How to Start Your Own Outdoor Bonsai Trees
Bonsai trees are excellent specimens for outdoor landscaping. Like their full-sized counterparts, these potted trees flourish in the outdoor environment. Bonsai tree have an advantage, however, as they can be easily transported to new locations when needed. With the right environment and proper care, your outdoor bonsai trees will provide a vibrant display of outdoor beauty. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Pruning shears
- Potting soil
- Organic compost
- Pine bark
- Potting container
Instructions
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Select a young, healthy tree to bonsai. Inspect the tree thoroughly. Avoid trees with wilted or drooping foliage, leaf spots, weak branches and root-bound systems, as these are signs of infection and infestations.
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Choose a well-drained potting container that has more than one drainage hole at the bottom. Pick a container with a depth that is equivalent to the girth of the tree's trunk with a width that is about the same as the tree's canopy.
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Place your tree on a flat surface. Remove any broken, damaged or wilted branches and stems from the tree with sharp, sterile pruning shears. Make flush cuts to promote rapid healing. Remove wilted and diseased foliage from the tree by pinching it away from the healthy stems and branches with your thumb and forefinger.
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Shape the tree once the ailing areas are removed. Trim back the branches and stems to create the desired bonsai shape. Use your shears to complete this process. Avoid removing excessive amounts of healthy areas from the tree as this may stunt its growth or cause dieback. Develop the bonsai's overall shape progressively over numerous growing seasons for the best results.
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Remove the tree from its original container or bindings and place it on a clean, flat surface. Crumble the excess soil gently from the root system. Do not remove all of the soil from the root mass, however, as this soil contains natural enzymes and minerals that the roots require for healthy development
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Inspect the roots carefully. Use sterile shears or scissors to trim away any roots that appear wilted, deadened or mushy. Cut the ailing roots back to the root mass. Trim the healthy roots back slightly. Remove no more than a third of the healthy roots from the system
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Take equal amounts of nutrient-rich potting soil, organic compost and leaf mulch or pine bark and incorporate them thoroughly. Line each of your potting container's drainage holes with wire mesh. Fill the bottom third of the container with a layer of your soil mixture.
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Place your newly pruned tree in the center of the potting container and fill the container with soil. Check the container to ensure that all of the tree's roots are covered with soil. Secure the tree's upright position by pressing the soil gently around the tree's base.
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Water your newly potted bonsai at soil level with a watering can. Irrigate the tree evenly and until the excess water begins to pour evenly from the drainage holes. Use tepid water to avoid shocking the root system.
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Place your outdoor bonsai in a warm, sunny location. Choose a location that receives at least eight hours of full sunlight with some shade from the sun's hottest hours.
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References
- Photo Credit Stephen Schauer/Lifesize/Getty Images
