The appeal of a miniature tree, perfectly sculpted and thriving in its tiny world, is truly captivating. Bonsai trees are like little living works of art, and they bring a unique tranquillity and natural beauty to any space.
While they may seem like a delicate and demanding type of plant at first glance, the truth is that caring for a bonsai tree is a deeply rewarding journey.
The practice of caring for a bonsai tree involves understanding their specific needs and responding with thoughtful attention. This guide by gardening and plants expert Harry Bodell at PriceYourJob.co.uk is designed to provide you with everything you need to know about bonsai care, offering you a clear, step-by-step approach to nurturing your miniature tree.
You’ll learn everything from the ideal placement and watering techniques to the essential feeding and the art of pruning, helping you to cultivate a happy, healthy and stunning bonsai for many years to come.
Step-by-step care guide on how to care for bonsai trees
Bonsai trees require a lot of care to keep them healthy as they are more delicate than most indoor plants. However, the care is straightforward and not difficult to learn.
1. Placement
Place the bonsai in its ideal situation, depending on whether it is an indoor or outdoor bonsai tree. Indoor trees will typically only do well in a south-facing window where they will get lots of sunlight. They also need a lot of humidity, so placing them on a humidity tray is a good idea. Knowing which species you have will help optimise the care of your bonsai. Outdoor trees need a bright spot with a lot of light, but give them shade if the summers are very hot. In winter, you’ll need to protect the bonsai from any frost.
2. Watering
This is the most important part of bonsai care. The species that you have will dictate how often it needs watering, as well as the tree’s size, the pot size, climate, soil mixture and the time of year. However, in general, a bonsai should be watered when the soil gets slightly dry, but avoid watering routinely until you get to know your bonsai. Keep an eye on it instead and water when needed. Different soil mixtures can affect the frequency of watering; some mixtures hold moisture better than others. So again, check the soil for dryness before watering. You can water it at any time of the day, making sure to use a fine nozzle and giving the tree enough water until it runs out of the drainage holes.
3. Fertilising
Unlike regular-sized trees that can extend their roots to search for nutrients, a bonsai relies on you to provide nutrition for growth and health. Bonsai trees should be fertilised throughout the growing season, which is early spring to mid-autumn. All fertilisers have nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium, but bonsai fertilisers also have micro-nutrients such as iron, copper, manganese, boron, zinc and molybdenum. Indoor bonsais are fed with liquid fertiliser, while outdoor trees are given solid fertiliser.
How to Keep a Bonsai Tree Happy
Each species of bonsai tree has its own care instructions, so make sure you know which tree you have so you can keep it happy. However, some care guidelines apply to all bonsai trees.
Bonsai trees need lots of sunlight; this is not the same as putting the bonsai in a room with lots of light; the bonsai tree needs direct sunlight. Some species will require shade at certain times of the year, so check your species for specific care instructions. You can keep bonsai trees indoors or outdoors, but remember to protect outdoor bonsai trees from frost.
Water your tree well when the soil gets slightly dry, and never let the root system dry out. The best practice is to water the tree, wait a few minutes and then water it again two more times with pauses in between. This ensures that the whole root system has been watered. Only when you can see water coming from the drainage holes has the bonsai been properly watered. Use a fine misting spray when watering so as not to erode the soil.
Fertilise indoor bonsai trees once every two weeks with a liquid fertiliser; outdoor bonsais can be fed with a solid fertiliser once a month during the growing season.
Regular pruning is needed to retain the shape of the bonsai tree. Cut back shoots which have 6-8 pairs of leaves back to 2-3 pairs using a sharp pair of scissors. The plant needs this extra growth to produce energy, so don’t be tempted to cut off new shoots as soon as they appear just because it makes the tree look a little untidy. Wait until it has 6-8 pairs of leaves before pruning it back. Junipers will be pruned slightly differently; when the plant puts out healthy elongated growth, you know it can be pruned.
Always clean the scissors before pruning to prevent the spread of disease and to stop organic matter from blunting the scissors. Significant pruning is done in spring or autumn.
It’s advisable to report the bonsai every couple of years in early spring. If the roots are circling around the root system, the bonsai needs to be re-potted. However, if the roots are still covered by the soil, don’t report it, but check it the following spring.
How to Start Your Own Bonsai Tree
The best way to start a bonsai tree is to buy a starter kit and grow and train your own tree. A juniper tree is a good choice for beginners.
1) Begin by removing the tree from its existing pot and start to take off the top layer of soil using a chopstick to see where the first roots appear.
2) When you find where the main roots are, you can decide on which side of the tree will become the front. Also, consider the shape and taper of the trunk and the position of the main branches.
3) Now, carefully remove any dead branches or foliage and any dangling growth using scissors. This reveals the structure of the plant and helps you to decide how to design your bonsai tree.
4) Now, you need to prune the bonsai tree. This is the most difficult but important part of the process, and care is needed. However, you can safely prune up to a third of the tree’s foliage.
5) The next step is to wire the tree. Use wire that is a third to half the width of the tree trunk or branches. It should be thick enough to hold them in place when you bend them.
6) Start by wiring the main trunk. Holding the trunk in one hand and the wire in the other, wrap the wire around at a 45-degree angle. Work all the way up to the apex of the tree and cut off any excess wire.
7) Now, bend the trunk to make the tree more compact and to give it a less formal appearance. Move on to the branches, wrapping the wire once around the trunk for stability.
8) When you have finished wiring the branches, you can shape them. Start at the bottom of the bonsai and work up to the apex of the tree.
9) Prepare the bonsai pot by putting mesh over the drainage holes, held in place with some wire and two long pieces of wire through the base, which will be used to anchor the tree.
10) Remove the excess soil from around the roots with a chopstick and trim any long roots. You can safely remove a third of the bonsai’s roots.
11) Place the tree slightly off-centre in the pot, and remember to align the tree’s front with the front of the pot. Attach it to the pot with the wires, cutting off any excess wire.
12) Fill the pot up with soil and use a chopstick to remove any air pockets.
13) Now, water the tree thoroughly with a gentle misting spray until the water runs out of the drainage holes.
14) Your bonsai tree is now complete. Check it after a few months to make sure the wire is not damaging the branches.
Tools Needed to Prune a Bonsai Tree
The tools you need to prune a bonsai tree include:
- Scissors for pruning small to medium branches and roots
- Concave cutters for larger branches and roots
- Snub-nosed wire cutters for close cutting of wire
- Jin pliers for bending wire during repotting
Products to Help Maintain a Bonsai Tree
As well as the tools to prune a bonsai tree for maintenance, you’ll also need the following:
- Liquid or solid fertiliser for indoor and outdoor bonsais, respectively
- Bonsai tree mister
- Leaf conditioner
Final Thoughts
Caring for a bonsai tree is more than just routine; it is an ongoing project with a living work of art. These miniature trees have specific needs that differ from typical houseplants, but the journey of understanding those needs is very rewarding. From finding the perfect spot with just the right light to mastering the art of watering, feeding, and strategic pruning, each step contributes to your bonsai’s health and beauty.
Whether you are nurturing a young sapling or a more mature bonsai, the dedication that you invest will be repaid with the tranquil presence and striking elegance of your very own miniature landscape. With a bit of patience and the tips provided in this guide, you will find that cultivating a happy and healthy bonsai is a very satisfying project, deepening your connection with the natural world in your very own home.
HARRY BODELL: HarryBodellis a UK-based landscaper with over 10 years of experience in the industry. As a gardening expert forPriceYourJob,Harry offers his expert advice to tradespeople and homeowners around the world. He has also been featured as a gardening expert in a wide range of reputable publications.
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