Bonsai care and maintenance

All the care and guidance given here are based on climatic conditions of Bangalore and for tropical plants.Though the basic maintenance is same,certain bonsai activities may vary based on the plant and the place where the bonsai is kept.

Which is the right place to keep a bonsai ?

Bonsai must be kept in a place which receives proper sunlight and air. Certain varieties prefer a lot of sunlight while some prefer semi shade. But if you have a bonsai tree do not keep them indoors. The tree needs to experience all the seasonal changes in order to carry out all the functions smoothly.

When to water a bonsai ?

Watering has to be done when the top soil is dry. In general once a day kept outside , in heavy summer it can be watered twice a day. If it rains, do not water till the soil becomes dry. Over watering can lead to root rot. Frequency of watering will vary according to the place where it is kept. If it is kept in a terrace and open garden, watering frequency will be more. If it’s kept in balconies where sunlight is less, the frequency of watering should be less. If leaves are defoliated, watering has to be reduced. Best time to water a plant is in the evening or early morning. It’s always good to use a garden watering can for watering the plants instead of hose pipes .

Pruning a bonsai

Trimming the branches can be done once the branches are thick. Pinching the shoots will help to create new buds. Pruning helps in retaining the shape, height and proportion of a bonsai. It will help in increasing the branches and the leaf density. Remove if any branches are dry or half broken. Defoliation can be done on the arrival of spring.

Fertilizing and spraying insecticides

Fertilizing can be started once you see new buds appearing from the branches.

Fertilizer has to be used only on healthy plans. For best results apply the fertilizer on the soil . Spraying on the leaves also gives good results. Used fertilizers like npk ,macronutrients, organic manure like cow dung manure,  goat manure , leaf compost, mustard cake, pongamia cake, Neem cake , seaweed extract , humic acid , epsom salt and slow release fertiliser for mame and mature bonsai . Morning and evening are the correct time to apply fertilizer. Loosen the surface soil after putting the fertilizer.  

If the leaf is infected and affected leaves are few in numbers then remove the leaves manually. If the entire plant is infected , spray the insecticide on the entire plant. It has to be sprayed on both sides of the leaf. The best time to spray insecticide is in the evening or early morning. Do not use them if it is raining.

Soil for bonsai

There is no one single formula for good bonsai soil. The soil depends on the plant and the place its kept. The soil should not be sticky and it has to be good drainy soil . It can contain the base red soil , rivers sand , organic manure , rice husk , small brick pieces . Perlite and vermiculite can be used however it’s harmful if inhaled its dust or if powder gets into nails. Wear gloves and masks if you are using it. For plants that prefer less water use less of organic manure.For example jade and Baobab.

Repotting of a bonsai

It is important to report the bond size to keep the plant alive. Repotting is done to provide fresh soil to the plant and to remove thick coiled roots and dead roots. This will help in getting new feeder roots. Hence improving the health of the plant. Repotting has to be done if the drainage hole has been blocked by the roots. Younger plans can be repotted once in a year or two . Mature trees can be repotted once in 3 to 4 years depending on the health of the plant. Repotting can be done in spring or monsoon. Beginners may prefer monsoon for repot .

Soil has to be simple, well draining soil. Select the plant to be repotted. Loosen edges of the soil and remove the plant from the pot. We can remove the soils at the bottom and in the sides of the bonsai . Cut the thick roots that dominate other roots and remove the dead roots. Use sharp bonsai tools for cutting. Root hormone can be applied on the cut roots. Keep the mother soil intact and remove the rest of the soil .

In the same pot or in the new bonsai pot, cover the drainage holes with fiber net. You can use anchoring wires to anchor the plant. After covering the holes with the net, put a layer of gravel. On top of gravel, put a layer of bonsai soil mix. Place the plant in the pot according to the proper direction and best angle suitable for viewing . Anchor the plant using the anchoring wires. Cover the pot with bonsai soil mixture leaving half an inch gap from the upper rim of the pot for easy watering. Use chopsticks to pack the soil tightly around the roots . Sphagnum moss can be placed on top of the soil so that soil doesn’t erode . Water the bonsai thoroughly twice or thrice till water appears on top of soil. Plant starter liquids can be mixed with water and poured .

Place the plant in a shaded place. Do not disturb the tree for a few days. Once new shoes and leaves, thoughts appearing bring it back to the natural place where it had been kept earlier.

Since the soil already contains adequate fertilizer, we must wait for the leaves to mature . The plant has to have full fledged growth. This will indicate that the new roads are growing. Fertilizers can be applied at this stage that is roughly around a month or two after repotting.if fertilized early, the roots may get damaged.

Removing the wires

The wires have to be removed if it’s biting the branch. The wires are meant for shaping the branches. Once the shape is achieved and branches are stiff , the wires can be removed. Wire can be removed manually by hand if it is very thick using a bonsai wire cutter.

Other tips

When the tree is stable and growing well we can mix one spoon of fungicide , half spoon of insecticide along with half a cup of water. Take a toothbrush and dip it in the solution and slowly brush the trunk . This will cream the trunk and keep it free from diseases. Once in a while why pure part with soap or shampoo water to keep it clean and shining. Remove the weeds on the soil , so the bonsai plant gets full nutrition.