What is Bonsai Fertilizer ?

Bonsai initially originated in Egypt thousands of years ago and moved to China. The term bonsai is widely known and understood and yet the art was originally found in China by the name of penjing. The Japanese art of bonsai stemmed from this and so is actually more modern than the Chinese. However the Japanese version is the one which is more widely known. Growing dwarf plants in containers was also popular, but by modern bonsai standards the container plants of this period were inappropriately large.

Bonsai Fertilizer Potting Tips

Bonsai pots are produced all over the world, some are higher quality than others and some are highly collectable such as ancient Chinese or Japanese pots made in highly touted regions with experienced pot makers such as Tokoname, Japan.

Most evergreen bonsai are placed in unglazed pots while decidous trees are planted in glazed pots.

Repotting a bonsai tree takes place at different times depending on what type of tree is being shaped. This is to balance the growth of the roots with the other parts of the tree.

Bonsai Fertilizer Pruning Tips

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 such as 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.

Finger pruning is not compatible with all plants. Deciduous trees such as maples and Chinese elms require scissor tip pruning. With these trees you must trim the unwanted new shoots back to match your predetermined design or sketch.

Leaves must also be in proportion of the tree. Leaves can be reduced in size depending on the species of tree you have decided to make in bonsai. The possibility of reducing the leaves size will dictate the size the bonsai will have. For example the Norway maple produce very big leaves so if you want to make it in a bonsai you would need to make it a big bonsai since a 15 centimeter bonsai would have leaves half it size.

Bonsai Fertilizer Soil Tips

While you are in the business of pampering your plant check the soil every once in a while. Look out for fallen leaves which when left lying on your soil can attract insects. Keep everything clutter-free as much as possible.

Some bonsai enthusiasts prefer to cover their soil with moss. The Kyoto moss is popular because it is a fine bright green moss. Moss can be grown on a separate plate and then place over the soil once you have done a re potting. However some prefer to sprinkle the moss spore over the soil once they have re-potted their bonsai tree. Moss needs humidity and shade to grow.

The Kyoto moss is popular because it is a fine bright green moss.

Bonsai Fertilizer Techniques

Miniaturizing a tree to attain a beautiful artwork involves patience time effort and knowledge. A tree planted in a pot does not automatically become a bonsai. Unlike a regular tree or plant that can be left to grow by itself a bonsai tree or plant must be trained while it is still young. Several steps or procedures are to be followed while the tree is still young.

Various methods must be employed, as each species of tree exhibits different budding behavior.

It is very important to examine the roots at least every two years. Depending upon the age species and the size of the pot some trees can become root bound. Roots naturally curve within the soil and container. They will start to curve inward when they meet the side of the pot. They will be pressed for space and have nowhere to go but up when the available space is occupied by more roots. That's why root pruning is required.

Bonsai Fertilizer Tidbits

Make sure that you do keep you bonsai tree in the sun. Deciduous trees include elms and maples. These trees shed their leaves during the fall and re-bud at springtime. Most elm species fall into this category as does the apricot, hornbeam, and gingko. Like evergreen bonsai, deciduous bonsai also go through a dormancy stage at winter. Deciduous bonsai are not well suited to being grown indoors - the levels of light and humidity are too different from those in their natural habitat. Depending on the needs of your specific tree bonsai care requires that the tree receive some direct sunlight. If this is not possible your choice of tree should be based on the limited availability of light or alternatively the bonsai tree can be placed outdoors to receive its daily dose of Vitamin D. One cautionary note regarding sunlight: limit exposure if your tree has been recently placed into new soil or has been trimmed substantially.

Growing bonsai is not as hard as you may think, if you have the right information, you can grow them just as easily as anyone else. People enjoy gardening and use it as a way of relaxing and getting in contact with something bigger than themselves. Everyone does it at some stage of their life. That doesn’t mean to say everyone has to try the same type of gardening. Why not try something unusual and grow a bonsai tree? A person who wants to start growing bonsai as a hobby should first have a love for plants and a lot of patience because bonsai-growing is not easy. It takes a lot of hard work and determination to choose a suitable tree species to grow and prune regularly before a person can see the product of his efforts. This usually takes a year or more.

Today bonsai has become a household word. Small cuttings planted in shallow pots are sold as bonsai in department stores, garden nurseries, open air markets, and even at gas stations. These are not true bonsai such as produced by artists in Western countries as well as Japan, but they are a start. They at least introduce newcomers to the idea of growing a miniaturized tree in a pot. It is then up to the individual to read books, join clubs, and meet other bonsai enthusiasts in order to learn and improve their skills. In Japanese the word Bonsai roughly translates to ‘tree in a tray’ and is the art of sculpting by systematically pruning a bush or tree to achieve a miniature or dwarf like copy of a tree in its natural environment. Often people assume that Bonsai trees are naturally small but the reality is far from natural. Only the careful pruning of both roots and branches will determine a Bonsai tree. Everybody has heard of the Bonsai tree but very few people know anything about the history of the miniature shrub or where the tradition came from.

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