| ractice of Bonsai began in China and Japan | | | | fundamental concerns you need to keep in mind |
| hundreds of years ago, and is simple the | | | | whilst pruning your tree. Balance is very |
| miniaturization of naturally occurring plants and | | | | important, and keeping a nice even distribution of |
| trees. Bonsai trees are not "special small" trees, | | | | branches over the your roots below is key to |
| but rather trees that ave been slowly miniaturized | | | | keeping your tree healthy and complete. You |
| from their full size. | | | | begin shaping your tree when it's very young, and |
| The main areas of tree care are the following: | | | | continue to shape even as your tree ages year |
| Watering your Tree | | | | after year. Butterfly shears are used to remove |
| Bonsai Trees require more watering than most | | | | leaves and branches as needed. Large branches |
| plants, as they are grown in less soil and the soil | | | | should only be removed with a concave cutter. |
| itself is free draining (meaning it doesn't retain the | | | | Maintaining your trees appearance while minimizing |
| water and lets it pass through). The type of tree, | | | | the appearance of pruning is essential. |
| the sunlight it is exposed to all factor in to how | | | | Protecting your Tree (from disease and pests) |
| much watering should be done. You can tell if | | | | Similar to many other trees and plants, bonsai are |
| your Bonsai Tree needs water by looking at it, | | | | vulnerable to attacks by diseases and various |
| feeling the soil and if you prefer; by using a | | | | pests. If you keep your bonsai in excellent health, |
| moisture meter to be certain. | | | | you can ward of insects who are attracted to |
| Fertilizing your Tree | | | | dyeing and weak trees. A healthy amount of light, |
| Bonsai plants are grown in smaller amount of soil | | | | fresh air and clean soil will ensure your bonsai |
| compared with other trees and plants, therefore | | | | stays healthy and gives you years of enjoyment. |
| fertilizing and feeding your tree is key. You will | | | | Insecticide soap spray is an option, however you |
| want to fertilize once in the Spring and once again | | | | should re-apply on a regular interval to prevent |
| in the Fall to ensure maximum health and growth. | | | | attacks from coming back. |
| Your fertilizer should contain chelated iron, | | | | Training your Bonsai |
| nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash. Make sure | | | | Expanding on the training idea of pruning and |
| before you fertilize, to water your tree and then | | | | trimming, bonsai can be further trained using |
| apply less than the recommended amount. | | | | copper wise or hemp rope. The copper wire is |
| Misting your Tree | | | | rooted at the base of the tree and than wrapped |
| Bonsai trees and plants in general thrive in a humid | | | | around the trunk and branches, which allows your |
| environment, something that is somewhat | | | | to train the branches to grow in your desired |
| uncommon in most of the world. Some gardeners | | | | direction and shape. The wire should be wrapped |
| would recommend misting your plants, to | | | | closely but not too tight and the bends created |
| recreate this humid environment. The issue with | | | | should not be too extreme as to damage the |
| misting is that it's only a short term benefit to | | | | branch. Once the wire starts biting into the bark, it |
| your plant. We recommend placing a tray below | | | | should be removed. Removal should be done by |
| your tree, which you fill with water and allow | | | | snipping the wire at each bend, do not un wrap |
| natural evaporation to do the work to create | | | | the wire as it can damage the branches and bark. |
| humidity. Make sure the plant is setup off the | | | | Soil for your Tree |
| tray so the roots are not sitting in the water | | | | When discussing watering above we noted that |
| constantly. | | | | Bonsai trees use free draining soil, which means |
| Sunlight for your Tree | | | | that it passes the water through and does not |
| Bonsai trees thrive in a sunny location, and only | | | | retain like typical potting soil. The makeup of the |
| with a few exceptions (repotting, extreme | | | | soil allows the roots of your bonsai to breathe |
| trimming) it should live permanently in a sunny | | | | freely. Bonsai soil comes in two main types, |
| spot. It's a good idea to leave your plant within a | | | | conifer and tropical mixtures. When you repot |
| foot of a direct source of ultraviolet light. | | | | your tree make sure to do so with dry soil. |
| Southern (east/west okay too) exposure is best, | | | | Repotting your Tree |
| if you plan to grow in a northern exposure | | | | As your bonsai grows and matures it will need to |
| location you may need the assistance of grow | | | | move containers. However unlike most repotting |
| lights. Do not use Incandescent light as it is much | | | | we do not upgrade our pots to larger sizes. When |
| too hot and does not provide a complete | | | | the bonsai is repotted the roots should be |
| spectrum of light. Choose your type of tree | | | | trimmed to fit the previous container size. |
| wisely as some do better in less light and some | | | | Average time between repotting is 5 years, |
| require lots of light. | | | | however it should be checked annually to verify |
| Trimming & Pruning your Tree | | | | root ball size. When trimming the root ball, do not |
| One of the main attractions of Bonsai ownership | | | | remove more than 1/5 of the root material. Finally |
| is the possibility to shape and mold your tree to | | | | when repotting keep the bonsai out of the sun |
| meet your vision and desire. However there are | | | | light for at least a week. |