How to Take Care of a Bonsai Plant
The art of bonsai, or tree planting, began more than 1,000 years ago in China. Small trees were grown in pots and trimmed into shapes such as dragons and birds. Slowly, the art of bonsai caught on and was taken up by the Zen Buddhists in Japan. Eventually, world travelers found the art of bonsai and brought it back to America. Today, many Americans enjoy the serenity brought by a bonsai tree. These plants are easy to care for as long as you follow a few basic steps. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Water
- Spray bottle
- Bonsai soil
- Fertilizer rich with nitrogen, potash and phosphoric acid
- Bonsai hand shears
Instructions
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Mist your bonsai daily. Fill a spray bottle with warm water. Gently mist the tree. Five sprays should suffice. Bonsais thrive in humid conditions, and this misting will help your plant live longer.
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Water your plant when the soil feels dry to the touch. Do not water more often. Over-watering will kill the plant.
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Fertilize your plant twice a year, in the spring and the fall. Only use fertilizer that contains nitrogen, potash and phosphoric acid.
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Place your bonsai in a sunny spot. Bonsai trees need full sunlight to grow properly.
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Trim your bonsai regularly. This will help the tree keep its original shape and balance out the root system with the foliage. Only trim the plant back to its original shape. Over-trimming makes the bonsai more susceptible to disease.
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References
- Photo Credit bonsai 2 image by Melisback from Fotolia.com
