General Bonsai care

You have spent a lot of time researching and then purchasing your bonsai.  Whether you have decided on an established bonsai plant or are going to develop your own from scratch, you will have to practice some basic plant care. 

The single most important factor of bonsai tree care is watering.  Sounds simple, but since bonsai are container bound it is more important and makes them a more sensitive plant to water.  Unless you're in an extremely hot dry climate, outdoor bonsai plants require less water than their indoor brethren.  Indoor plant care will follow the same basic guidelines that normal houseplants require except when the bonsai are in very small or shallow pots.  These displays require more water because they easily dry out.  It is a good practice to place them in humidity trays of gravel or pebbles to keep moisture levels up.  In both cases the soil should always be slightly moist but must never go beyond.   This is why container drainage and soil compaction has to be monitored at all times.  

The information on plants or trees that you researched when you chose your bonsai will determine the garden supplies that you will have to keep on hand.  The directions on lighting and positioning should be followed just as if your specimen was in the ground.  Feeding bonsai trees is another important task that will have to be done on a regular basis.  Although they are small they still need the essential elements to maintain healthy plant growth. 

The tree roots should be trimmed but not to excess.  Disturbing the roots on healthy plants is the number one reason why bonsai fail.  Contrary to many beliefs, tree cutting is not done that often.  Tree roots should only be trimmed when the plant has truly become container bound and must be re-potted.  The way to tell whether a re-potting needs to be accomplished is to check the root ball in the early spring just before the height of the growing cycle.  If the roots are tight and there is no space in between them then you should repot.  On young trees or vigorous growers you'll be surprised that it only needs to be done once every other year.  Older well established bonsai may not have to be repotted but once every five or six years!  

Tree cutting and trimming is done through-out the year.  The majority of the pruning is done by removing new growth shoots.  The rest is done to maintain the shape and the condition of the plant.  Conifers normally require less trimming than deciduous trees. 

The best information on plants and bonsai are still from the plant nurseries from which they came.  A plant nursery will supply you with the most appropriate bonsai species for your area.