Ruben asked:

I’ve had a Bonsai tree for a few months without any problems-then after watrering it last night—the leaves have turned yellow and are falling out!

Bonsai Styles

expertvillage asked:

Learn professional advice on how to repot your bonsai tree, in this free video.Expert: Mike Hansen Bio: Mike Hansen, owner of Midwest Bonsai, has been growing, caring, selling, and instructing others in bonsai care for years. Mike is an expert bonsai master. … bonsai tree care plant garden seed juniper supply repotting japanese grow tips

Bonsai Styles

expertvillage asked:

Learn professional tips on how to plant a bonsai tree, in this free video.Expert: Mike Hansen Bio: Mike Hansen, owner of Midwest Bonsai, has been growing, caring, selling, and instructing others in bonsai care for years. Mike is an expert bonsai master. … bonsai tree care plant garden seed juniper supply planting japanese grow tips

Bonsai Wiring

Growing bonsai is both a challenge and an artistic endeavor and it’s a practice that’s been around for hundreds of years. From its well-respected beginnings in Japan to its growing popularity worldwide, bonsai has definitely conquered our homes and cyberspace.

To join bonsai forums and meet other bonsai growers from around the nation and the world, here are a few sites to check out:

www helpfulgardener com This site isn’t exclusively about bonsai, but you can log on to find many helpful tips on how to give your miniature plant the best care. Send an e-mail to the Helpful Gardener about any bonsai concerns or register and create a profile to join their forum. Leave a message, ask a question or join a discussion. There is lots to learn about bonsai and bonsai care from this site.

www bonsaisite com If you want to go straight to their forum, log on to http://forums.bonsaisite.com and post your questions or concerns. If you’re a beginner, there’s no need to be shy. This site is full of helpful tips and tutorials to help you along. With more than 4,800 members, the site features some of the most comprehensive info and tips for bonsai growing and networking.

If you’re a novice, join the general forum for questions about bonsai selection and care or if you’re more experienced, join their sub-forums for more specialized discussions: special soil preparations, tools, books, tutorials, even a discussion forum dedicated to bonsai bugs. From basic growing techniques to advanced pruning and training, this site’s discussion forum covers it all.

www forums.gardenweb com Gardenweb.com is one of the largest communities of gardeners on the web. If you’re a beginner, you will find some very helpful tips from more experienced bonsai growers. If you’re an expert, you can share your knowledge and skills through its bonsai forum or exchange techniques with fellow bonsai masters.

This site has a lot of links to different gardening interests, so go straight to their bonsai forum by clicking on the link.

www bonsaitreeforum com This site has a detailed menu for every bonsai concern you might have, from general care to propagation to pests and diseases. Get what you need and post your questions to the right forum. There’s also a forum for newbies and a separate forum for bonsai trade in case you want to buy or sell.

www bonsaitalk com Register yourself for membership to gain access to the bonsaiTALK forum. Can’t get enough of bonsai? Share your expertise by critiquing bonsai photos in the gallery or chat online with other bonsai fans. Write about bonsai and contribute to the site’s journal. Join 9,500 registered members from over 100 countries.

By: Jess Shaw

About the Author:

Bonsai Pots

Far from a complete guide to bonsai care, this small guide will give pointers for some specific and important subjects. Bonsai tree are simply trees in pots. Trees are plants. So learning the basic about plants and horticulture will help you comprehend the “psychology” of your tree in a pot, see Bonsai.

Light

All plants need lights and each to a different degree. Trees are some of the most demanding plants in terms of light. Light helps the tree convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen. The last two are essential to a plant in order to develop new cells and grow. Plants are phototropist organisms. It will grow following the direction of the light. The greatest example is the Sunflower. They are called sunflower because the flower always points toward the sun. Trees are not different; they need light and will look for light.

This is very important to understand when growing bonsai. Since Bonsaiists are trying to achieve small internodes and compact growth with their tree, the more sunlight the tree gets, the shorter the internodes are. It is easier to comprehend this if you think of the consequences of having insufficient light.

Tree will always look for light and when light is insufficient they will stretch themselves, thus growing longer internodes, resulting in a leggy bonsai. When maximum light is provided, the tree does not have to fight for light, plus it will have more energy to produce more buds, then more branching.

Watering

As previously said, plants are transforming water in glucose to be able grow. That is why it is important to have proper watering techniques. Watering any plant is pretty much the same. Bonsai have a few different needs that can be fulfill with proper techniques.

Since bonsai are in pots, hence have fewer roots and little soil to grow into, watering them frequently is important. In summer, the sun will heat the pot and will increase the rate at which water will evaporate, even before the bonsai tree satisfies its thirst.

However, watering too often is not good. It could cause root rot, fungus or other diseases. You need to verify every pot to see if you need to water them. There are few ways to do it. You can feel the soil with your fingers or with a wood stick. With smaller bonsai, you can also weight the pot. A dried soil will weigh less then a soil well watered.

When watering your tree, it is important to flood the soil even if you have to do it two or three times. That way you ensure that the soil will absorb the maximum of water. Growing bonsai in a soil that contains particles that absorb water is ideal.

Trimming

Aside from dormant period, trees are constantly growing. You need to maintain the shape of your bonsai, unless you are training it. The technique to trimming a tree depends on the type of tree. For deciduous tree, you are pruning your tree, and for evergreen you are pinching it. Those terms are pretty self explanatory.

When pruning, you need to have sharp tools in order to make a clean cut and accelerate the healing of the scars. Snipping unwanted branching and leaves is important. If you let some unwanted branches grow too big, and will create a swell and leave an ugly and unwanted scar when cut. Pinching is for evergreen. You will put a soft shoot between your index finger and your thumb to remove this new soft shoot. Even if fingers are the primary tool for pinching, some will use tweezers to remove the smaller shoots.

Trimming will help redirect the energy of the shoot into the rest of the plant. This will result in more ramifications below the pruned or pinched point. This method of energy balancing is used by bonsai masters, in order to induce growth on a weak side of a tree, it is called energy balancing.

Pests and diseases

This is a very hard subject to generalise principles on, since there are so many plants and different growing conditions.

The most common insects are aphids, spider mites, scale insects and mealybugs.

The easiest way to get rid of pests is to remove them by hand. But some are too small and sometimes there are too many. So, the most natural way to remove them is with a jet of water. If you decide to use a chemical solution, you should choose the less dangerous substance. Liquid dishwashing soap diluted in water will kill all soft-bodied insects. You should mix 2 tablespoons of soap into a gallon of water. After you have sprayed your plant, let the substance do its work for an hour, then carefully rinse your tree with water.

As for disease, it’s better to consult your local plant nursery as products are constantly changing, as some are new and some are remove from the market. Also, there are too many diseases to efficiently make a list of symptoms and treatments. The most common diseases are mainly caused by fungus, small mushrooms, and the solution is too apply a fungicide. Funguses are often present when the growing conditions are too humid.

Feeding and fertilizing

In terms of fertilizer, you have many choices. Many companies are offering organic and inorganic fertilizer. Organic fertilizers are mainly fish emulsions, while the inorganic are mainly salts that can be found in a liquid or solid form. Many fertilizer labels will advise to use a specific dose every two weeks. Many bonsai growers prefer to use a half strength solution weekly, or even twice a week during the growth season (summer).

It is important not to feed fertilizer to a sick or under stress tree. You should only apply fertilizer when a tree is fully healthy and thriving. You should also fertilize after you have watered and the soil is moist. This will ensure and help the soil absorb essential nutritive elements.

By: Patrick Desnoyers

About the Author:

bonsai care

answer asked:

i have recently gotten into bonsai tending
a little before december i was given a juniper
it is doing well, but can it live well inside?
i also bought seeds for a few kinds of trees
Giant Seqoia
European Olive
Boabab
Korean Hornbeam
Balled Cypress
What i would like to know is
a. Would they make boisai’s under 10 in.
b. could i keep them inside
any help would be appreciated
ty

Bonsai Styles

shylee2482 asked:

I got a strange looking potted Bonsai tree from WalMart that I am unsure how to care for. How often do I water? Does it need constant sunlight? The rocks are all glued together - should I get them out and if so, how?

Bonsai Books

curious mom asked:

Need some guidelines to take care of a Bonsai plan

Bonsai Resources

Bonsai, literally “tree planted in a tray”, are miniature versions of larger trees. Depending on the type of bonsai tree under consideration, their height can range from a few inches to a few feet. Like regular trees, bonsai trees can also bear flowers and fruits.

There are two types of bonsai trees: indoor and outdoor. While most bonsai are outdoor plants, certain varieties are adapted well enough to survive in an indoor setting. These would be the tropical or subtropical varieties. If you plan on raising these, be sure to put them in a spot where they can get some sunlight in the mornings and shade in the afternoon. Avoid exposing them to too much sunlight – many varieties of bonsai do not bear up well under intense heat. Indoor varieties of bonsai include the ficus, baby jade, sago palms, serissa, fukien tea, pachira, gardenia, and some elm varieties.

Outdoor bonsai are further divided into two groups. The first group consists of the evergreen trees, which include the pine, the juniper, and the azalea. As the name evergreen suggests, these trees retain their foliage no matter what the season is. They usually undergo a dormancy period during winter, which creates a yellow tinge around their leaves.

Deciduous trees include elms and maples. These trees shed their leaves during the fall and re-bud at springtime. Most elm species fall into this category, as does the apricot, hornbeam, and gingko. Like evergreen bonsai, deciduous bonsai also go through a dormancy stage at winter. Deciduous bonsai are not well suited to being grown indoors – the levels of light and humidity are too different from those in their natural habitat.

There are many types of bonsai trees, but they do have one thing in common. All bonsai trees, with few exceptions, need specific care if they are to thrive. You will need to protect them from both excessive cold and heat, depending on the climate in your area. Also, levels of humidity have to be monitored, and as much as possible you should provide the specific humidity level that your bonsai needs to grow. As long as you know what you are doing, however, it shouldn’t be a problem for you.

Taking care of a bonsai tree is not a task for amateurs. Bonsai trees are unusual trees and they require unusual care. Most types of bonsai are not particularly hardy, especially when compared to other types of plants. If you are considering acquiring your own bonsai tree, or if you already have one, you need to know what to do to increase your plants chances of survival.

Taking care of a bonsai tree requires specialized knowledge. If you are serious about growing your own bonsai plants, you need to take time to conduct a little research. But a few books and read up on the subject. If you know anyone who has had experience in raising bonsai, you should try to discuss the matter with him or her as well. Taking care of a bonsai is hard enough; being ignorant certainly isn’t going to help you.

Be sure to find a local bonsai nursery. Avoid the bonsai trees sold in department stores and malls. Although they may seem to be in good condition and sell for less, they are often close to death and will not survive in your home for long. Retailers, after all, are interested only in selling the plant, not maintaining it. It would be far better for you to find a nursery that sells seedlings or small bonsai plants. This will allow you to experience the joy (and hardship!) of raising your own plant. Additionally, you will be able to shape the tree the way you want to, which is not always an option with the more mature plants.

Don’t skimp on the tools that you need. For most people, raising a bonsai is more of a hobby than anything else. This does not mean, however, that you should skimp on the tools that you will need to raise your plants well. One example of bonsai tool is a concave cutter. A concave cutter is a tool designed to prune the plant without leaving a stub. Shears, pliers, and branch bending jacks are common as well. For shaping the tree, you will need aluminum and copper wires.

Taking care of a bonsai tree involves a continuous learning process. While this article is not meant to be a comprehensive guide to bonsai care, it should give you the idea that there is much to be learned in order to be successful. However, don’t be discouraged. If you truly love bonsai trees, learning will not be difficult for you at all! And once you’ve mastered the art of raising a bonsai, you can look forward to many beautiful days with your miniature tree.

By: Lee Dobbins

About the Author:

Bonsai Tools

=D asked:

I really want a bonsai for indoor plant, but the problem is, i don’t know anything about bonsai, so is there any tips or instruction how to take care of bonsai ?
And what type of indoor bonsai should i get for beginner ?
i was thinking buying one from the store, not grow them from the seeds, so i was hoping you can give me some tips on how to take care of it

Bonsai Pruning