The Ground Rules- Essentials of Bonsai Care

The essential rules in bonsai plant care may not vary much from other basic rules in caring for other plants. On the other hand, since these are not ordinary house plants, they do require extraordinary care in order for them to grow healthy and beautiful.

Growing bonsai trees is a wonderful and rewarding hobby since it can help enhance the grower’s creativity, test his or her patience, yet helps him or her relax while tending to the plant! There are some studies that show that taking care of these type of miniature trees can help a person become more calm and happier.

The essentials of bonsai care are fairly simple and are easy to follow. An enthusiast just needs to be attentive and dedicated to his or her hobby!

First, and foremost, a grower must be completely aware of the type he or she is growing. It is best to know that not all are the same and each type of tree has distinctive needs. There are bonsai that grow well when indoors but a good majority of trees grow better outdoors. Indoor and outdoor bonsai have an assortment of needs. The outdoor ones can be brought indoors for decoration however; it is not advisable to keep them indoors for a long time. Generally, they can be kept indoors for a maximum of three days in a month.

When a bonsai has just been bought from a shop, it is advisable to repot it once it gets home. In repotting a bonsai, it should be done with greatest care. A lot of bonsai plants don’t do well if they are under stressful conditions and repotting is not exempted from that. Bonsai can be root-pruned and repotted once in a year especially usually during springtime. There are some bonsai varieties though that don’t need to be repotted for at least two years.

Bonsai growers should also know that bonsai care gives utmost importance in the proper watering of the bonsai. Bonsai have a limited root system since it is a small tree and caring for the small tree starts from the roots. Water is crucial to keep the tree alive and healthy but it is better to know how much water the bonsai actually needs since there are tress species that need plenty of water yet some do not. A bonsai enthusiast should also keep in mind that when watering the bonsai, the water drains appropriately because stagnant water can encourage root rot and fungal growth.

One more important part of bonsai care involves the health of your tree. It is important to look for growths or spotting on the branches, leaves, and trunk of the bonsai as well as discolorations since these indicate disease. Parasites such as bugs and mites might also infest the plant so it is better to check it frequently. Unhealthy branches and leaves should be removed from the bonsai as well as the visible parasites. If help is needed to restore a sick bonsai’s health, the bonsai should be taken to the nearest bonsai nursery for professional help.