FoBBS - Routine Care

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Bonsai Care

Routine Care Guide

Watering

This cannot be emphasised enough:

Watering is the single most important activity to keep your bonsai alive.

Not only is watering a vital task it is also the most tricky to get right. This is because different species require different amounts of water and water will be used up at different rates depending on the growing conditions. You can learn these differences and refine your watering regime later but to make things easy;

Check your bonsai every day. Even if it has rained feel the surface of the soil if it is dry then water. Another way is to lift the pot if it feels light then water.

How much water?

Sprinkle on enough water to run out of the pots drainage holes. Then wait until the soil surface dries before repeating the process. On hot, sunny, windy days you may need to water more than once a day. On wet, dull days you may not need to water at all but check.

You will also have to check the moisture levels in winter. Even on trees without leaves the roots still have to be kept moist but not constantly wet.

Watering Can

One final point on watering.

It is just as easy to over water as it is to under water. If your bonsai is growing in a free draining soil mix then the risk of over watering will be reduced.

Position

Plants need sunlight to produce their own food. Most outdoor bonsai prefer full sun to partial shade.

Partial shade will help slow water uptake and protect species with delicate leaves. Position your bonsai so that it gets sunlight for at least half of the day

Allow air to circulate freely around its leaves by avoiding overcrowding and keeping bonsai away from walls and fences but out of strong winds.

Feeding

Fertilise weekly with a dilute, complete liquid fertilizer. One of the proprietary organic liquid fertilizers will be fine. Some bonsai owners use special fertilizer pellets spread onto the soil surface that break down gradually over the growing season.

Whatever you choose follow the manufacturers instructions to avoid over fertilizing and it is better to fertilize little and often rather than a single heavy dose