Bonsai Trees - Answers To Common Questions

What is the history of bonsai trees?

Historians believe that the bonsai tree came to us from the Han Dynasty when people wanted small trees to decorate their houses and their gardens. This was courtesy of the Chinese people. Later the Japanese began to use the trees during the Tokugawa period to landscape their property and began to use a variety of trees in their plantings. These were not dwarf plants rather they were regular trees used to make the bonsai tree through careful pruning and potting. Special containers and skills were needed so it became a pastime of the wealthier and was a mark of the nobility to have landscapes that featured these special living art pieces.

How much should I water my bonsai tree?

Watering a bonsai tree or any plant for that matter is a fine balance between being too wet and too dry. It is something that has to be checked every single day. You want the ground to be moist yet not soggy because this can cause root rot. If the ground is too dry it will cause the plant to dehydrate. Usually a good rule of thumb is to use your thumb. Press it lightly onto the ground. If it comes away slightly damp then your soil is at the right level of moisture. If it comes away wet then you need to hold off watering for a day or so until it reaches the right level again. If the soil is dry then you need to water your bonsai tree.

What type of plant food should I use on my bonsai tree?

How you fertilize and soil your bonsai tree is entirely up to you. Some bonsai growers elect to use only organic fertilizers whereas others rely on chemical fertilizers. The one constant is the soil composition. In order for the drainage to properly occur you must have inorganic material that allows the water to flow through the soil and out through the properly ventilated bottom. You can use a variety of materials ranging from clay pellets to shale.

How much plant food should I use?

You do not want to use a lot of plant food. Please remember that you are dealing with a small tree in a small area. Use just the recommended dosage on the package of fertilizer. If you are using organic fertilizer you can find the recommended dosage on the internet or purchase a book to help you know how to care for your bonsai tree. That way you will have all the information you need right at the tips of your fingers and you will not have to worry about constantly looking up the information on the internet.