The most important part of growing a bonsai involves providing it with the right bonsai food. The food helps sustain the tree, by giving it the nutrients that it requires. Since a bonsai is potted in a small amount of soil, it cannot derive all its nutrients from the soil – this is where the food supplements come in.
You should note that the amount of bonsai food that you give to your tree should be based on the age of the tree, as well as the season. Too much food might end up killing the tree, so be careful.
How often should you feed the tree?
The amount of time you need to wait to feed your tree depends upon the species of the tree. As a rule of thumb, you should provide more food to the bonsai during the growing season. During this time, it should be fed once every fortnight. The food for developing tree should be rich in nitrogen, while mature trees need a more balanced diet.
Also, remember that the trees stop absorbing nutrients when they stop to grow. After the leaves begin to fall, you should stop giving food to the deciduous tree. However, you can feed the coniferous trees a couple of times during this period.
Finally, you should keep in mind that these rules do not apply to indoor bonsais as they keep growing throughout the year. Thus, keep providing the regular amount of food to them. Do not provide the tree with bonsai food right after repotting it – wait for a couple of months before beginning to feed it.
What variety of bonsai food to choose
Often bonsai beginners are confused as to whether they should use organic or man-made food. Well, organic foods are less likely to burn the roots if you over feed them. If you want to use organic bonsai food, you can feed chicken manure and fishmeal to the tree. However, you cannot use these fertilizers on your indoor bonsai, thus in these cases chemical feeds might be a good idea.
The food that you provide to the tree should contain potassium, nitrogen and phosphorous. Nitrogen in the food is important as it causes the color of the trees and assists in the development of the tree.
Liquid bonsai food is also available in the market. They are quite good as they can be soaked up by the tree though the roots itself. Finally, remember that your bonsai will also require vitamin supplements. You can provide these though the bonsai food.
Author is bonsai enthusiast. For more information on Bonsai Food please visit http://bonsaidojo.com
|
|
Indoor Bonsai $3.48 "[An] excellent guide."–The New York TimesOne of the world’s recognized experts on bonsai explains everything the indoor gardener needs to know about cultivating these living works of art. Exquisite color pictures showcase a selection of perfect specimens, beautifully shaped tiny trees as lush and thriving as the ones outdoors. And they’ll last through every season and for years to come with this superb advice on choosing a plant or starting from seed; optimum conditions for growth; feeding, watering, and care; handling pests and diseases; and shaping, wiring, and pruning. There’s an illustrated list of indoor species (including tropical and subtropical varieties), directions for repotting and root pruning, and invaluable commentary on hydroculture. This is a must-have for all bonsai lovers. |
|
|
Indoor Bonsai for Beginners $12.98 Creating beautiful, healthy bonsai is a wonderful skill that anyone can learn, with a little time, patience, and this all-inclusive manual. With color photos and drawings to illustrate the points, it introduces all the cultivation techniques; offers expert advice on location, soil types, watering, and pest control; and provides intricate instruction on training the bonsai–including pruning, wiring and stretching it. An A-to-Z guide of all the popular species showcases varieties that range from a flowering Camellia Japonica, with its beautiful smooth stem, to an easy-to-care for Olive tree. Each entry gives some background on the plant, and includes suggestions for acquiring the bonsai and directions on how to position it in the room for best results. |
|
|
Bonsai $5.48 This practical guide sweeps away the mystique to reveal the secrets of a fascinating and increasingly popular aspect of gardening. Simple step-by-step sequences encourage even the most inexperieced gardener to achieve beautiful and lasting effects. It includes full details on shaping, pruning, and wiring, a month-by-month planner, suggested varieties for home and garden, rock planting and container displays, and information on popular and exotic bonsai. |
|
|
Successful Bonsai $15.98 An essential reference for growing indoor and outdoor bonsai. The popularity of raising exotic miniature trees continues to grow, with bonsai gardeners cultivating tropical and subtropical species. Successful Bonsai is an essential reference, providing a wide range of bonsai styles and shapes, along with step-by-step instructions and illustrations that expertly guide the gardener through the many pruning and wiring techniques. This easy-to-use book explains how to grow bonsai both indoors and outdoors; features an illustrated A-Z list of bonsai species with detailed descriptions of 80 plants, including 15 classic species; and recommends a proven pruning regimen. It includes information on: Choosing appropriate training styles Cultivating and propagating Dealing with diseases and pests Shaping an established plant Sowing seedlings Building a collection. Successful Bonsai is not only an informative and practical guide, but also a superb source of inspiration. It will instill confidence in the beginner and spark the imagination of the experienced bonsai artist. |
|
|
The Bonsai Specialist $9.98 With topics ranging from watering and feeding to spirit and aesthetics, this is an all-in-one guide to the art of the bonsai. It features advice on looking for and raising trees; handling pests and diseases; using composts; potting; choosing containers; pruning the plants; and displaying them. A convenient A-Z guide covers virtually every species of indoor and outdoor tree. |
|
|
Complete Indoor Plants $16.48 Grow a garden inside! Houseplants bring life and color to any room, and with the right care you can successfully cultivate everything from succulents and bonsai to foliage, flowers, and fruit. This indispensable manual is a complete guide to indoor gardening, with advice on choosing the right plants and helping them thrive, as well as propagation, repotting, grooming, and pest control. The Plant Directory, arranged by houseplant families and filled with expert advice, covers more than 300 popular varieties. Each entry features a color photograph for identification; the plant’s botanical and common names; its height, spread, optimum climate and light; and propagation tips. Other essential information on feeding, watering, and grooming are covered in a handy icon panel. |
