Caring For Your Bonsai Trees
The art form of reproducing full grown trees in miniature is known as Bonsai. With its origins in Japanese and Chinese culture, this art form has been practiced for centuries. With the right kind of care your tree will remain healthy and increase in beauty through the years. Follow these great snippets of gardening advice to care for your bonsai tree
Storage
Bonsai trees are best kept indoors. When placing your plants indoors remember they are intolerant of outdoor conditions unless your climate is tropical. You can move your plants outside for short periods of time, making sure to put them in an area where they will get the most sunlight. Once you bring them back inside you can take them back out after 2 or 3 days.
Watering
When watering your bonsai you can submerge the container in water letting it soak for about 5 to 10 minutes. Be sure to let the container to drain well.
Fertilizer
You should fertilize your plants once every four months using a mixture of 20-20-20 at half the rate that is on the label. You should never fertilize when the soil is dry and never over fertilize. This can burn out the rot system.
Pruning
You can shape your tree into any shape you wish with the proper tools and wire. Sharp scissors should do the trick when you need to make a cut.
Disease and Pests
Remember that your tree is an actual tree just in miniature form. Therefore the same considerations given to full size trees outside in your yard should be given to your bonsai. Always treat for any insect infestation as well as any diseases that could be detrimental to the plant.
There are many different types of bonsai you can begin with. For the beginning bonsai enthusiasts experts gardeners recommend starting out with either Juniper, Cypress or Ficus as these are the most common and easiest to maintain. By following simple steps such as these as well as learning as much as possible about your new hobby, you will be able to provide and care for your plants, allowing them to grow healthy and strong for years to come.