Bruce the Chef

By: Steve Welker

Bonsai trees need care similar to any other plant below is a basic outline of care for a Bonsai tree.

Lighting

Many people do not realize that most bonsai trees should be kept
outdoors year round. The few exceptions are the non-traditional
tropical trees which need kept inside if you are not in a tropical
environment.

Outdoor bonsai should be positioned where they will get six or more hours of light each day.

Indoor bonsai should receive two to four hours of natural or artificial
sunlight. For inside bonsai full spectrum flourescents can provide the
necessary light levels but the treen needs to be placed close to the
light.

Watering

More trees die from a lack of water or low humidity than anything. The
soil used to raise bonsai is normally a porous soil that drains well.
The type of soil as well as the shape and design of the pot will affect
quickly the soil dries out. Different tree types will require different
amounts of water to thrive. You will need to research your specific
species of tree for a general guideline and then closely monitor how
the tree grows to determine if it is being watered correctly. If you
take your pot and place it on top of some rocks in a tray full of water
this will help increase the humidity around the tree and will aid in
it’s growth. Along with normal watering about once a week you should
fully submerge the bonsai tree pot until no more bubbles escape from
the pot or the soil.

Pruning

Pruning serves dual purpos in the care of bonsai trees. Pruning removes
branches that clutter and hamper the aestetic design of the tree.
Pruning is
also used to direct and control the growth of the tree. You will also
have fine pruning sucha s pinching and leaf pruning to help encourage
branching. Always remember when you are pruning your bonsai that you
can always remove something later but it is very difficult to put it
back after you have cut it. So if in doubt leave it for now. You should
start with a light pruning then give it two or three weeks and wait for
the bounce back to decide if you need to do more. pay special attention
to developing the trunk, any where on the trunk that a branch is
allowed to grow will thicken. When pruning you need to keep the top and
bottom (roots) balanced for optimum results.

Fertilizing

Your average bonsai will need fertilized once or twice a month. You
should only ferterlize during the normal growing season. Us a water
soluble ferterlizer and apply it when the soil is already wet.

Soil
Proper soil choice is critical optimum bonsai tree care, the soil
affects the roots, feeding, and watering of your tree. The size and
shape of the pot affects both the appearance as well as growth and
health of the bonsai. As a rule of thumb be about 3/4 as wide as the
tree is tall and about half as deep. The height of the pot should be
roughly the same as the diameter of the trunk. Bonsai soils are
designed to optimize drainage. They are usually a mix of coarse sand or
gravel with peat or bark added for an organic element. Different trees
will need various ratios of grit to humus. Usually dedidious trees need
about 70% humus and 30% grit while evergreens will thrive better with
30% humus and 70% grit.

Re-potting

Re-potting is a critical element of bonsai care. It is crucial to help
keep the roots and top of the tree in balance. Bonsai trees should be
re-potted every two or three years. When you re-pot the bonsai you need
to trim the roots. You will normally want to remove about 1/3 of the
root ball. You need to trim all away around the ball to keep it in
balance.

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