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Caring for Your Bonsai Tree

By: Alan Allport

The most important thing to keep in mind when caring for a bonsai tree is watering. It is imperative that adequate water is provided to your bonsai tree. This is especially important if your bonsai tree is kept indoors most of the time. The amount of water you will need to give will depend on two main things, the type of soil and the species of bonsai tree.

The Japanese have a saying: water three times, each one for the pot, the soil and the tree. About 75% percent of water is taken in through the root system, but don't forget the leaves. Bonsai trees also acquire water through their stomata so make sure you wipe or wash away the dust and dirt regularly.

Use gentle water pressure when watering your bonsai. If you use too strong a water pressure, you might wash away the topsoil and expose the roots. Use a misting hose or a spray hose with an adjustable spray nozzle and be careful of the water temperature. Good tap water is fine, just take care that the water that comes out of the hose isn't too cold or too warm.

The type of soil is also important to your bonsai tree. You'll need to match the soil type to the specific species. In simple terms, a needled evergreen bonsai tree will require a soil composition of 30 per cent humus to 70 per cent grit and the opposite for deciduous bonsai, i.e. 70 per cent humus to 30 per cent grit. If you have a particularly rare type of bonsai that you're not too sure about you should ask your local bonsai supplier for advice or get a good bonsai reference book and be prepared to make up a custom soil yourself.

Another important aspect of caring for bonsai trees is pruning. Leaves, branches and roots need to be pruned. This is probably the aspect of bonsai care that beginners have most trouble with and it is certainly true that skill in this area only comes with experience and knowledge.

The first thing you should do before starting to prune is consider the style that you're trying to train your bonsai tree into. You have to sort of imagine a line around your tree's foliage that represents the shape you're looking for and then prune anything that sticks out from this imaginary line. Another point to remember is that if you're trying to direct growth to one side of the tree you should prune the opposite side.

Prune leaves or buds with care. Pruning buds will encourage back-budding and cutting leaves will 'discipline' the growth of the bonsai. It is also necessary to manage the nutrients that the roots draw up from the soil. Remember that you are trying to grow a tiny tree and letting it grow on its own will result in uncontrolled size.

You're going to have to exert a lot of loving care if you're going to achieve your objective of a beautiful bonsai tree. It's going to involve a lot of work over a long period of time, but if your heart's in it, I think you'll find it well worthwhile.

Article Source: http://www.topicinfo.com

Alan Allport is a long-time bonsai tree enthusiast who has had a bonsai site at www.aa-bonsai.com for several years. For the best bonsai tree supply info you should check it out today.
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