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General Information................................................................................................

What are the basics of effective Bonsai care?

Caring for your Bonsai tree involves many of the same activities associated with caring for a pot plant or an indoor plant. Well developed and healthy fibrous roots are essential for the continued good health of your Bonsai tree and repotting is an essential way to manage this process. Normally a young or fast growing Bonsai will need to be repotted roughly once a year; for less prolific growers or older trees it can be done as infrequently as once every five years. You should always try to repot during late winter or early spring when the buds start to swell.
Watering................................................................................................

It is important to water Bonsai early in the day before the temperature lowers in the evening. The type of plant you have will determine the watering regime you need to undertake. How much moisture the plant needs is a very important factor and you should always water the soil as thoroughly as possible to ensure that all the roots get a good watering.

Because the sun is at it’s brightest and strongest between the hours of 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. you should try as far as possible to keep your Bonsai out of the sunlight between these hours. It is also important to remember that electrical items around the house give off a very humid heat that can damage not only the leaves of you Bonsai but can also dehydrate your plants or trees and eventually kill them. It’s also important to alter your watering schedule to meet the demands of increased light, heat and humidity.
If your bonsai dries, follow these directions

Remove the remaining leaves
Remove the remaining leaves-this will prevent further drainage

Soil................................................................................................

You can use fertilizers to help the growth of your Bonsai plants, but it’s best to use mild ones that only contain trace elements. Trees are usually fed during the growing season to help with their growth and shouldn’t be used in either plants or trees during dormant growth periods.

Bonsai soil shouldn’t be costing you very much more than normal potting compost or bags of nutrient rich soil that you use in your garden. A good Bonsai soil, however, may contain a long list of ingredients including clay, soil and even bark. Some of these ingredients are loaded with the nutrients that your Bonsai will thrive on, and paying that little extra can certainly promote good healthy growth from your beloved project.
Whether you decide you want to use bags of Bonsai soil or make your own soil there are certain things you need to make sure of before planting your Bonsai in the soil. A good Bonsai soil needs to have excellent drainage to make sure the water can seep to the roots and out of the bottom of the soil and through the holes in your pot. It is a good idea to have two different soils, one coarser than the other. This way, the screened soil acts as a sort of irrigation for your plants.
As well as this, you may want to consider buying nutrient supplements that you can add when repotting or mix with the soil that you use. However, if you are growing your Bonsai in a suitable area this isn’t always needed.

Sink pot
Sink pot in a bowl filled with water and keep it there for half an hour

Retrieve the pot from the water
Retrieve the pot from the
water and leave it to strain out

Pruning and Repotting................................................................................................

The process of repotting a Bonsai tree is one that you should take seriously and follow these simple instructions:
First, you should tidy the tree by carefully pruning off any unwanted, long branches. Also, make sure the tree has been under cover for a few weeks if it is an outdoor Bonsai, this way the soil will be relatively dry. Once you remove the tree from it’s pot you will be able to see whether it really needs repotting. If it is root bound then you should repot it, however, if there are another few inches of room so the roots can grow a little longer then you can carefully replace the tree in it’s original pot and continue as normal.
You should remove surface soil from the roots either by hand or using a nylon scrubbing brush. Brush away from the trunk and be careful not to damage any of the roots. Removing the loose soil will give the Bonsai tree a healthier look and feel. Once you’ve removed most of the soil in this way, you can use a small, fine bristled paintbrush to remove the soil stuck in the roots or that has collected in the roots.
Use a Bonsai fork to comb out the roots. Do this by combing out the roots from underneath and then use scissors to prune up to a third of the roots and then cut out small wedges around the root base to allow fresh soil to collect and keep your Bonsai healthy. Add a layer of grit to the bottom of the pot and then add the Bonsai compst of your choice.
Take the time to position your Bonsai tree in the pot and then push a little more soil into awkward places. Complete this as often as you need to as mentioned above.

Pruning is necessary to maintain (or refine growth to obtain) the right shape of a bonsai and encourage new growth. Some plants naturally respond well to pruning, regardless of how intense, whilst other plants can find it hard to recover, especially when pruned at the wrong time of the year.
To prune correctly you must find out the type of plant your bonsai is and research when the best times are to prune old and new season growth. Generally, new growth is pruned during the growing season to maintain the shape of the bonsai, whilst pruning of hard wood (old season growth) is done in mid-autumn.
The main factor in maintaining bonsai is the removal of all but the most important parts of the plant. Bonsai is all about the reduction of everything just to the essential elements and ultimate refinement.
Place the bonsai in a transparent plastic bag
Place the bonsai in a
transparent plastic bag - pay
attention, the bag mustn't
touch the tree, because it
would cause putrefaction.
Keep the bonsai this way until
it starts to leaf (this may last
anything from a few days
to a few month).















Roots pruning
Example: Roots pruning

About the Authors:
Andrew Green, Bonsai HQ, for lots of information about looking after your bonsai.
Rob Mellor, owns a great website helping people find out more about the bonsai trees http://www.lost-bonsai-secrets.com
Bonsai Forest Resources
 


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bonsaiTALK Community
Updated :

Sumo boxwood
This is the latest image of my sumo boxwood Height, including pot, is 7.5 inches. The height when I aquired it was about 2 feet. Chopped and carved. Mike
Author : forums@forum.bonsaitalk.com (mike_p)
Publ.Date : Wed, 23 Jul 2008 18:28:16 GMT

coast redwood seedlings.. need advice!
about 2 weeks ago i put 12 coast redwood seeds in spagnum moss 1/4-1/8 inches deep an the i did 12 of the same in potting soil, so far 10 sprouted in the spagnum moss and only 4 in the soil which i moved to the spagnum moss and they don't seem at all traumatized, how long should i wait to...
Author : forums@forum.bonsaitalk.com (maddogcorbs)
Publ.Date : Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:00:21 GMT

advice on coast redwood seedlings in philly area
about 2 weeks ago i put 12 coast redwood seeds in spagnum moss 1/4-1/8 inches deep an the i did 12 of the same in potting soil, so far 10 sprouted in the spagnum moss and only 4 in the soil which i moved to the spagnum moss and they don't seem at all traumatized, how long should i wait to...
Author : forums@forum.bonsaitalk.com (maddogcorbs)
Publ.Date : Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:54:23 GMT

[Bonsai-Today] The suiseki collectors meeting in Libcany
The first this years action of suiseki collectors in BC Libcany ... (T. Homola, K. Serak, 09.01.05 12:51) http://www.bonsai-today.cz/displnewsn.php?cl=1105271467
Author : forums@forum.bonsaitalk.com (Bonsai News)
Publ.Date : Wed, 23 Jul 2008 04:00:02 GMT

Penjing Elm, After 8 Years????
Hello all......Just wanted to get some feed back on one of my ideas that became a reality. I purchaased this chinese elm about 8 years ago. It is one of my first real bonsai.....and yes,...lol. It survived my first first years that I started bonsai. It is a very forgiving tree. Anyway, There...
Author : forums@forum.bonsaitalk.com (october)
Publ.Date : Wed, 23 Jul 2008 22:36:17 GMT

Bonsai TRUEisms
As a student of bonsai through the years there have been many interesting little tidbits of information that have come my way. Of course these represent my experience and I am sure yours is different. I would love to hear some of your TRUEisms related to our shared passion. John (I have...
Author : forums@forum.bonsaitalk.com (JohnG)
Publ.Date : Wed, 23 Jul 2008 21:04:44 GMT

How a tiny bug is ravaging Colorado's forests (mountain pine beetle)
Watch your Pines. :o http://www.newsweek.com/id/148297/
Author : forums@forum.bonsaitalk.com (tree bender)
Publ.Date : Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:20:29 GMT

Need advice on coast redwood seedlings!
about 2 weeks ago i put 12 coast redwood seeds in spagnum moss 1/4-1/8 inches deep an the i did 12 of the same in potting soil, so far 10 sprouted in the spagnum moss and only 4 in the soil which i moved to the spagnum moss and they don't seem at all traumatized, how long should i wait to...
Author : forums@forum.bonsaitalk.com (maddogcorbs)
Publ.Date : Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:58:03 GMT

[BCI] Pittosporum
General Information: Pittosporum are evergreen shrubs or small trees. They have thick, glossy, dark gree, leathery ... http://www.growinglifestyle.com/us/h31/a83159.html
Author : forums@forum.bonsaitalk.com (Bonsai News)
Publ.Date : Wed, 23 Jul 2008 18:00:01 GMT

Horse Chesnut
Don't know it's botanical name or anything, just wondering what anyone knows about training this tree to be a bonsai?
Author : forums@forum.bonsaitalk.com (heatherrrs)
Publ.Date : Wed, 23 Jul 2008 19:01:42 GMT

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