Understanding The Importance Of Proper Bonsai Care
Bonsai trees are gaining in popularity as time goes on among people of all ages and classes. Once reserved for only the elite class of royalty, bonsai are now easily affordable on most any budget. But bonsai care is another story entirely. If you want to start your very own bonsai garden, then it is of the utmost importance that you first realize that bonsai care is a time consuming process. Bonsai are not good plants for anyone who spends great amounts away from home, due to the fact that they require constant care.
Bonsai Care Basics
There are four main aspects of bonsai care that you should know about before you decide whether or not to get yourself a bonsai tree. The first is that your bonsai tree will require constant monitoring of the water levels. A bonsai tree cannot be allowed to go dry, or the tree will die. Proper bonsai care entails watering your tree each time the soil looks to be dry, otherwise the roots can become brittle and the tree will wither.
The second thing you need to know about bonsai care is that your tree will require regular feeding , as well. A liquid fertilizer, made especially for bonsai trees, is the best; and should be diluted with water rather than fed to your tree full strength. You can purchase the fertilizer that is specially made for bonsai care at virtually any home and garden center; and many online specialty stores dedicated to bonsai care will carry it also.
The third most important part of bonsai care is understanding that your new bonsai tree is just that - a tree; and not your ordinary house plant. As such, your bonsai will require a dormant period each year. This is not such an issue for those who keep their trees outside in a bonsai garden; but for anyone who keeps their bonsai indoors, you will need to be sure to give your tree a cool and dark place to stay for a few months during the winter.
The fourth aspect of bonsai care is the pruning. In order for your new tree to grow into a true bonsai, you will need to prune on a regular basis. If you have purchase your tree already trained from a home and garden center, then all you will need to do is regularly trim off the new growth in order to keep your tree growing the way it was trained. If you started your tree from scratch, you will have to prune more regularly until it is growing the way you want; then trim on a regular basis to keep the new growth off.
Bonsai care can be very time consuming, but if you love these little trees as we do it can also be very rewarding.
