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Viewing Bonsai Tree Care Tips and Advice - The Effort is Worth It!Bonsai Tree Care Tips and Advice - The Effort is Worth It!
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Caring for bonsai takes lots of patience, knowledge, and learned skills. It involves continuous work, but the results are more than worth the effort. This article provides several tips for bonsai tree care - from soil choice to watering and pruning. By Alan Allport The most important thing to keep in mind when caring for a bonsai tree is watering. It is imperative that you provide adequate water for your bonsai tree. This is especially important if your bonsai tree is kept indoors most of the time. The amount of water you will need to give will depend on two main things: the type of soil and the species of bonsai tree. A rough rule of thumb is that approximately 75% of water is absorbed via the root system and 25% via the leaves. Because the leaves are an important water absorption surface, you should ensure that you keep them soil- and dust-free. Use gentle water pressure when watering your bonsai. If you use too strong a water pressure, you might wash away the topsoil and expose the roots. Use a misting hose or a spray hose with an adjustable spray nozzle, and be careful of the water temperature. Good tap water is fine; just ensure that the water coming out of the hose is not too cold or too warm. The type of soil is also important to your bonsai tree. You will need to match the soil type to the specific species. In simple terms, a needled evergreen bonsai tree will require a soil composition of 30% humus to 70% grit, and the opposite for deciduous bonsai, i.e. 70% humus to 30% grit. If you own a particularly rare type of bonsai that you are not too sure about, you should ask your local bonsai supplier for advice or get a good bonsai reference book and be prepared to make up a custom soil yourself. Pruning involves leaves, branches, and roots. Bonsai lovers know that what you do to the bottom, you do to the top. Remember that less foliage means less for the roots to support. However, where do you start and what do you cut? Before attempting to prune the above ground aspects of your bonsai tree, you should have a vivid image in your mind's eye of the tree shape you wish to achieve. If you can do this and imagine a line around the tree in this shape, you will be able to prune away everything that sticks out from this imaginary line. Prune leaves or buds with care. Pruning buds will encourage back-budding, and cutting leaves will 'discipline' the growth of the bonsai. It is also necessary to manage the nutrients that the roots draw up from the soil. Remember that you are trying to grow a tiny tree, and letting it grow on its own will result in uncontrolled size. Caring for bonsai takes lots of patience, knowledge, and learned skills. It involves continuous work, but the results are more than worth the effort. About the Author: Alan Allport is a long-time bonsai tree enthusiast who has had a bonsai site at www.aa-bonsai.com for several years. For the best bonsai tree wholesale info, you should check it out today. Article Source: 1st Rate Articles - http://1stRateArticles.com |
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