never allow the Bonsai soil to dry completely. If your indoor Bonsai is exposed to full sun, you may need to water it daily. This amount can vary depending on the size of the pot, the type of soil and the type of Bonsai tree. Therefore, watering is another important aspect in order to care for Bonsai Tree.
Know the amount of water needed by each tree and adjust the overall amount of watering accordingly. It is also a good idea to use a hygrometer to determine the tree’s needs. Watering of Bonsai should be done with a hose with adjustable degree or a suitable sprinkler; So that water is gently added to the soil and its flow does not damage the soil. Continue watering until excess water comes out of the drainage holes under the pot.
Rainfall is also one of the most ideal events for Bonsai watering.
In warm seasons such as summer, water it every day and in colder seasons, water it every 3-4 days. If you may forget to water regularly, use the immersion method: Fill a container with water, soak the Bonsai in it for 10 minutes, and then remove.
In this way, to care for Bonsai Tree, watering is considered to be of great significance.
Bonsai Tree Humidity: Does Bonsai like humidity?
Moisture is another thing which we need to inevitably pay attention to when talking about how to care for Bonsai Tree. During the colder months when you move the Bonsai completely inside the house, it is better to use the water-filled tray technique to provide the required moisture.
Choose a shallow tray, put pebbles in it and finally pour water on them. Then place the pot on the pebbles. Make sure that the pot does not come into direct contact with the water in the tray. This method provides the required moisture to the air around the plant and prevents the plant from losing moisture due to proximity to heating devices. Therefore, please do not forget to take humidity into consideration in order to care for Bonsai Tree in the best way.
Bonsai Tree Fertilizer: What is the best fertilizer for a Bonsai Tree?
When you want to care for Bonsai Tree, one of the important questions that may come to your mind is “what is the best fertilizer?” In what follows, we will address how to fertilize this plant:
If you want your Bonsai to stay healthy and beautiful, you must fertilize it. You know that Bonsai grows in a small amount of soil, so it is essential that you fertilize it to make up for the lack of minerals in the soil.
Any kind of general purpose liquid fertilizer is suitable for Bonsai. This type of fertilizer can be found in all flower and plant stores.
Our recommendation is to use half the recommended strength of fertilizer for this plant. Fertilization should be done at least once a month, except in the winter months. Bonsai also enjoys foliar application. In this method of fertilization, you should spray a liquid water-soluble fertilizer directly on the leaves of the plant. Spraying should be done every other month.
As a result, we could say that fertilizer is regarded as one of the fundamental issues when someone wants to care for Bonsai Tree.
Bonsai Tree Toxicity: Is Bonsai poisonous to humans and pets?
In order to care for Bonsai Tree, toxicity is considered to be a major issue because it directly relates to your health especially children. You should be careful that Bonsai is poisonous if eaten. So keep your Bonsai out of the reach of children.
Common Diseases
Bonsai is a tree that is kept small in size. So if your Bonsai suffers from pests or diseases, you should treat it like any other tree. A general solution is to spray a mixture of soap and water on different parts of the plant.
Caring for Bonsai: Seasonal Care and Maintenance
In what follows, concerning the methods of caring for a Bonsai Tree, we will address seasonal care and maintenance of this plant:
Spring, summer and autumn
If the temperature does not fall below 4 °C at night, it is best to place the Bonsai outdoors (such as on a balcony, patio, or terrace). In this case, the Bonsai should be at a point where full sunlight shines on it. Morning light and afternoon shade are best for Bonsai. If you want to make the Bonsai more beautiful, place it on a table, shelf or hanging vases.
Winter
When the night temperature drops below 4 degrees, you should move the Bonsai inside the house. The ideal place to place a Bonsai is next to a south skylight. East and west windows are the next choices. A north window is not bad either, but in this case, use special lamps to compensate for the low light. Getting 4 to 6 hours of sunlight a day is ideal for Bonsai. How much better if you can provide more light for that!
How Much Light Does A Bonsai Need?
One of the major problems with keeping a Bonsai at home is providing enough light. The amount of light received inside the house is significantly less than the outside environment; In fact, indoor lighting (and enclosed spaces in general) is too low for most Bonsai species. Insufficient light inhibits plant growth and delays pruning by stopping leaf growth.
Fortunately, most Bonsai stores now available in stores are optimally bonded for indoor maintaining and therefore accept low or artificial light.
Excessive sunlight does not immediately lead to plant death; But the plant grows so low that over time it pulls the plant to extinction. To prevent this, place your Bonsai near a south skylight. Choose a place that is always on during the day. You can also use fluorescent light bulbs. The use of these lamps, while enhancing the effect of sunlight, makes it easier to maintain the indoors Bonsai. You can also use very bright bulbs. If you keep the plant out of the sun due to the cold/heat coming from the window, use these lamps to compensate for the lack of light.
Caring for Bonsai: How Do you Water An Indoors Bonsai?
Watering is very important to care for Bonsai Tree and you should never forget it. In other words, Bonsai should not be thirsty, especially if it is in direct sunlight and outdoors. The exact watering time of each Bonsai is different and depends on the environmental conditions, soil type and plant needs.
One way to watering an indoor Bonsai is to gently pour water into the pot to cover the entire surface of the potting soil and not displace the potting soil. Watering in this way should continue until excess water comes out of the holes under the pot.
Another way is to place the Bonsai pot in a large container full of water whenever the surface of the Bonsai soil is dry; Cover the entire surface of the pot and do not reach the plant. When the air bubbles are gone, the pot has absorbed enough water and you can get it out of the water.
How Do You Keep A Bonsai Humid?
Humidity is also very important to care for Bonsai Tree and maintain its health, especially in winter. One good way to keep Bonsai moist is to use an island. You can easily build the island yourself. Place one or more layers of small stone in a shallow tray or container larger than the size of a Bonsai to cover the entire surface of the tray. Now pour water on it. Your island is ready. Just put the Bonsai pot on it. This water evaporates slowly and retains the humidity around the Bonsai. Remember to pour some water so that the bottom of the pot does not come into contact with water as it will cause root rot and destroy your Bonsai.
Where Should I Put My Bonsai?
Another thing to consider to care for Bonsai Tree is where it is kept. Place the Bonsai in a place that receives full direct sunlight, such as near a window or outdoors; Of course, if the conditions are right.
Indoors, a south-facing window is the best place to maintenance a Bonsai, followed by a west-facing or east-facing window.
The north window is also good, but you will probably need artificial light to grow your plants.
Bonsai need 4 to 6 hours of sunlight a day. If this is longer, it is better. The best place for a Bonsai is about one meter above the ground to be seen well, such as on a table, on a shelf or in a library.
Do Bonsai Trees Need Special Soil?
Bonsai needs special soil and it is clear that not every soil is suitable for it.
So it can be said that soil is another important element in caring for a Bonsai Tree.
Bonsai needs soil that has three important characteristics:
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- Have good drainage. That is, remove excess water quickly.
- Keep the water needed by the plant.
- The soil must also have large particles so that there is air flow inside the soil and oxygen reaches the roots.
Bonsai soil is available in the market today and you can easily use it.
These soils include Akadama, pumice and lava rock.
How Do You Fertilize A Bonsai Tree?
Another thing to consider to care for Bonsai Tree is fertilizer. If you want your Bonsai to stay healthy and beautiful forever, you have to fertilize it, and the main reason is that indoor Bonsai grows in a small amount of soil, so you need to fertilize it regularly.
 During the growing season, from early spring to mid-autumn, once a month, add fertilizer to the Bonsai soil. This fertilizer can be dissolved in water that you give to the plant along with watering or spray on the leaves. Regarding the suitable fertilizer for Bonsai tree, we must say that almost any type of general fertilizer for plants is suitable for Bonsai. Our suggestion is to use fertilizer at half the specified concentration.
Caring for Bonsai: How to repot your Bonsai tree?
Another thing to keep in mind when caring for a Bonsai Tree is repotting it. Bonsai basically, when their roots fill all the pots, it is time to repots them. Repotting is a basic issue to care for Bonsai Tree.
Therefore, in such cases, you should enlarge the pot and add some suitable soil to it.
The only thing you need to pay attention to in this regard is that it is better to repot the Bonsai in the middle of summer, that is, in August.
Regarding the change of Bonsai soil, we must say that your Bonsai soil should be changed when its soil is weakened.
It is interesting to know that almost all deciduous trees need to repot every two to three years and evergreens every four to five years.
How do You Prune And Shape A Bonsai Tree?
Take a deep breath first! One of the best moments of caring for a Bonsai Tree is when you prune it, it is very relaxing.
The main purpose of pruning a Bonsai is to maintain its beautiful appearance while growing. In addition, lightening the top of the tree encourages the plant to grow and strengthens all parts of it.
Pruning is one of the most important things you can do to care for your Bonsai tree. The more you know about the art of decorating Bonsai, the more you will understand how different and beautiful shapes Bonsai can be.
Pruning a Bonsai is an art that requires finesse and creativity, and the end result is wonderful. Pruning requires precision and concentration, and is itself a calming activity. The purpose of pruning a Bonsai is to shape or maintain its original shape. In addition, pruning the upper branches of the plant will cause the branches around the plant to grow and fill.
Be sure to use special Bonsai scissors to prune the Bonsai and never use ordinary scissors. You also do not have to pick all the new buds. First, pick the dried leaves of the plant. Then see which branches or leaves you need to pick to form the plant.
Pruning always keeps the Bonsai in miniature size. Cut the leaves and new growth marks from the nearest safe point to the stem.
You should never remove all the new leaves from the plant, but a small number of them should remain, because they are necessary to maintain and strengthen the health of the plant.
Tropical and subtropical trees, such as Bonsai, should be pruned regularly throughout the year. Because the growth rate of each tree is different, you should monitor their growth exclusively and develop a suitable plan for pruning new parts of the plant accordingly.
That’s why maintaining a Bonsai is so creative!
So, another thing to keep in mind when caring for a Bonsai Tree is pruning it.
What are the methods of Bonsai pruning?
There are two types of pruning: maintenance-pruning and structural-pruning. Maintenance-pruning strengthens the tree for new growth. Structural pruning is a more advanced technique that should be done when the tree is dormant.
This process involves removing the basic structural branches of the tree and requires professional skills to ensure the tree recovers.
Bonsai is a great gift for your colleagues and loved ones and brings beauty, peace and surprise with it. Since Bonsai is a living and miniature creature, the more it is taken care of, the more beautiful and attractive it will be. If you take care of the Bonsai tree properly, it will easily stay with you for many years.
So, to care for Bonsai Tree, pruning also plays an important role.
Infographic of Care for Bonsai Tree
In this article, we tried to explain to you in an infographic the essential tips in the care of Bonsai Tree, so that you can briefly and usefully learn the methods of caring for this plant.
In The End
In this article, we tried to provide you with the necessary information about the methods of caring for a Bonsai Tree.
However, if you have any questions regarding this indoor plant or you need to get advice from our houseplant experts, please share your questions with us through the comments section below.
