In this section you will find the basic techniques to keep your bonsai in good condition, or to advance a little more and create your own bonsai tree.
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Watering
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This is the first task that must learn. You are wrong if you think it's easy and that you know all about watering. Each species has its own water needs, for example, while the pine trees prefer dry soils, most hardwoods prefers moist soil.
Before watering make sure that the plant really needs water. Analyze the soil surface.
Watering should be done when the plant does not receive direct sunlight. So, the best times of day to watering is early morning or later in the afternoon. I usually water my trees in late afternoon or evening (in working days). Sometimes in the warmer months it is also necessary to do a morning watering.
You should water in a smoothly way to simulate a thin rain. Should water all around the plant until it starts coming out the drainage holes. The soil must have good drainage so the excessive water will not be retained.
Do not put any type of container where water can accumulate beneath the pot, much less put the pot immersed in water. This is a common mistake, the excess water will rot the roots and enhances the appearance of fungus that quickly leads to death of Bonsai.
The golden rule here is to keep the soil moist, watering only when necessary.
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Pruning
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Pruning is a technique that allows the plant to acquire and hold the desired shape year after year and balance the energy that normally is directed to the apex of the plants. Without any pruning the plants grow naturally. It is the root pruning (repotting) together with the pruning of branches that make the Bonsai to grow every year without losing the way he has.
The root pruning is discussed in repotting. As for the pruning of the branches, this can be of two types: there is the pruning that is done throughout the growing season so that new shoots do not stretch too much, and pruning of structure, usually held in late winter / early Spring is more severe and aims to prepare the bonsai for the new growing season.
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Pruning the new growth
The pruning of new shoots, which grow constantly, should be taken very seriously or soon will have a bonsai full of leaves on top and the bottom naked.
In deciduous bonsai, let rise until the new shoot have 6 pairs of leaves, then cut immediately after the second pair. In species with vigorous growth such as Ligustrum leave only one pair and get ready to repeat the task many times.
Pines have a particular way of growing. They launch shoots that grow up, and from these shoots is that the needles emerge. If you prune these shoots when they still grew little over the point where they start to grow, you will get a bunch of buttons at the point of cut and some in other parts of the bonsai. This is very important, because unlike the decidous species, in pines you can not prune a branch leaving him without leaves, hence the importance of the new shoots on older wood.
The Juniperus should be pruned with the fingers, cutting and reducing new growths to allow new leaves to born in the interior areas.
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Structuring prune
After one growing season is natural that the crown of the bonsai is congested and compact with the growth of an entire year.
tructuring prune is necessary to remove the excess of branches / buds and will allow that the new shoots will have space, ligth and air to grow well.
This pruning should be more severe in the most vigorous areas of the tree (top) to let light and air to penetrate towards the lower branches.
The buds should be selected, let the strongest buds in the lower areas and the weakest buds in the upper areas.
In very vigorous species is very important to thin out the canopy so that the bonsai is renewed.
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Repotting
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The repotting of bonsai is of utmost importance. With growth, the space in the pot is no longer sufficient, because the roots are developed so that they form a compact ball. This causes that water and air can not penetrate the soil and the bonsai doesn't get the support to grow up healthy. Thus, it is necessary to make the repotting at regular intervals depending on species, age and previous growth. The repotting is therefore intended to provide a fresh soil to bonsai, so it has space to continue to grow. It has another function because the root pruning encourages the growth of fibrous roots. And with fibrous roots we get thinner branches, shorter nodes and smaller leaves. This task should be done in late winter or early spring, just before the buds start to grow. This task shouldn't be done at the end of the growing season (before winter) although many do, since it reduces the defenses to the winter.
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Make sure the bonsai wire is not stuck with the pot, if it is, cut the wires. Lift the bonsai from the pot. Keep a spray bottle of water to moisten the roots from time to time.
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Prepare the soil and the pot. According to the bonsai species mix the soil components to use. Place a piece of plastic net in the drainage holes and fill the bottom of the pot with a layer of soil. You can choose to introduce wires in the drainage holes to better fix the bonsai to the pot.
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Loosen the roots starting from the bottom of the pot and gradually get to the roots near the trunk. A chopstick or something similar should be used to facilitate this task. You must do this task slowly to avoid damaging the roots too much. They are very delicate;
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Once the roots are extended, you will realize how long they are. Then you need to cut them. With sharp scissors, cut up to two thirds of the roots. You should begin by reducing the longest roots and should bother to keep more fine roots and shorten the thicker ones;
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Put the bonsai in the pot ensuring that it is firmly seated. Add soil around the roots and with the help of a chopstick fill all the spaces between them. Press the soil with your fingers so that all spaces are filled with soil and the roots are in touch with it;
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Finally, water the bonsai and protect it in a shelter position, away from wind and direct sunlight. Make the pruning of the branches at this point is also beneficial for the evergreen trees, as it reduces water loss by leaves and balances with the absorption capacity now reduced by root pruning. Once the bonsai show signs of growth, put it in the usual place.
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Wiring
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Writing...
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Feeding
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Bonsai is a living being that needs nutrients and minerals to live. Once it has a little portion of soil available, it is necessary to add nutrients using organic fertilisers or inorganic fertilisers.
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The most important nutrients are nitrogen (N) phosphorus (P) and potassium (K).
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Nitrogen is essential for the growth of leaves. Phosphorus stimulates woody development of roots, trunk and branches. Potassium encourages the development of flowers and fruits and helps strengthen the bonsai for the winter. The bonsai trees also need other elements in smaller quantities.
For this description is already possible to deduce the times in which the bonsai needs of different amounts of the various nutrients. Generally, from early spring to mid summer the bonsai needs greater amounts of nitrogen for leaf growth. From the middle of the summer you should change to a fertilizer with less nitrogen and more potassium and phosphorus to prepare the bonsai trees for the winter season and for the following growing season.
Inorganic fertilisers
I recommend the use of inorganic fertilizers because they are more balanced and its use is better controlled. The package shows what elements constitute it and their relative concentrations. Always follow the application instructions and remember, it is better to apply less than more. Over-application or a higher dose than recommended will cause and higher salt concentration in the soil, so that the existing water in the roots will tend to exit causing the dehydration of bonsai. So rule of thumb for prevention, always apply half concentration of what is stated on the package.
Note: Be careful with the handling of these chemicals, follow the safety instructions of the package. Keep them away from children.
Organic fertilisers
It is more difficult to monitor the application of organic fertiliser though its use is beneficial as a complement to artificial fertilisers. Horse or chicken manure are good suppliers of nitrogen while a few handfuls of ashes provide a good dose of potassium.
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Homemade fertiliser for the second half of the growing season:
The most important nutrients from the middle of summer are phosphorus and potassium for the growth and strengthening of buds and branches.
As the tomatoes and ashes are rich in these nutrients, I usually do a mix to feed my bonsai trees.
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The recipe is simple: grind a few ripe tomatoes (usually I use the surplus of production when they start to rot :D )
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Add ashes (remember to store ashes in winter for the following August :D).
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Mix well and is ready to serve :D
With a spoon put some small pieces distributed in the pot. With watering they penetrate the soil.
It's a simple recipe, cheap and easy to do ... and your trees will love ... ;)
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Pests
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Regarding pest control in bonsai the approach should always be very careful. Ie prevention before cure! There are two types os pests to keep in mind: Fungi and Insects. Insects are more easily noticed, aphids, spiders, scale insects, etc.. while the fungi can live in the roots and are usually more difficult to identify. As prevention should apply insecticides and fungicides on trees always following the package instructions. Should be applied early in the morning on sunny days and no wind.
Note: Be careful with the handling of these chemicals, follow the safety instructions of the package. Keep them away from children.
Fungi
Fungi thrive in moist environments normally. Waterlogged soils and wet leaves are excellent means for the development of fungi in bonsai, so pay careful attention to these aspects. Still, fungicides should be applied at regular intervals. A generic fungicide is enough.
Insects
There are several types of insects that reveal themselves in different conditions. There are those who attach themselves to the branches and leaves, those who chew the leaves, sucking, etc.. and are able to deface a tree in few days. Thus, the regular application of insecticides is essential. A generic insecticide is enough to prevent, you may need specific products for specific pests.
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