So, you have just been gifted a Bonsai for the first time and you hold in your hands a living, breathing plant. Given the right care and attention, this tree will give you year-round satisfaction for many years to come.
Every time it blooms and sprouts new shoots, or even when it loses the foliage with its autumnal colour, you will be enthusiastic, and your Bonsai will bring joy to your heart.
However, to experience these natural wonders and as with all living things, you must provide proper care and attention. Here is some guidance to help you on your way but over time you need to also use your intuition to as and when you must do things.
But first, let us start you on the way…
WHERE TO PUT YOUR BONSAI?
A common mistaken belief is that Bonsai should be kept indoors, however like any tree, most Bonsai are best suited to being kept outdoors. There are however Bonsai of tropical or subtropical origin which are adapted to living indoors, but for them to flourish certain conditions must be kept:
You should place your tree no more than 1 meter from a window where it receives about 2 or 3 hours of daily sun, preferably in the morning.
You should also be careful that it is not near radiators, stoves, televisions, or any source of heat as this will dry out the soil and the roots will overcook.
Likewise, if where your Bonsai has been placed has too many air currents, it will be in danger because the same as people, air currents affect our plants a lot.
If your Bonsai is kept outdoors you should be attentive to frost during the winter, because as our saplings are in small pots and the roots have little protection due to the scarce substrate, they are susceptible to freezing. You can protect them from frost in a PVC greenhouse and take good care to separate the pot from the ground using a plate or tray of polystyrene (white cork). You can also wrap the pots in newspapers, bubble wrap, or rags. Click here for more information about looking after your Bonsai during Winter.
Ultimately, if the frosts are very strong and you fear for your outdoor Bonsai, you can bring them inside your house, but in a room without heating and with lots of light, to respect the winter rest period.
PRUNING AND PINCHING YOUR BONSAI
Your Bonsai will continue to grow and develop throughout its long life and for the tree to maintain the shape it was given, and improve it, it is essential to cut back the new shoots that appear. To do this let the shoots grow a little and then cut them back to their old position, always keeping in mind to leave some foliage on that branch, at least a couple of leaves. This is because some species, when the branches are left without any leaves, will withdraw the sap and that branch would be lost.
Although your Bonsai can be pruned throughout the year, this pruning is best done during winter, or at most in early spring. If the shoots are new and we can cut them with our fingers, we call this action pinching, it can also be done with a very sharp pair of scissors.
Pruning is easy, we just must use good judgment when deciding what to cut, as with everything your judgement will improve over time.
WHAT FERTILIZER TO USE WITH YOUR BONSAI?
You should only fertilize your Bonsais from mid Spring to Early Autumn but be careful it is always better to not fertilize your tree than to over-fertilize and never fertilize a weak or sick tree.
It is preferable to fertilize with organic compost, if you use a chemical fertilizer, strictly follow the manufacturer’s instructions, and it is usually advisable to dilute the recommended dose in half as again it is always preferable to stay short.
HOW TO WATER YOU BONSAI?
One of the most important parts of Bonsai maintenance is watering and believe it or not, more saplings die by excessive watering than lack of.
A good rule of thumb is when you see the surface of the soil begin to dry, this is the right moment to water abundantly.
For the soil to absorb sufficient water, a good technique is to moisten it with a watering can, and after a few minutes repeat the operation. Do this as many times as necessary until you see water coming out of the drainage holes.
On Bonsai it always rains three times
In Japan it is said that on Bonsai it always rains three times, it follows the old Japanese custom of watering it three times:
- One for the pot
- One for the soil
- Another for the tree
This way the water will penetrate through the soil and the pot and there will also be water left for the tree to drink.
You will probably need to water more frequently during the summer and less during the winter and keep in mind that it is harmful to sit your Bonsai in water to absorb it. This method of permanently having your tree sit in water is dangerous and can lead to root rot. If while watering you use a saucer to collect the excess water, always remove this water.
It is also advisable to spray the foliage from time to time, as this removes dust from the leaves and gives freshness to the environment.
WHEN TO TRANSPLANT YOUR BONSAI?
One of the “mysteries” of Bonsai is root pruning, whilst It is just a routine process that takes place every two years or so during the winter.
To do this, we extract the tree from the pot and cut about a third of the root ball: Trying to cut the thick roots a little more, and a little less the fine ones, because the fine ones are what feed the tree.
Then we plant again in the same or another container, replacing the missing soil with new soil. We water abundantly, with some Benerva or Vitalbonsai in the water, and we leave the Bonsai in semi-shade for 15 days, then we can put it back in its usual place.
On a final note, the daily observation and review of your Bonsai is essential, as this is the only way to discover possible diseases and pests, a disease or a pest caught in time is a guarantee of a solution.
Overtime through following these steps you will become attuned to your Bonsai’s care requirements and you will know you have taken your first steps on the way of the Bonsai.
