Keeping a Bonsai Alive

GARDEN · GLOBAL

Keeping a Bonsai Alive

Indoor and outdoor species, watering, light and the first year

Most bonsai given as gifts die within months, and the reason is almost always the same — it was an outdoor tree kept indoors, or it was watered on a schedule rather than when it needed it.

Indoor and outdoor are different trees

Tropical and subtropical species such as ficus, jade and Chinese elm tolerate indoor conditions. Junipers, pines, maples and most conifers are outdoor trees that need a cold dormancy each winter.

An outdoor species kept in a warm living room declines slowly over months and then dies. Find out which you have before anything else.

Watering

Never on a fixed schedule. Check daily by pushing a finger a centimetre into the soil, and water thoroughly when the surface is dry, until water runs from the drainage holes.

Bonsai pots are shallow and dry out fast, sometimes twice a day in summer. Underwatering kills quickly; sitting in a saucer of water kills slowly through root rot.

Light

Most indoor bonsai need the brightest position in the house, close to a south or west-facing window. A tree dropping leaves and producing long weak growth is short of light.

Humidity

Central heating is drier than these trees like. A humidity tray with pebbles helps a little, and grouping plants helps more. Misting does very little.

Do not prune or repot immediately

Let a new tree settle for a season. Repotting is done in early spring with a specialist free-draining soil, not ordinary compost, which holds too much water.

Ordinary potting compost in a bonsai pot is a common cause of death.

Common mistakes

Keeping it in a dark corner because it looks decorative there, watering little and often rather than thoroughly, and pruning hard in the first season.

Overfeeding a stressed tree also causes harm. A struggling tree needs correct light and water rather than fertiliser.

Pests

Check the undersides of leaves for spider mites, scale and aphids, which spread quickly indoors. Isolate any new tree for a few weeks before placing it near any of your other plants.

Winter for outdoor species

Outdoor trees need cold dormancy and also protection, since the roots in a shallow pot freeze far more readily than in the ground. A sheltered spot, mulch or an unheated greenhouse is the usual answer.

Water sparingly through winter and never let a frozen pot sit in standing water.

Feeding

Regularly through the growing season, since a small volume of soil holds few nutrients. Stop or reduce in winter.

Bonsai is a long practice. Start with a forgiving species rather than an expensive tree.

WHERE TO BUY

Ready to shop Bonsai Boy? Use the link below to visit the official store.

→ Shop Bonsai Boy — official site

Visit this site