Bonsai gardening as hobby satisfies both one's
artistic expression and horticultural tendencies as well. Although it
takes utmost care and attention to successfully "grow" a bonsai plant,
still the satisfaction one will get from successfully surviving a
bonsai plant is all worth it.
The first important thing to do
after getting a bonsai is to know its specie and to research on
information regarding its proper care and propagation. There a dearth
of information available online those beginners in bonsai gardening can
look into to determine the proper care of the specific bonsai specie
that they acquire.
Next thing to consider is the proper place
where the bonsai should be placed. As a general rule, bonsai should not
be placed in a location where it is directly hit by sunlight. Whether
the bonsai is placed indoors or outdoors, it should be placed in an
area where there is proper circulation of air, relatively humid and
easily accessible by the owner for urgent care and attention. The good
thing is that just by looking at the bonsai, one will easily noticed if
the plant likes its current location. Look for signs of wilting or
discolorisation and once it is seen, that is the time when the bonsai
should be transferred into a different location.
The most
important thing to consider in taking care of a bonsai plant is of
course the most common concern in gardening. This is about proper
watering procedure. Watering bonsai depends several things, foremost of
which is the season. During dry season when soil quick dries up, more
frequent watering should be given to the bonsai plant. If the plant is
located outdoors during rainy season, then constant supply of water is
ensured. Water sprinkles should be used to regulate the flow of water
when watering the bonsai. This ensures that ample water is supplied and
prevents over supply of water. Oversupply of water cause the roots of
the bonsai to rot and would eventually cause the death of the plant.
With
water comes the proper feeding of the bonsai with fertilizers.
Fertilizers keep the bonsai healthy and ensures continues growth. There
are various available fertilizers in the market which can be used for
bonsai feeding. Fertilizers containing high amount of nitrogen should
be used during winter and low nitrogen content during autumn.
Last
thing to consider when bonsai gardening is the type of soil to use.
Ready to use bonsail soil mixture is readily available in plant
nurseries. However, one can opt to make his own soil mixture as well.
As a general rule a soil mixture should contain one part loam, two
parts sphagnum peat moss, and two parts granite grit. These soil
materials are available in the market and can be easily obtained.
Avid full time hobby bonsai grower. As been practicing bonsai and gardening for more then 8 years. Owner of http://www.mishobonsai.com, a website with ressource for Bonsai seeds and tree seeds.