If you’re one of those new to the art of bonsai, you have probably asked yourself, “How to grow a bonsai tree?” There are several steps involved in growing any type of plant, and the process of learning how to grow a bonsai tree can be intimidating to beginners. However, the rewards of growing bonsai trees are nothing short of fantastic. Anyone who has ever grown their own herbs or vegetables knows how enjoyable it is to watch the harvest come in, especially after the hard work of harvesting, storing and preparing the plant for use.
How to grow a bonsai tree starts with choosing the right kind of tree. Many types of bonsai can thrive in a limited amount of natural sunlight, while others need lots of natural light. Before you begin training your bonsai, you should allow your bonsai tree to naturally grow and get accustomed to limited light. There are many bonsai cultivars that do well in partial or no sunlight at all, but you don’t want to start training your bonsai in these conditions, because it will most likely fail. Another thing to consider when choosing how to grow a bonsai tree is how much water your bonsai needs. Different bonsai require different amounts of water, so make sure you follow the instructions on the package as closely as possible.
Dead Bonsai. Growing a dead bonsai tree is an interesting hobby, but one that require special attention. The key to growing a healthy bonsai is keeping the tree alive, in other words, it needs constant light, water and nutrients. It’s best to keep dead bonsai indoors for the winter months, when the tree is dormant and doesn’t need any food or water.
Fertilizer. Bonsai trees do not naturally require fertilizer. In fact, they should not be fed at all during the wintertime. If they do need fertilizer, use low-salt, organic brands. The fertilizer should be applied to the leaves, trunk and roots only.
Excessive Lighting. Bonsai trees do not like direct sunlight because their leaves are usually coated with a protective coat. Direct sunlight can often burn or damage these leaves. During the summer months, the leaves should only be exposed to indirect sunlight. This doesn’t mean, however, that you shouldn’t give your bonsai trees sunlight at all – just use low-light bulbs instead.
Potting soil. Some bonsai trees don’t like being in potting soil at all, so you may have to experiment to find the best one for your specific tree. You can buy bonsai soil from stores or online. Bonsai tree compost and fertilizer can also be bought as separate items and added to the potting soil. For beginners, start out with small amounts of bonsai fertilizer at first, until you get used to the process.
Too Much Water. Bonsai trees can’t handle too much water. Watering your bonsai too frequently, especially during the summer months, could cause the tree to wilt. In addition, bonsai trees require regular feeding, which means you should water your bonsai trees once a month during the growing season and then feed them once a month in the fall. If you keep your bonsai tree in a semi-shaded area, it will require less watering, but you should check with an expert before you do this.
Both directions are good for beginners. Either way you go, you will enjoy both styles of bonsai trees for years to come. Either way, you’ll come out with a lovely bonsai tree that is uniquely yours.
Both directions are also good for beginners because they both allow you to view your bonsai trees from a distance. If you are planting in the direction that you want to go, you can get a good view of the developing roots while you are still a ways away. With the way the tree is now, you may have trouble seeing all the way through the soil. However, with a bonsai tree that has been established from either direction, you can look right down on the roots and see if they are growing in the direction you wanted.
It’s best to take your bonsai trees from the morning, after the sun has just begun to rise, and before it goes to sleep. The morning sunlight will provide them with the most sunlight, they will need to stay healthy. In addition, the morning rays will be the most intense, giving your bonsai trees plenty of energy. Anyways, during the afternoon, you should make sure that your bonsai trees are receiving as much sunlight as they possibly can. Shorter hours of sunlight will provide them with more energy, as well as allowing them to absorb the rays even further.
As you can see, both directions of the sunlight could get your bonsai trees in trouble. For instance, growing in the direction that you would receive direct sunlight could get them burned if the branches were to somehow brush up against the sunlight or if it was too powerful. On the other hand, indirect sunlight could easily damage your fake bonsai trees, as it could get into the branches and could potentially burn them. Therefore, it really is important to carefully follow these steps. Either way, you will end up with healthier bonsai trees.