Plant care & info

Structural pruning establishes a style or design for the tree, and can involve removing a relatively large portion, up to 1/3, of the branches. It takes time to recover from that, so it’s important to give your little tree a break after a big prune. Think of this as a once a year thing, usually accomplished in early spring. Plan cuts carefully, as they will change the shape of the tree significantly.

Maintenance pruning, or trimming, can happen more often through the growing season. The goal is to maintain the shape, or to encourage new growth in the inner portion of the tree.

Wiring is one method used to shape a bonsai into something that looks old and wind-swept. Use soft wire made of aluminum or copper that’s roughly a quarter of the size of the branch where it’s applied.

It’s very important to remove or rewire before it has a chance to ‘bite’ into the branches and cause scarring or worse, to girdle the tree, blocking water and nutrients from traveling between the roots and leaves.

Repotting is necessary to keep plants from becoming root-bound and to allow for water and nutrients to be absorbed. Gently lift the tree from the container in late winter to look for circling roots, and repot if you find them. Tease the roots apart with a chopstick or root rake, removing the old soil. Prune only up to 1/3 of the roots, shortening those that are very long, but leaving a portion of fibrous roots intact.

To repot:

Cover the drainage holes with mesh.
Slide a portion of wire, bent into a U shape through the drainage holes to secure the roots. Be sure to cut enough to fit around the root ball.
Add a thin layer of bonsai soil, and place the tree on top, securing the root ball with wires.
Add more soil, using the chopstick to press soil into all the nooks and crannies in the root zone.
Water it, soaking the soil thoroughly. In the case of jade plants, wait a week before watering.

The goal of practicing bonsai is to create a miniaturized specimen in a pot that closely resembles mature trees found in nature, using styling and training techniques that have been long-practiced in Japan, with roots in China.

Any woody plant can be trained as a bonsai, but some are traditionally used. Bonsai specimens are typically full sized versions of plants that are trained to be small, rather than genetically dwarf plants.

Indoor vs. Outdoor Bonsai Care

Indoor Bonsai Care

Placement: Indoor bonsai are tropical and subtropical plants that can be kept as houseplants, and just like houseplants, they each have specific light needs. Some are also sensitive to drafts or quick temperature changes, so check the light and temperature requirements of each plant to decide on placement.

Adding grow lamps to improve the amount of available light can increase the options for placement considerably.

Water: Check on the watering requirements of your specific plant, keeping in mind that since there is limited root space, the roots can dry out quickly. During hot months, watering 1-2 times each day is not out of the question.

The more established the roots become, the more water they will need. It’s important to be sure the entire root ball is soaked when watering; submerging the root ball in a bucket of water may be needed to achieve this when the root mass is full.

If there are decorative pieces like gravel or bonsai figures in the container that will be disturbed by overhead watering, submerging the pot partially in a deep saucer and allowing it to soak up through the roots is a good technique.

Humidity: Houseplants generally originate from humid tropical climates, so they’re more successful if we increase the moisture in the air. Misting the leaves regularly, adding a humidity tray (a saucer of rocks and water that sits under the plant’s saucer and evaporates around the plant) or air humidifiers are good methods to try.

Food: Since bonsai soil has little to no organic matter, it’s very important to fertilize. Check the nutrient requirements for your specific plant before choosing a plant food.

Organic water-soluble fertilizers tend to be more mild and won’t burn the roots like synthetic fertilizers can, but they may be a bit stinky for indoors, so beware.

Generally, plants need more nutrients during the growing season, April-September, than during winter, so it’s recommended to scale back or completely stop feeding in winter.

Resources:

Indoor Bonsai plant options
Link Bonsai Empire at: www.bonsaiempire.com
Link: Bonsai Mirai www.bonsaimirai.com

Outdoor Bonsai Care

Placement: First things first…please keep outdoor bonsai, outside. They cannot thrive, and probably will not survive, indoors.

In your outdoor space, choose an appropriate site based on the needs for the specific plant. Keep in mind that because the roots are confined in a small container, plants can easily overheat and dry quickly, so even if a plant would prefer full sun if it were planted in the ground, it will be happier in afternoon shade.

Winter Protection: During extreme cold, many bonsai specimens, especially evergreen plants, should be protected. Plants growing in containers are more exposed to cold temperatures since their roots are not in the ground, and evergreen plants lose water through the foliage when it’s cold and windy.

A well-lit space that is no warmer than 50f is ideal. Unheated greenhouses, cold frames, a well-lit garage, or protected porch that’s not too windy may suffice. Covering plants during the duration of a cold snap could also work, as long as the covering is secured to the ground on all sides of the plant.

Food and Water: Plants in pots rely on you for everything, including food and water.

Water: Check on the watering needs of your specific plant, keeping in mind that since there is limited root space, the roots will dry out quickly. During hot months, watering 1-2 times each day is not out of the question.

The more established the roots become, the more water they will need.

If placed in an uncovered area, rain may take care of most of the watering during our wet seasons, but be sure to check plants regularly to be sure they’re getting enough. Remember to water during dry spells, even during winter; wet roots are warmer during freezes that dry roots.

Food: Since bonsai soil has little to no organic matter, it’s very important to feed them. Small amounts during the growing season, spring-fall, using a more nitrogen-dominant fertilizer in spring when more green growth is desired, and a potassium-rich fertilizer toward early fall, to strengthen the tree before frost. Organic water-soluble fertilizers tend to be more mild and won’t burn the roots like synthetic fertilizers can.

Resources:

Outdoor Bonsai plant options
Link to: Bonsai Empire www.bonsaiempire.com
Link to: Bonsai Mirai www.bonsaimirai.com

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