Posted by Bonsai Care on May 4, 2009
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The best trees for bonsai
Posted by Bonsai Care on May 4, 2009
- Image by racer108 via Flickr
There are certain types of trees that grow really well as bonsai and there are those that are’t suited at all.
The flowering types and fruit bearing trees will do fine until the fruit or flowers appear, then they will all appear out of proportion with seemingly giant flowers and fruit. A needle pines and cone bearing treees will tend to do very well as bonsai.
The small leaved Japanese juniper tree is really effective as a bonsai.
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Bonsai Care
Posted by Bonsai Care on May 4, 2009
Probably the most important part of bonsai care is the watering. How much watering your pant requires will differ from tree to tree. Normally they will need watering often but in small amounts. It usually is good to imitate rain by using a small watering can with a sprinkler attached. This moistens the soil and roots at the same time as cleaning the foliage.
In the winter months plants will need watering less than in the summer months when they need to be watered more frequently, sometimes watering will be required every day. In general you should maintain the soil damp but not saturated and the roots should never be left to stand in water.
Your Bonsai tree will require re-potting approximately once every two to five years depending on the tree you have and how old it is. Younger plants will need re-potting more frequently. As the older trees grow they will use all of the nutrients in the soil and will require to have it replaced. The plant should be replaced in the container in exactly the same position as it was before, the roots however may need to be thinned out and trimmed in order to stop the tree from becoming pot-bound and growing masses of roots which will use up all of the nutrients and moisture at a very fast rate.
It is of utmost importance that you use only special bonsai potting soil or compost.
Bonsai plants can be trained by using special wire to form and shape the branches as they are growing to give you the most aesthetically pleasing shape. This needs to be done in the spring time or early summer months, just after the buds have opened when the foliage is newly formed. It is at this time when the branches are at their softest. The wire remains in place for approximately nine to twelve months.
Pruning is another great part of the art of bonsai growing. For flowering plants the leaf buds should be cut after the plant has flowered and any unnecessary twigs taken off leaving only that which will benefit the shape of the plant.
In the case of pine and other cone bearing trees they need only be pruned when the buds appear in the spring. They should be pruned back to just behind the new growth. This will help avoid excessive growth and will help the branching out process. Trees of the Juniper family will continue to grow throughout the year and so will require pruning more often.
Best Environment for Indoor Bonsai Plants?
Posted by Bonsai Care on Feb 19, 2009
Hi. I've started a bonsai garden in my kitchen with plants tailored to indoor growth. Question: will I have to utilise artifical light (i.e., lamps) as my kitchen is rather dark and doesn't get much light. Also, I keep my house relatively cool (less than 70 degrees). Should I keep the plants warm and would I need to humidify the air at all. Any tips for a neophyte who likes things cool and dry?
Plants generally need more light than humans, but use grow lights only if you can keep them about 6" to a foot above the plants.
Indirect sunlight is the best. As far as the temperature….if you are comfortable, the plants will be also. You may want to read the Bonsai Care page on my site:
http://www.american-bonsai.com
What bonsai tree should I plant?
Posted by Bonsai Care on Feb 17, 2009
I just want a type of tree that can be grown as a bonsai, is good for beginners, is good in moderate lighting and would survive Australian climate.
Any ficus ( fig family )specimen would fit the bill,except that it would need more than moderate light ,ficus is easy to handle by beginner bonsai enthusiasts,lends itself well to shaping & styling,the leaves are shiny & attractive & those that send down ariel roots add to the aged look of the tree.
I am from India & we use the banyan (Ficus bengalensis) & the Peepul ( Ficus religiosa ) a lot in bonsai displays,i know Australia has quite a few native ficus varieties .Those that yield small figs look very attractive.
know anything about bonsai plants: sago palm?
Posted by Bonsai Care on Feb 11, 2009
I bought this cool bonsai plant about two weeks ago. when i looked it up on the internet there was a picture like the one i have called sago palm. It looks like a half planted pineapple w/ the four leaves, branches, whatever, growing out the top, the same as the pictures i've seen. BUT, there is also for other stem type things growing from the middle, that honestly, i'm finding hard to describe. o.k. maybe they sort of look like(ha ha) a back bone w/ 1/2" ribs w/ the very tip of each one curling in. Now none of the pictures i've seen have any thing like this. and the description states that this plant grows very slow. WELL, the spine looking branches growing from the middle are growing at a phenominal rate. 2 weeks ago they were about 6" tall. today they are almost two feet high! that's about an inch per day! what is this and what the heck do i do w/ it? it's actually making my plant look really silly?
Whoops. Don't trim that plant. The growth you are seeing is a new set of fronds unfolding. This is called a flush. It will happed once (or twice in good conditions) a year. This is how the plant grows.
This plant can't be trained by pruning. You can keep it small by letting it get and stay pot bound, but eventually it will get big and burst the pot. In their natural state these are trees which can achieve 15 or more feet in height.
While popularly called a Sago Palm, it is neither a palm nor does it produce Sago. It is a Cycad, one of the earth's most ancient plants. You probably have a Cycas revoluta or Cycas circinalis.
Sago, an important food starch, comes from a tree called Metroxlyn sagus. In its native countries, the natives infect the trees with maggots which eat the Sago and then the natives eat the maggots. Tasty, no? Have a bite.
Cycads don't like a lot of water so be sparing. They do like lots of light. Fertilize once or twice a year. Follow label instructions. Mostly leave it alone.
If you plant a bonsai tree in your yard…?
Posted by Bonsai Care on Feb 9, 2009
Will it grow larger than it would if it were to stay in a planter? I'm wondering because I don't have a whole lot of room for things inside, but I have a pretty substantial yard and I like the way bonsai looks.
i think its triming and root control that make it small. its a actual tree that is groomed and controlled to stay small. plant it outside in a pot in the ground. that way you can have the best of both worlds.
how often should I give my bonsai tree plant food?
Posted by Bonsai Care on Feb 1, 2009
you want to give it a slow release formulated for bonsai… since you aren't trying to push it to grow you want a slow release to just sustain the bonsai… i would pick a slow release bonsai fert and follow their recommendations… of course not fertilizing at all in the winter
here is a cool link you might like… http://www.bonsaimonk.com
Can you Bonsai a marijuana plant?
Posted by Bonsai Care on Jan 30, 2009
I was just wondering.
Yes
http://www.planetganja.com/article.php?articleid=1#fromhome
Where can I buy a bonsai plant/tree in England?
Posted by Bonsai Care on Jan 24, 2009
Bonsai trees are widely available in many garden centres in the UK. Buying them is the easy bit. The DIFFICULT bit is keeping them alive and thriving. It has been estimated that 75% of bonsai trees bought in the UK die within 1 year. They are not easy and require commitment and practice. If you have a local bonsai society I would strongly recommend you go along to have some handy advice available when things get tricky - as they are likely to.
When should I plant my bonsai seeds? I'm a beginner, any good tips to grow a successful bonsai?
Posted by Bonsai Care on Jan 20, 2009
Do I need to wet the seeds in anyway? How do I care for it?
bonsais do not come from seeds; bonsais are made from normal sized plants, and the roots and branches are trimmed to stunt their growth;
you should really buy a good book all about Bonsai; Sunset books has several … and read everything it has to say before you embark on this lifelong project; bonsais take effort, time, work and study.
Bonsai and Plant nursuries in Baton Rouge?
Posted by Bonsai Care on Jan 18, 2009
I am traveling there and was wondering if there are any really nice garden centers I could check out. Also is there a bonsai supplier?
Thanks
Check out Brussels Nursery.
They are bonsai masters.
I have purchased many good items from them.
How to get rid of ants inside the soil of bonsai plant?
Posted by Bonsai Care on Jan 14, 2009
Use an ant bait gel like Maxforce Ant Bait Gel or an ant bait granule like Maxforce granule bait. Both of these products work really well and are fast. You need to find out if these ants feed on protein or sweets. Put out a dab of jelly and a dab of peanut butter near them. If they eat the peanut butter they need the granules (protein based), if they eat the jelly they gel (sugar based).
To purchase either of these products go to: http://www.domyownpestcontrol.com/ant-baits-c-1_60.html
I WANT TO BUY A BONSAI PLANT WHERE WOULD I GET IT AND AT WHAT COST?
Posted by Bonsai Care on Jan 12, 2009
CAN I BUY THEM ONLINE?
Here’s a site with online access for ordering. You’ll get an idea of fair prices, too.
http://www.american-bonsai.com/
Could someone help me with a bonsai? Plant was knocked over.?
Posted by Bonsai Care on Jan 8, 2009
I'm growing bonsai and one of them (a one year old red maple) got knocked over recently. The problem is it's in dormancy for the winter right now and the roots won't take back (so it just basically sits in the soil, not offering any resistance). I'm hoping I can save it, of course.
Now that sunlight is coming back, small buds are appearing along the trunk and the trunk is still flexible, so I don't think its dead.
Should I perhaps leave it in a glass of water for a day or two to stimulate the roots, or perhaps do something else?
I'm hoping to save it, of course. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
This is the perfect time to even trim the roots if they need it, that is, when the leaf buds are first appearing. However, it won't be necessary to trim the roots if it was not root bound. Get some top grade potting soil, and mix some COARSE sand with it (2 parts soil, 1 part COARSE sand). Put it back in the same pot. Whatever you do, don't put it in a glass of water.
You might want to check my Bonsai Care page on:
http://www.american-bonsai.com for potting information.
If you have more specific questions, you're welcome to email me:
wchoat@american-bonsai.com
p.s. 2/26. Don't use the fertilizer as someone has suggested. You don't ever want to fertilizer a sick plant. Just repot it in some good coarse soil so the roots will be happy again.
