American Bonsai Society Article

How To Properly Water Your Bonsai Tree

Trees are generally self sufficient as they can absorb nutrients from the soil including water. The roots serve as a life line from the ground up into the tree to supply water and other nutrients. The Bonsai tree is considered a work of art at it is thriving and growing.

Bonsai trees are self contained in a pot. Therefore, they need extra special care and attention to assure that they are getting the nutrients that they need. However, they can be over fed and over watered which is equally as damaging and may kill the tree.

Bonsai trees need a very special diet including plenty of water and a nutrient mixture of nitrogen, phosphates and potassium. They also need vitamins and minerals to flourish.

A great way to provide nutrients to your Bonsai tree quickly is to spray the leaves, ideally, when the temperature is below 85 degrees. This will help the leaves absorb the nutrients.

Another great way to give your tree nutrients are in pill or tablet form. Place the pill in the soil and water will dilute it into the soil and the roots of the tree will absorb them.

There are some variables to consider before deciding on the type of nutrients to use. You need to consider the age of the tree, the size and type of tree, when the tree was last repotted, the drainage and the type of root system.

You may need to try different nutrients and experiment with a variety of combinations. If you notice spotted leaves or droopy flowers, you will know that there is something wrong.

The time of year should be taken into consideration. During the growing season, the tree will need more nutrients. You may want to experiment and start with low dosages so that you don’t over do it and kill the tree.

Typically, the tree should be fed every 2 to 4 weeks. Bonsai trees need to direct sunlight as well as adequate but not too much water. Remember to regularly fertilize the tree and to trim and prune it for regrowth. Look for any type of bugs including spider mites which could kill the tree. Also, it is very important to repot the tree every 2-3 years.

Display your tree with pride knowing that you have taken extra special care of it. They can be very challenging to grow as well as prosper. The tree needs extra special care and nurturing to thrive. Make sure you have enough information so that you are able to make decisions about the type of fertilizer and container it needs. You may want to consult a horticulturist to obtain more information about the specifics of raising a Bonsai.