Bonsai

WHAT IS A BONSAI?

A Bonsai is beauty of nature. Literally translated, Bonsai means: tree in pot. Bonsai is largely grown in the Far East and should evoke the image of an old tree. Bonsai are therefore always older trees.

HOW DO I KEEP MY BONSAI HEALTHY?

Bonsai can be formed from many tree species, all with their own specific care needs. There is a big difference between sub-tropical species, which in Europe are characterized as indoor bonsai, and species that are native or come from comparable climate zones; characterized as outdoor bonsai. Indoor bonsai are used to a constant temperature, while outdoor bonsai need the seasons with their rest and growth periods.

WATERING BONSAI

Your Bonsai is a living tree. All trees need moisture to survive and grow. Too little water will dry out the leaves and, if it lasts for a long time, also dry out the sap flow. Too much water causes the roots to rot in the shell and weakens the tree. Water your Bonsai when the soil starts to dry up and wait with the next watering until the tree has absorbed the water (in a normal location this is about every two days). Always make sure that the root ball is well filled, the excess water runs out of the pot through the bottom.

FERTILISING BONSAI

Every Bonsai needs regular feeding to maintain its growth due to being in a small restricted planter. Indoor Bonsai grows all year round and therefore needs nutrition all year round. Outdoor bonsai should only require feeding in the growing season, from March to September.

WHERE TO POSITION BONSAI

Indoor Bonsai is grown in South China and is used to an annual temperature between 12 and 30 degrees Celsius. That is why it is extremely suitable for standing indoors. If the outside temperature is higher than 12 degrees, you can also place the Bonsai outside. Outdoor bonsai can be left outside all year round and can also freeze. At temperatures colder than -5 Celsius it is advisable to put the bonsai out of the sun and wind in a sheltered place. Bonsai need light to grow well. Place your Bonsai in a light place, possibly with some direct sunlight. Prevent your tree from being in direct sun all day.

REPPOTING BONSAI 

Thanks to the good breeding, this Bonsai is in perfect balance. The proportion of roots and foliage is excellent and the scale has also been chosen with care. After a number of years of healthy growth, the roots will start to pinch in the pot and the Bonsai can be repotted. This gives you the opportunity to prune the roots, so that the root ball remains young and vital. Repotting is best done in the spring. Remove the tree from the pot and carefully comb out the roots. After this you can prune 30% of the roots. For good rejuvenation, remove some thicker roots. After this, the Bonsai can go back in its own shell. Put some good loose potting soil, possibly mixed with some sharp sand, at the bottom of the pot and place the tree on it. After that, you can fill the shell with the same new soil mixture.

PRUNING BONSAI

Every tree has a natural tendency to grow at the ends and to shed the oldest leaves or needles from within. For a beautiful, finely branched Bonsai, you have to break this trend. This can be done very easily by pruning the ends growth. The Bonsai you have purchased already has the right shape and size and therefore only needs to be maintained. You can remove all shoots that extend beyond the silhouette of the tree. All shoots on the branches that grow downwards or upwards may also be pruned away. This way you keep the Bonsai healthy and in the right shape.

BENDING BRANCHES

Young branches naturally grow upward and only bend over time. The branches of your Bonsai are bent downwards to give the image of an old tree. You can determine the shape of your Bonsai even further by means of wiring. If you wrap the branches at 45 degrees with wire of the correct thickness, they can be bent into any desired shape. See the images or visit our website. After some time, the branch will thicken further and pinch the wire. This is the right time to remove the wire again.

Your Bonsai already has a rich history and has been grown and shaped with the greatest care and artistry.

With the above information it is easy to keep your Bonsai beautiful and healthy.