Bonsai Tree Care

CARE (Monday, 27 April 2020, 12:26)

Read More: How To Care and Techniques For Bonsai Trees

• What Are Deadwood Bonsai Techniques?
• How To Grow Bonsai Trees From Seed
• How To Maintain The Temperature For Your Bonsai Tree
• How To Water Bonsai Trees
• How To Create A Bonsai Dish Garden
• How To Landscape With Bonsai Trees
• How To Make A Bonsai Tree
• How To Keep Bonsai Tree Leaves Small
• How To Care For Outdoor Bonsai Trees
• How To Grow Bonsai Trees From Cuttings
• How To Defoliate Bonsai Trees
• How To Graft Bonsai Trees
• How To Grow Trained Bonsai Trees
• How To Grow Bonsai Trees From Harvested Wild Plants
• How to Split a Bonsai Trunk
• How to Trunk Chop a Bonsai Tree
• How to Thicken a Bonsai Trunk

Read More: Essential Bonsai Tree Tools & How To's

• How to Choose the Best Starter Kits for Beginners
• Things to Look for when Choosing Bonsai Tool Kits
• Bonsai Tree Tools
• Alternatives to Using Bonsai Wire
• LED Grow Lights for Bonsai Trees
• Tools You Need to Bend Bonsai Branches
• 6 Essential Bonsai Pruning Tools
• Best Grow Lights for your Bonsai
• Best Bonsai Tool Rolls
• Best Japanese Bonsai Tools
• Best Bonsai Pruning Kit
• Best Bonsai Tree Repotting Kits
• How to Use Aluminum Bonsai Wire
• How to Use Copper Bonsai Wire
• How to Use Wire Cutters to Grow Bonsai Trees
• How To Use Wire Gauge To Grow Bonsai

Lighting:

• Bonsai Trees that Grow Under Low Light
• How to Care Your Juniper Bonsai with Sunlight
• Bonsai Trees that Can Grow with Indoor Light
• LED Grow Lights for Bonsai Trees
• Best Grow Lights for your Bonsai
• How To Provide Lighting For Bonsai Trees
• How to Use Artificial Light to Grow Bonsai Trees

WINTER CARE https://www.bonsaitreegardener.net/care/how-to/protect-winter

=== POTS (REPOTTING) ===

Repotting your bonsai trees should be done once the soil becomes compact and very hard. It doesn't mean that the bonsai soil should be kept granular and loose. Keeping a bonsai tree in a slightly pot-bound condition can help slow the growth and allow maturation. Doing so can reduce the length of the internodes and increase flower production. It also increases the aged appearance of your bonsai. But if your bonsai cannot obtain adequate water into the soil, you need to take action.

Bonsai Tree Repotting Signs

• The slow rate of growth of bonsai in previous seasons
• Difficulty in wetting the soil
• Reduced water uptake during summer
• Rapid reduction of leaf size
• The early falling of leaves during autumn
• Slight yellowish discoloration of foliage
• Reduced foliage gloss
• Fine twigs and die back during winter
• Algal slime and liverwort form on the surface of the soil
• Root ball slowly rising from the pot
• Reduced viability of the leaves (discolored leaves and dropping of leaves after a few weeks during summer)

The best time in repotting bonsai trees is late winter. Most species of bonsai trees are usually repotted every mid-February, and they can be repotted again as needed in the growing season.

During winter, bonsai trees are dormant and they rest and get ready for spring. Juniper bonsai trees are evergreens and do not lose their leaves. Junipers go through a dormancy stage in a similar way.

Severe transplanting and root pruning can be pretty stressful to bonsai trees. Pruning bonsai roots must be done before the growing season starts because that's the time when the cut root ends start repairing themselves. During this time, roots are more prone to root rot and other diseases.

Repotting Tips Tip #1: Repotting your bonsai trees out of the sun is important because exposing the roots will dry them very quickly due to direct sunlight or wind. It helps always keeping a water bottle handy so you can mist the bonsai roots as you work. Tip #2: Carefully combing out the bonsai roots is important to loosen them up, trimming the lanky, and long new roots. The small white roots are active ones located on the periphery of the bonsai root ball. You can prune any larger roots without small white roots. Tip #3: Never completely eliminate the old bonsai soil from the roots. It is good to take some of the enzymes, bacteria, and pH level from the old bonsai soil to the new bonsai soil.

Prepare the Following:

• Bonsai Pruning Pair of Scissors
• Bonsai Pots
• Root Hook
• Copper or Aluminum Wire
• Compost Soil
• Water
• Akadama

Step #1: Know the Perfect Time to Repot It is important to know the best time to repot your bonsai tree to avoid choking. Gently lift the bonsai pot with your bonsai tree to check if it's pot bound. Consider repotting your bonsai if the roots encircle the inside of the pot and come out as one. If you neglect repotting your bonsai trees, the roots grow so thickly, and your bonsai will starve with the soil displaced.

Step #2: Identify the Best Time to Repot Repotting should be done during early spring when the bonsai tree is pressured for obtaining and maintaining a full foliage. Your bonsai will have less stress during repotting. Your bonsai vigorously starts to grow during spring, thus helping your bonsai tree recover and quickly heal from any harm caused by repotting.

Step #3: Remove Old Soil Removing the old compost soil from the bonsai roots is important. Doing so will knock the old soil from the root system, and you can do this by using a root hook or your fingers. Remove heavily grown and thickly roots without small white hairs.

Step #4: Root Pruning Prune old and longer bonsai roots but retaining those with white tiny hairs or new growth of roots. After you untangle the roots, you need to remove the old bonsai roots and any rotting roots. Blackish and sticky roots manifest rotting. Don't prune more than 25% of the root mass of your bonsai, so some roots are left for enough water and nutrient absorption.

Step #5: Repositioning the Bonsai Tree Return the bonsai tree from its pot. Reposition the bonsai tree carefully into the bonsai pot. Add the bonsai potting mix until the rim of the pot. You can avoid air pockets by working properly into the soil and its root system. Your bonsai tree will do well in a potting mix consisting of gravel, akadama, and soil compost. Akadama is a type of granular clay specifically produced for potting and repotting. Consider the ratio of the potting mixture based on the species and location of your bonsai trees.

Step #6: Watering Your Bonsai Tree Water your bonsai tree after you're repotting for the soil to settle. Provide utmost protection of your bonsai tree from draft and elements for at least a month to establish the roots.

Conclusion Repotting your bonsai trees is part of the general maintenance care. This is important for your bonsai to adapt to its new environment and to avoid getting sick and dying because of lack of water and nutrients.

1. Choosing the Right Bonsai Soil Mix Bonsai soil mixtures are not the same. For your specific bonsai tree species, you need to find out the optimum soil mixture. Allow us to share the main bonsai soil mixtures for deciduous bonsai trees and coniferous bonsai trees. These mixtures consist of pumice for the good substrate structure, akadama for good water retention, and lava rock for good drainage and aeration.

Soil Mixture for Deciduous Bonsai Trees

• 25% Pumice
• 50% Akadama
• 25% Lava rock

Soil Mixture for Coniferous and Pine Bonsai

• 33% Pumice
• 33% Akadama
• 33% Lava rock

Bonsai Tree Soil Amendments Bonsai trees need soil amendments such as akadama, fine gravel, lava rock, pumice, and organic soil compost.

Akadama

• Akadama is specifically produced for bonsai purposes.
• You need to sift akadama before use.
• After two years, it will begin to break down, reducing proper aeration property.
• It requires regular repotting or mixed with other soil components with good draining quality.
• It is more expensive than other soil amendments.

Pumice

• Pumice is a soft and lightweight volcanic product.
• It absorbs nutrients and water very well.
• It increases water retention properties.
• It also helps in the healthy ramification of the bonsai roots.

Lava Rock

• Lava Rock effectively retains water.
• It helps in adding a good structure when included in a bonsai substrate.
• Remember that bonsai roots can't grow into lava rock itself.

Organic Bonsai Potting Compost

• An organic compost usually consists of peat moss, sand, and perlite.
• Drawbacks include high water retention and inadequate or poor aeration.
• Use organic compost together with other soil amendments and it will work perfectly.

Fine Gravel or Grit

• It promotes a well-draining soil.
• It promotes properly aerated bonsai soil.
• It is usually used in the bottom layer of pots.

Sphagnum moss

• This is moss that will add more drainage to your soil. The moss will protect the tree and keep it healthy after re-potting. You can purchase this from local garden shops and from bonsai nurseries as well.

=== WATER ===

A moisture meter measures the moisture of the soil at root level. It is used to prevent overwatering and underwatering. The scale ranges from 1 or dry to 10 or wet.

• When using a moisture meter, you simply need to insert the probe at root ball level.
• Take note of the moisture level.
• Water your bonsai tree as necessary, usually at level "3" for many species of bonsai. Remove the probe from the soil.
• Wipe the moisture meter clean after every use.
• Store the moisture meter in a dry place.

Using the Finger Method You can stick your finger to check the soil moisture, which is about 1 inch deep. This usually works, but sometimes, it is difficult to gauge if the soil is moist using your fingers, most especially if it feels cold. It is also a bit off after testing several bonsai trees. With these, you can use wooden chopsticks to check the soil moisture.

Using the Chopstick Method Things You'll Need: Wooden chopsticks (plain, not treated or stained), tongue depressor, or popsicle stick Step #1: Insert a wooden chopstick into the soil at around 1 to 2 inches deep. This is about halfway from the main stem of your bonsai plant and the rim, being careful of the roots. It is okay to check soil moisture of all potted plants and bonsai trees at the same time, using a different chopstick for every plant to avoid contamination of fungus and other harmful microorganisms that might be present in the soil. Step #2: You can leave the chopstick in the soil for about 10 minutes. Doing so will allow enough time for the chopstick or popsicle to absorb any water within the soil. Step #3: Pull out or remove the chopstick and check it. If the chopstick or popsicle has darkened or if it has a watermark, the soil is moist. If it's dry, and there's no change in color, it's the perfect time to water your bonsai plant. If there's a slight color change, it means that the soil is just slightly moist. You need to recheck the soil after a day or two. Step #4: It is time to rinse the chopstick, popsicle, or tongue depressor off. Just set aside for it to dry. You can reuse it for checking your bonsai tree the next time.

Conclusion You can also check the dryness or moisture of the soil by simply lifting the pot but this is only suitable and applicable for smaller bonsai plants (not more than 5 gallons). It takes the experience to develop the skill in feeling and looking at a dry bonsai. Soil dryness and moisture can be tested by using your finger and the chopstick method, but the best method is using a soil moisture meter which gives more accurate results.

Step #3: Water your bonsai tree from the top using a water hose with a fine nozzle to prevent washing away the soil. Just keep watering until the water comes out from the pot's drainage holes. Thoroughly water your bonsai until the entire root system is wet. Step #4: Water your bonsai after a few minutes. Use the learning you had on the previous topics to make sure you are watering your bonsai plants the right way.

• If your bonsai plant has flowers, make sure not to hit the flowers when you're watering your bonsai tree. It may kill the fruits and pretty blooms.
• Remember that every bonsai tree is different. The right schedule for one bonsai tree may not be appropriate for the other. That's why you need to check your bonsai plants daily to determine its watering needs.
• Allow the soil to dry just a little in between watering to ensure that you're not overwatering your bonsai. Overwatering can be fatal to bonsai plants.

Overwatering and watering https://www.bonsaitreegardener.net/care/how-to/watering