Bonsai Trees for Beginners

Bonsai care and maintenance requires that you use specific tools in order to do the job right. If you start looking at everything available, it can be a little overwhelming for a beginner in this field. Fortunately, however, you only need some basic tools in order to be successful. The essentials include wire cutters, bud scissors, a concave pruning tool, a knob cutter, a root hook and a root cutter.

Wire cutters are necessary for snipping off the wires that are wound around the trunk and branches to help shape the tree. You shouldn't use any old wire cutters; you need specially made ones with a short blade. As you are cutting the wire make sure that you use only the tip of the wire cutter. It's important that you don't damage the trunk or branches while you're cutting.

You need bud scissors to prune buds, leaves, and small branches. These are useful for intricate tasks. Because of their short blades and finger holes you can more easily access the hidden sections of the tree.

The concave pruning tool is the most important implement for proper bonsai care. When you prune the branches of your bonsai, the cuts made to the tree's trunk don't heal from top to bottom. They heal from the sides. The length of a concave pruner is greater than its width, thus producing a concave shape that helps to heal the trunk more quickly.

Another necessary tool for bonsai care is a knob cutter. This implement is used to cut off wood stubs and roots that are protruding. It makes this task incredibly easy, because it's so precise and cuts so effortlessly.

A root hook is used for repotting. Alternatively, you could use a pointed piece of wood which will serve the same purpose. This tool is needed to untangle roots and dig out soil from among them. You can get hooks with multiple points that are great for removing soil. Single point hooks are the best for untangling roots.

A root cutter, just like it sounds, is used for trimming your bonsai's roots. Some people get by with using the concave cutter for this task. But there's a risk that you might damage the cutter from the small stones that could be in the soil. A root cutter is the preferable method because it features thick, coarse blades that will resist any stone damage. It's also quite useful for pruning thicker branches.

If you're serious about cultivating bonsai, buy the best tools you can afford. There's a wide range of prices when it comes to these tools, and the old saying is true: you get what you pay for. Japanese tools are generally considered to be the best tools available.

For the beginner in bonsai gardening, a common question is what kind of soil the bonsai tree needs. Can it be grown in ordinary potting soil or does it need something specially blended for bonsai? This is actually pretty important, because the actual soil content in a typical bonsai pot is pretty small. Therefore you need to make sure that it contains all the proper nutrients and components. These days it's possible to buy soil that is specifically developed for planting bonsai. However, some experienced bonsai gardeners prefer to mix their own based on their own observations about what works and what doesn't.

There are certain characteristics that are required in soil used for planting bonsai. Regardless if you make your own blend or purchase it from a retailer, the soil should have these three components:

1. Good aeration. It should be composed of particles that allow small spaces for air to circulate. This gives the roots the oxygen they need to remain healthy.

2. Ability to retain water. Your soil needs to be able to retain the proper amount of water so that it can provide moisture to the bonsai between watering.

3. Drainage. The soil must allow excess water to be able to drain out. If water can't escape, you could end up with root rot.

You should be aware that each species of bonsai has specific requirements when it comes to soil. For example, junipers and pines don't need a lot of water, and therefore the water retentive qualities aren't as critical. However, flowering bonsai require lots of water, so the soil's ability to retain liquid is much more important.

Another common question when purchasing bonsai soil is whether an organic product is a better choice. Some people prefer organic soil because it contains all the essential nutrients in a completely natural form. Organic soil tends to release the nutrients slowly, which better maintains your bonsai's health. Others choose inorganic soil mixtures because they are better able to retain their open structure for a long period of time. Some of the inorganic soils that are popular for growing bonsai include fired clay, Japanese baked clay, and plain old cat litter.

So what will it be, organic or inorganic? For many people, the answer comes down to trial and error. Some people find organic soil mixtures to be perfectly suitable, while others have had good results with an inorganic product. Start experimenting to find just the right soil mix for your bonsai tree.

An important aspect of bonsai care is occasional repotting and trimming back of the roots. How often should you repot your bonsai? This depends on the species of tree you own. Some trees become pot bound after five years; others grow so quickly that the roots take over the pot every year.

You can tell if your bonsai has become pot bound if you notice that the roots are completely filling the pot and long roots are circling the root ball. The most obvious sign, however, is if roots start appearing through the drainage hole at the bottom of the pot. Investigate for signs of this every year as soon as it's spring. You'll need to carefully remove the tree from its pot. If you can see that the roots are contained inside the soil, there's no need to repot.

Repotting has to be done at a certain time of year. The best time is when the bonsai is dormant. This places less stress on the tree, since there isn't a lot of water and nutrients being delivered to the leaves at this time. If you prune the bonsai's roots when it's actively growing, you affect the supply of these two essentials to the leaves. Frequently, this will cause your bonsai to die.

A common mistake is to repot and prune the bonsai's roots at the start of the dormant period. The problem with this is that the roots won't start to repair themselves until the spring. Therefore they'll remain exposed and injured for a lengthy period of time. This can cause the development of root rot and infection.

The optimal time to repot is at the very end of the dormant season. This means that the roots will remain exposed for just a short while, since new growth will begin quickly at this time of year. Your bonsai will recover in no time. To be completely accurate about the correct timing, check the recommendations for your particular species, as well as the climate you live in.

Now you know when to repot your bonsai. The next task is to learn how to do it. Keep reading for a guide to mastering repotting and pruning your bonsai tree.

Repotting is a critical part of proper bonsai maintenance and care. It's not just moving your tree to a new pot, either. Repotting involves pulling the plant out of its pot, pruning the roots and then repotting it. You can put it back in its original pot if you choose; it doesn't have to be a new, larger one. The reason repotting is necessary is that after a period of time a bonsai will get pot bound. This means it can't grow new feeder roots because the root ball is too congested. The feeder roots are critical for supplying nutrients to the leaves, so your bonsai will become sickly and eventually die if you don't repot it when you should.

You need to know how often to report your bonsai and at what time of year. You also need to know the correct technique for repotting. Repotting is pretty straightforward if you follow the directions carefully.

Prior to starting, make sure you have everything you need at hand. You'll need soil, and make sure it's the correct type for your bonsai. It needs to contain the essential nutrients and be able to drain easily. Don't use regular potting soil or garden soil.

If you plan on using a new pot make sure it's properly prepared for planting. To prepare your pot, cover the drainage hole with plastic mesh, and secure it with bonsai wire.

The next step is cleaning up your tree. Prune unwanted branches and leaves. If this is an outdoor bonsai you're repotting, place it under a protective covering for a few weeks beforehand. This will help to ensure that the soil isn't soggy when you're ready to repot, which makes it easier to lift the plant out of the pot.

Gently lift the plant out of the pot. Now you need to carefully remove the soil from around the root ball. You can do this by hand or you can use a soft brush. A fine bristled paintbrush works well to remove soil that is stuck to the roots. Brush the soil away from the trunk, being very careful not to harm the roots.

Next you need to comb the roots in order to straighten them out. You'll need a pointed stick, such as a chopstick, for this task. Do this carefully so you don't break off any roots. Then you'll prune the roots. The objective is to remove one third of the root ball in total. Inspect the roots for damage and disease and remove any dead ones.

Now pour a layer of grit at the bottom of the pot and then add some soil. Place your bonsai into the pot and then top it up with more soil as needed. And you're done.

A bonsai tree will need some extra attention following repotting. It takes several weeks to fully recover, but you should soon see some new growth, letting you know that your efforts were successful.