An increasingly popular hobby is the cultivation of bonsai trees. An affordable pastime for many, it is both relaxing and rewarding. It is also not too tricky to achieve some wonderful results, with some beautiful looking types available, perfectly easy to tend to from home.
Whether you are looking after Chinese Elm, a Bald Cypress, a Japanese White Palm or one of the many wonderful fruit trees, there are a few basics to keep to ensure they stay in the best possible health. Kept in the right way, over generations, there is no reason why they cannot live for hundreds of years.
The first thing to consider is where to position your bonsai. They like to be located in warm areas as a rule, though too much direct sunlight will not be good. They can be susceptible to burning if given too much direct sunlight, much like many other indoor plants. It is always good to have a couple of locations where you display them, to optimize the amount and the way in which they get appropriate levels of light.
Most importantly is appropriate watering. Again, they behave much like other household plants, so bonsai trees should never be allowed to dry out. As such, the soil in which they are planted should be checked on a daily basis. Through hotter periods, these checks would be best to be done twice a day of course.
It is best not to stick to a regular schedule with watering, as this most certainly runs the risk of over watering. A great tip in this regard is to pick up the tree. A light tree will need watering, whereas a heavier tree will most likely not need so much. Having a water mister to hand is always good to give them a little pick up if you are not sure.
Another way to decide whether watering is needed is through a water meter. These work by taking a measure of the water content in the soil, and are a quick and effective way to determine whether watering is needed. This is most certainly a good idea if you go on holiday, and you have a friend or family member looking after your bonsai trees for a few days.
Another way to help maintain correct water levels is to use the appropriate types of soil. As a rule, regular soil used for other household plants is too heavy. Garden centers will most likely have supplies of specially designed bonsai soil; which is formulated to aid appropriate draining to the root structure and retain the correct levels of moisture.
As well as the correct soil, appropriate fertilization is also important. Again, garden centers should have suitable supplies; but you need to ensure what you use contains the vital ingredients of nitrogen, phosphorous and potash.
The final task and, the most enjoyable for many, is pruning. This not only helps give those evocative shapes bonsai trees are so well known for, but is actually vital to their continuing health. This allows them to maintain strength, and is all important for a balanced root system.
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