SOS On Care Of Bonsai Trees!

Help! My first pretty little juniper bonsai is dead. I've bought another one but need to learn the simple techniques on the care of bonsai trees to make sure this one stays alive.

Because the leaves on my bonsai juniper began to turn brown, I kept giving it more water. However I was only creating an even bigger problem. A Juniper likes dry soil. I was drowning the poor thing.

Almost any woody trunked tree can be turned into a bonsai but, as any gardener knows, different trees like different conditions. So one of the first things you must know in order to provide proper care of bonsai trees is just what type of tree you have. It should then be a relatively simple matter of choosing the right environment to keep your plant healthy and happy. Some, like my juniper, thrive in almost drought conditions, others like damp soil.

Bonsais can be kept inside your house or in a nice spot in your garden or on your patio - Outdoor plants do not always thrive well when brought indoors as the temperature and amount of light they receive may not be suitable. It is often a good idea to mist your indoor bonsai with water as many like a humid atmosphere. Again - know what kind of plant you have so you know just the right conditions to apply.

While watering is crucial to the care of bonsai trees, so too is the type of soil. Again it is important to know what type of tree you have so you can ensure it's potted in the right soil and know you're feeding it the right sort of fertilizer at the right time.

Generally speaking, experts recommend a mix of around 30 percent sandy grit and 70 percent humus for deciduous trees and vice verse for evergreen needle plants. Hopefully, if you've bought your plant from a specialist or garden shop they've got the soil mix right. It does pay to check, however, as staff in some non-specialty stores may know less about the care of bonsai trees than you.

Bonsais generally need to be repotted every two to five years. Again it pays to get some advice on the pot size and soil. Repotting is also the time to do your root and branch pruning. This is where your artistic flair comes to the fore. Regular pruning for the care of bonsai trees can be done through pinching off new growth with your thumb and forefinger.

Wire and pruning can be used to encourage your bonsai to grow into the desired, artistic shape.

I did not find out all this information before it was too late to save my first bonsai. However I now have the right knowledge to ensure my replacement tree does not suffer the same fate.


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Don't kill your tree - get the right advice for the care of bonsai trees