Growing bonsai for a particular cause is different from the viewpoint of those people who look for an interesting plant, glance at a bonsai, buy it and take it home with great pleasure. The thing these people do not realize is that the bonsai is absolutely an outdoor plant, never an indoor one, though since the 1990s it is absolutely used as a part to add glamour to indoor decoration. Plants of different kinds are used for indoor bonsai as opposed to outside, so it must be taken into account where to place the tree in an ideal manner.
If a tree is brought home inside what would be done with it? The bonsai is that tree whose shape may be given after one’s own whims. It never changes, never dies. It’s a plant that is always lively and needs attention and pruning to remain after one’s own choice.
Bonsai must be placed in an area where enough light is available. If a bonsai fails to have enough UV rays, it dries. The bonsai needs warmth in the daytime – at least 60 degree Fahrenheit and the humidity to flourish. Regular spraying on the leaves with water is mandatory. However, bonsai can never be placed in a saucer or tray filled with water, as this can rot the roots. At night what the bonsai needs most is cooling down as it occurs in the nature as well.
Repotting of the bonsai once every two years or so is very crucial and this should be done in the spring. When the re-potting is made the roots should be pruned. Depending on the size of the roots, 1/3 to 2/3 should be removed from the tips. Repotting in a similar type of container as the original is necessary to create the same kind of effect. Drainage holes for the water must be cared of. If the roots come in close contact of much damp they will rot gradually.
Bonsai containers should be shallower than normal indoor pots used for plants. So if fertilizer is added dilution is to be accordingly otherwise the fertilizer will burn the roots. Bonsai should be fed this fertilizer about once every three weeks – but it should not be fed in winter.
Bonsai needs to be “pruned” and “pinched back” at a regular interval to keep it at the desired shape. Actually, this should be done in the spring before the season’s growth begins, and then regularly throughout the season. Actually everything depends on perfect pruning .It must be taken care of what kind of tree was got before this pruning – for example, if a ficus is taken all the leaves should be cut back.
Take Care of the Bonsai to be amused
As the bonsai is kept in a shallow container, it can attract pets and prone to be diseased. Bonsai requires more care. Even more than any other plant we generally see at hand
1. The bonsai should be cleaned with a small brush on a regular basis. Any plant debris on the soil is not allowed after the finishing of pruning the bonsai.. It will decompose and hamper the growth with fungal diseases or moss.
There is a common idea that moss is decorative and is not removed. If this is the case it should be kept away it form the trunk and branches of the tree – using a special spatula, or a hard nylon toothbrush just scraping away . A pair of tweezersis needed to remove any weed and it must be remembered that any grass can steal nutrients away from the tree.
2. Pests always should be kept away. As bonsai is watered often to keep it humid, this attract
pests such as aphids (aka greenfly), caterpillars, ants and red spider mites.
Diseases to combat
Diseases like Powdery mildew are the most widespread fungus disease. If a white, floury layer on
the shoots and leaves of the tree is seen it is nothing but powdery mildew. Rust may appear as orange or brown patches on the leaves. You may be using too much potassium in the soil, if this begins to occur.
Iron deficiency will cause yellowing of the trees. The leaves or needles will turn yellow – while the veins will remain green. This usually takes place in chalky or lime soil, which “locks up” the iron.
Repot and changes in the potting compost should be done.
The four seasons to notice
Special treatments for the outdoor bonsai will need special treatment in each of the four seasons, but even the indoor bonsai needs special treatment at times, for the biological necessities, rather
than environmental ones.
There’s no need to give fertilizer during the winter, for example Pruning for shape should be done in early spring, and, as stated earlier, repotting should take place in the spring of every second year, and the roots trimmed.
