8 Bonsai Tree Care For Beginners Tips To Ensure Success
Bonsai tree care for beginners will give you the best chance to keeping your bonsai alive and thriving.
If you are new to the world of bonsai trees, there is some basic information on how to properly care for your tree that all new growers should know. While it may seem like an easy task at first glance, knowing what bonsai trees need in order to grow healthy can be a difficult task for a new grower.
So, what if you know all about bonsai tree care as a beginner? We will cover some bonsai tree care as a beginner with basic tips and recommendations.
Why Bonsai Tree Care For Beginners Is Important?
Bonsai trees originated from Japan and China where they were originally used to assist in meditation. In these countries, caring for bonsai trees soon became a part of everyday life.
In order to get the most out of your bonsai tree, you need to know what plants require in their environment in order to flourish. There are a few basic steps that need to be followed when it comes to proper care but with a little patience and effort, you can create an eye-catching work of art.
As mentioned above there are quite a few things that play into bonsai tree care which include: water, sunlight, soil mix, and pot size just to name a few. However, all of these aspects play an important role in the health of your bonsai tree.
8 Basic Bonsai Tree Care Tips For Beginners
Watering:
It is important to know that bonsai trees do not require as much water as other plants. When you first buy your tree, it is a good idea to let the soil become dry before watering again.
Do not overwater your bonsai tree! This can be dangerous and potentially fatal for your beloved plant. Find out how often to water your bonsai tree so that it can thrive and stay healthy.
Sunlight:
Seeing as how you probably picked up your plant at a nursery, you should already know if it will need direct sunlight or prefers morning sun only.
Most varieties need between 5-8 hours of indirect light every day but there are some varieties that prefer less than this amount of time the sun. Knowing what type of tree you have will prevent your plant from becoming burned or damaged.
Soil:
It is important to know that bonsai soil should be well-drained and easy to water, but it shouldn’t stay soggy for too long.
To test your bonsai soil, simply grab a handful of the dirt and squeeze. If any moisture comes out then it needs more time to dry out before being watered again.
If there are no signs of moisture when squeezing the dirt, go ahead and water it until the excess runs through aluminum foil placed under the pot.
Pots:
Potted bonsai trees need special attention as well! Most experts recommend repotting your indoor bonsai each year in early spring because this is when most varieties start to wake up from their winter slumber. If the soil is wet, let it dry out before repotting.
There are four basic bonsai pot styles including round, upright oval, slant, and rectangle.
If you are planning on keeping your plant outside all year long make sure you are using a frost-resistant container because these plants love cold weather!
Fertilizing:
Fertilizing your bonsai tree is important to ensure that it receives all of the nutrients it needs in order to stay healthy and happy. Bonsai trees require fertilizers specific to indoor plants. These can be found at any nursery or hardware store, but make sure you get one without too much salt because this could burn your plant!
If you are unsure about which fertilizer to use, ask an expert or purchase fertilizer for houseplants instead.
Training And Pruning:
Proper training and pruning ensure your bonsai tree will grow into an attractive plant. However, you should not attempt to train or prune your bonsai until it has been in the same pot for at least a year.
Ventilation:
For bonsai trees that are outside, ventilation is important in order to ensure that your tree does not get overwatered. You can accomplish this by putting gravel at the bottom of the pot or by using a wire mesh with small holes drilled in it to keep the soil from completely touching the drainage holes.
Repotting:
The best time for beginners to repot their bonsai tree is early spring each year, preferably after new growth has begun. Repotting stimulates new root growth so your plant can support its next round of flowers and leaves.
However, just because you should wait until spring doesn’t mean you should let your plant sit around for months without being watered!
What Mistake You Should Avoid In Bonsai Tree Care For Beginners?
An indoor bonsai tree needs constant care and attention, just like any living plant. The most common mistake beginners make is not checking the soil moisture. If you choose to water your tree with a watering can be sure that the water does not touch the leaves of the tree.
Watering should really only occur when the surface of the soil looks dry.
Another thing beginner growers tend to do wrong is overfeeding their plants. Many times, people use fertilizers that are too strong for houseplants, leading to brown needles on the bonsai trees’ leaves.
The solution? Stop fertilizing until new green
Is Indoor and Outdoor Bonsai Tree Care the same?
One of the most common questions asked is “Is indoor bonsai tree care different from outdoor bonsai tree care?”. The short answer is no, but the long answer is yes. Indoor bonsais can be kept outside in the summer months if they are hardy enough for both inside and outside conditions, but you must carefully monitor their soil moisture.
If your plant soaks up too much water while outdoors, it could lead to root rot when you bring it back inside!
To ensure that your plant does not suffer damage due to excess sun or wind outdoors, slowly ease them into these new conditions over time. This may require bringing them indoors at night initially before leaving them out during the day with protection for more extended periods.
Final Verdict:
Though It may be problematic for Bonsai Tree Care For Beginners, it is also true that bonsai trees are very beautiful and attractive. Once you have adjusted them well, then the wonderful thing about these plants will be seen by you.
So, don’t put your confidence level low because with a little effort and dedication you can keep them well. Just select a suitable bonsai tree and start caring for it right now! Happy growing!