Can I Use Regular Plant Fertilizer on Bonsai Plants?

With care, bonsai can benefit from standard plant fertilizers.

Bonsai aren't different from other plants in their nutritional requirements, so standard fertilizers will work for bonsai trees. Fertilizers contain nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, indicated by the fertilizer's N-P-K numbers. Each number indicates the percentage of the particular nutrient.

Vegetative Growth

Bonsai trees that don't flower will benefit from a higher nitrogen fertilizer. Nitrogen encourages green leaf and woody tree growth. High nitrogen fertilizers have a higher N number in the analysis of a fertilizer's ingredients.

Flowering

Flowering bonsai trees can benefit from high nitrogen in the fall. However, if you use high nitrogen fertilizer in the spring, you may encourage vegetative growth at the expense of flowering. In the spring, use a fertilizer that is higher in phosphorous and potassium to encourage flowering.

Nutrient Leaching

Bonsai trees growing in proper bonsai soil drain quickly. Some trees may need to be watered every day. Others may need water every two or three days. This frequent watering schedule can leach fertilizer from the soil. By diluting your fertilizer by one-quarter to one-half and adding it once or twice a week, you can increase available nutrients without risking over-fertilization.

References

• Evergreen Garden Works: Fertilizing Your Bonsai