Feeding Bonsai Trees

Feeding plays a very vital role in ensuring good health for the bonsai trees. Hence it becomes very essential to have a good understanding of the kind of fertilizers to feed your bonsai trees, and the right kind of schedule to be followed based on the season and the kind of plant.

Since the bonsai plants grow in shallow pots, they have limited amount of soil available to meet all their requirements for nutrients. There fore it becomes very essential for them to be fed regularly. Fertilizers have three basic components Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potassium. Nitrogen helps the plant in processing the proteins and hormones and generally helps the bonsai tree to have healthy leaves and stems. Phosphorus aids in the overall growth of the plant. Potassium helps in strengthening the root system, and aids in the overall health of the plant by assisting the tissue repair process. Other important elements that play a vital role in the plants growth are Calcium, Magnesium, Sulphur, Iron, Copper, Boron, Manganese etc. Use of fertilizers should be made judiciously as too much of it and at the wrong time might cause more harm to the plant than good.

During the growing season of the plant that is from late spring to early summers you should use a high nitrogen content fertilizers for your bonsai plant, this should be applied once every two weeks. During the mid summer time when the temperatures are very high you should not feed your bonsai trees, and for the late summer season feed with a low nitrogen based fertilizers so that it will aid in the growth of the trunks and the twigs.

You can either use a liquid feed or a solid feed for your bonsai. Liquid feed allows the fertilizers to seep into the soil and retained for a prolonged duration of time. It is also a well accepted rule that feeding should be stopped during the winter season, or the dormant season of the plant. Feeding plants which are unhealthy is also not advisable. The roots of the bonsai plants need to be in good health to do absorb the feed and produce good results. Hence immediate feeding after carrying out re potting should be avoided as the roots would already be stressed by the root pruning carried during the re potting exercise.

Cherry Bonsai

Cherry Bonsai is one of the most commonly used tree for bonsai. It is well liked by beginners. The beautiful flowers and pleasant smell adds a lot of sense to growing it.

They need a balanced exposure to sunlight. Being a flowering plant it would need more fertilizers, but avoid feeding during the flowering season. It also need good amount of watering. Ideally watering the roots should be enough, water on the flowers might result in their decaying.

Repotting of cherry bonsai should be carried out during the spring season, and once every two years. You should carry out some root pruning during this time as well.

Bonsai Junipers

Bonsai Junipers have been around since a very long time. Juniperus is a genus which comprises more than 60 species of shrubs and trees. The proliferation of junipers as a bonsai material can be attributed to their ability to survive in harsh conditions. They generally sustain lack of good quality soil and respond well to heavy pruning exercises. Junipers also tend to develop a good root system pretty easily.

The most important thing to remember with junipers and for that matter any coniferous trees is that, they are supposed to be grown outdoors. When grown indoors they become unhealthy. Bonsai Junipers require good amount of sunlight and variations in atmospheric conditions to do well, which cannot be easily replicated indoors.

Junipers are quite allergic to heavy watering and don’t do well in a damp soil. If you intend to carry out some major pruning exercise on your bonsai juniper, then late spring is the best time for it. During the growing season you should pluck off the tips on the new buds using the thumb and the first finger. This is something which can be practiced across all conifer varieties and not just junipers.

Junipers have needles which can easily pierce the skin and produce rashes; hence you should use protective gloves when handling bonsai junipers.

They can be grown in a variety of bonsai styles, but is not very suitable for the broom and upright style of bonsai.


Bonsai Junipers do well when kept in the full sun, and the soil is allowed to dry out before watering again. Unlike many other bonsai varieties, junipers are quite hardy and can be kept outside during the winter season. However you have to be cautious and see to it that frost does not form on the root balls of the bonsai tree.

For more information please visit, TheBonsaiHub.

Azalea Bonsai

Azalea bonsai is very popular amongst bonsai lovers. It is a flowering shrub, with a very unique feature. It generally has one flower per flower stem. Satsuki azalea and kurume azalea are two of the most commonly found varieties.

Azalea Bonsai Care.

• Keep it away from direct exposure to sulight. This would be harmful for the flowers.
  


• Generally the shrub prefers a damp soil. Mix one table spoon of vinegar with about 10 litres of water and use the mixutre to water you azalea bonsai once every month.
  


• Feed the bonsai tree in the spring, once every two weeks. Once the flowers start to bloom stop using fertilizers.
  


• Prune your azalea bonsai during the end of the growing season, when new flowering has stopped.
  

Indoor bonsai trees

Growing an Indoor bonsai tree is a challenge in itself. It is a great learning process for any bonsai practitioner. It is all about having an eye for the details and understanding the basic requirements of the plants. Every plant give a tell tale sign when something is wrong with it. With indoor bonsai it becomes ever more important that you perceive the messages and signs that your plant gives. For example when the plant is not watered enough the leaves start to turn yellow and some species even have loss of foliage. Loss of vigor and growth might be a precursor towards repotting your bonsai. Absence of good bloom in your flowering bonsai might be due to insufficient exposure to sunlight. Similarly there could be a lot of other hints which when paid attention to will reveal some lacuna in your bonsai plant care schedule. So it is very important that you be patient, and feel responsible for the well being of your Indoor bonsai tree.

With the basic things looked after properly, some varieties of bonsai trees can be kept indoors all round the year. Although it is better to bring them out in the sun during the frost free months.

Some of the most commonly found Indoor bonsai trees can be highlighted below:

• Desert Rose.
  


• Bougainvillea bonsai.
  


• Boxwood bonsai.
  


• Ficus bonsai.
  


• Gardenia bonsai.
  


• Fukien Tea bonsai.
  


• Bush Cherry bonsai.
  


• Ivy bonsai.
  


• Olive bonsai.
  


• Chinese Elm bonsai.
  


• Rosemary bonsai.
  


• Dwarf Pomegranate bonsai.
  

The list can go on, and there are lots of other varieties of bonsai that do well when grown indoors.

It is best to choose a species which grows in a climate that resembles closely to the atmosphere inside our houses, and which does not have a varying seasonal requirement.

For more on bonsai please visit TheBonsaiHub.

Basic Bonsai Guidelines

To create a beautiful bonsai you would need to master a lot of techniques, but there are some basic guidelines which every grower must be aware of. Few of them are highlighted below:

• The trunk of the bonsai should be wider at the base and should taper towards the top.
  


• The height of the tree should be around 6 times the width.
  


• Ideally you should have only one throne or apex for your bonsai trees.
  


• Two branches growing in opposite directions should not be in the same line.
  


• The thickness of the branch should ideally be one-third the thickness of the trunk.
  


• If you apply Jin or Shari techniques on your bonsai, then ensure that they are clearly visible to the viewer.
  


• The depth of your bonsai pot should be proportional to the height of the tree, and the width should be around two-thirds the height.
  


• The shape of the bonsai pot must compliment the style being followed, for example a rectangular pot looks best for an upright style. Choosing the right color for the pot is also very essential.
  

There are many more simple techniques that would go a long way in making a beautiful bonsai. Please visit TheBonsaiHub to learn more about these techniques.

Ficus Bonsai

Ficus Bonsai is one of the most commonly found variety in the bonsai world. It is a great material for Indoor training, as it is quite hardy and weather resistant.

Some varieties of figs bear both flowers as well as small fruits, which increases their aesthetic beauty. They do well when grown in partly shady conditions with humus rich moist soil.

As they are mainly found in the tropical regions of the world, figs are used to growing in arid conditions, and hence do well when kept indoors. They are quite tolerant and have proven to be a great tree for training by beginners to bonsai art.

Ficus bonsai should be wired during the growing season, and it is best to wire it just before the new growth hardens.

For more information on ficus bonsai please visit:
TheBonsaiHub

Bonsai Pruning

Pruning is one of the activities that you would need to do through out the life of your bonsai plant. It is the technique of bonsai pruning that keeps your plant contained in the small space of the pot. The main objective of pruning can be listed as below.

• Form Pruning: This is done to give the basic shape to your bonsai plant. This is done during the development stage of the plant, it is at this stage that the plant gets its design. Initially the plant is allowed to grow tall, and when the desired size of trunk is reached, drastic pruning and cutting is carried out to make it short.
  


• Maintenance Pruning: Once the plant has got its basic shape it is very essential to keep it pruned at regular interval to keep it confied to the basic shape. Generally pruning should be carried during the growin season of the plant, although it would vary according to the type of plant.
  

For more on bonsai pruning please visit TheBonsaiHub

Bonsai Soil

I think any plant grower would agree that, the soil is the most important aspect for ensuring good growth. For the bonsai the importance of soil is even more accentuated, as the plant gets limited amount of it to grow in. In this discussion we would try and understand the characteristics of good bonsai soil.

• The soil should have good aeration and drainage capabilities. For this the soil should have a rough and spongy texture. Along with good drainage abilites the soil should also have good moisture retaining capabilities as well. Moisture is crucial to ensure growth of fine roots.
  


• Soil could either be acidic, having pH value less than 7 or alkaline with a pH value greater than 7. The kind of soil to use, will depend on the kind of tree and the climate in which it is being grown. Most bonsai do well in a neutral soil, having a pH range of 5 to 7.
  

For more information on bonsai soil please click the link below
Bonsai Soil

Thanks for visiting, and check back soon.

Pune Bonsai Master

Hi People,

There is one more great news for the visitors of TheBonsaiHub. Recently I happened to visit a bonsai show conducted by friends bonsai society in the beautiful city of hyderbad. I met with some of the most well known artists of the bonsai world, and also had an opportunity to meet with Peter Chan, the world renowned bonsai artist from UK. I was amazed at the great bonsai on display, and learned about many bonsai masters in India. One of the most respected ones being Mrs. Mangala Rao Nilangekar. And I am happy to share that Mrs. Mangala is profiled as a bonsai expert on our website, and we look forward to gaining a lot of knowledge from her. So for all you bonsai lovers some great things are lined up.

Please visit the profile of Mrs. Mangala by clicking on the link below,
Mangala Rao Nilangekar

And keep checking back for exciting stuff at thebonsaihub.
Bye for now.

Bonsai Stores

Hello there.

Has been a long time sice we have had any posts here. Well there is a good news though. We have come up with lots of stores for you on our website. With winter beginnig to fade and spring about to come, its time to plant new bonsais and replenish the bonsai supplies for the ensuing year. We have lined up a great selection of products for you to choose from.

Please do visit our store to get a glimpse of all the magnificent items available.

• Bonsai Pots Store.


• Bonsai Books Store.


• Bonsai Soil Store.


• Bonsai Kitty Store.

Have a good time.

Bonsai Containers: Tips for getting one

Hello,

In this article we are going to discuss about some techniques for choosing the right bonsai containers for your bonsai plants.

Few pointers to keep in mind are listed below:

Shape and Size: Getting a container with the right shape and size is very important to improve the overall look and feel of your bonsai plant. Ideally the length of it should be two third the planned height of the tree. There are various kinds of shapes that you could opt for like Oval,Rectangular,Round, etc. The shape would depend on the style you would like to grow your bonsai plant in.

Colour: Choosing the right colour goes a long way in improving the overall beauty of the plant. Bonsai pots come in varied hues of brown, yellow, golden, Pink, grey etc.

Another important thing to keep in mind is that the pot should have good number of drainage holes. This would help in preventing excess water from being retained in the pot.

You could visit us at TheBonsaiHub.Com for more information on bonsai.

Buying bonsai pots

Hi there,

Welcome back to the bonsai hub blog.
Today we will discuss about few of the guidelines to be followed while buying pots for your bonsai tree.

The length of the pot you buy should be decided based on the height of the tree you plant in the pot. It is always advisable to go for a pot which is around 70 Percent the height of your tree. This will give ample space for the tree to grow.

The depth of the pot should also be decided based on the width of the trunk. The trunk of the tree is generally widest just above the soil, so this would be a good place to take measurement to decide the width of you bonsai pot.

It it always a good idea to take your tree along with you while shopping for a pot this would help you in deciding for the right kind of pot for your bonsai tree.

For more information on bonsai stands please click on the link below.
http://www.thebonsaihub.com/bonsai-stands.html

Wiring Bonsai

Hi there,
Today we are going to disucss about one of the most important aspects of bonsai training, Bonsai Wiring. Mastering the bonsai wiring techniques is instrumental is ensuring that your bonsai grows in the shape you want it to. The varios styles of growing bonsai is achieved by proper wiring of the bonsai trees.

Some of the most common mistakes that people do while wiring are listed below:

• Wiring the branches too loosely.
  


• Wring too tightly, this could cause damage to the barks of the plants and would leed to the formation of permanent scars on the branches. You could consider using a protective layer over the surface to be wired, before actually wiring the plant.
  


• Placing the wires too close to each other or too far.In either cases the wire would fail to support the bend.
  

Wiring being a very intricate element of bonsai training it would be advisable to have a good understanding of the same. You could click on the title of the post to visit the page on our website to have further understanding of the bonsai wiring process.

Happy bonsaiing.

The Bonsai Hub Gallery

Hello everyone, and warm new year greetings from the bonsai hub family.

Starting this year we have added a gallery to our website where in we will have pictures of a lot of exotic bonsai species from around the world, for the benefit of our esteemed visitors.

Each of this bonsai is a masterpiece in itself and has been crafted by years of training by bonsai experts.

Do take some time to visit our gallery. We solicit your valuable feedback to ensure even better content for our readers.

The BonsaiHub team.