Many believe that taking care of a Bonsai tree is challenging and that it requires special attention. But is it really hard to keep? Well, this article elucidates the Bonsai plant maintenance and how best to grow it. Also, if you are a beginner, you have just found the right guide to take you through the process of growing the Bonsai correctly.
Are Bonsai Trees Hard to Grow?
The process of growing a bonsai tree is not much different than growing a regular tree. If you’ve ever grown a plant, indoor or outdoors, then you are familiar enough to be able to maintain a bonsai. The key factors are water, sunlight, soil, and other fertilizing additions. These are vital to growing any plant and bonsai trees are no exception.
Where Will You Put the Bonsai?
Before you select a bonsai species, we recommend you factor in if you are going to keep it indoors or outdoor. What kind of environment will it be in? This is important because environmental conditions play a huge role in the growth and survival of your bonsai tree. Some species grow perfectly in cold wintery conditions, while others thrive in the dry summer heat. Consider the dominant season in the area that you live in before choosing a plant. To do this check out the hardiness zone map.
Consider the Bonsai Species
Different species require different levels of maintenance. You should keep this in mind when buying a bonsai tree. This is important because the weakness of some species will not be a factor as long as they are maintained. You can find plenty of resources online or ask. Ficus Bonsai Trees are some of the easiest to maintain. They can even be grown indoors!
The Challenges of Having a Bonsai Tree
You should get a Bonsai plant that you find stylish and beautiful but, it doesn’t stop at that as the plant requires to be nurtured. Many people don’t realize this, thinking that any bonsai tree does well without any specific maintenance. This is one of the misconceptions that make people think bonsai is hard. Some plants need more water or sun than others. Others need to be pruned often, while others can’t handle many insults.
There is no specific day when a Bonsai should be given water, but when left without care it becomes dehydrated. You can usually tell from physical signs, like dry or drooping leaves. It’s best to have a plan and work with it. Bonsai are frail, and as such, they can quickly go from healthy to malnourished. Plants are living things just like us, but many people don’t consider this and forget to take care of their bonsai trees.
You don’t need to keep a constant check on a bonsai tree around the clock, but it’s a good idea to look at them about once per day. Spend about 1 minute of time checking the plants watering needs, pests, leaf color and shape, and overall health of the bonsai tree. You will also want to get to know the basics of growing bonsai and how to avoid stupid mistakes that might cost you or your tree.
What Makes People Think That Bonsai is so Difficult?
As you can see, it takes a few seconds per day to care for a bonsai and keep it in good health, so why do so many people consider bonsai trees to be difficult to care for?
Many people who make these claims have never owned a bonsai, or didn’t take care of it properly if they did. Some specific breeds of bonsai can have special needs, like very specific weather conditions, and a higher frequency of pruning but as long as the care techniques are used consistently, they too will be a breeze.
Some of the perceptions of bonsai being difficult to grow are because of the time scale. Keeping them stunted ensures they will not grow tall, so you may not be able to see many changes in a bonsai tree for months or even years, but have to keep tendering it daily. Many bonsai trees may live for decades or longer and not change much in appearance.
What is the Easiest Bonsai Species for Beginners?
The incredible thing about bonsai trees is that they can outlive their owner and continue to be an heirloom for generations. Many people cherish them in their homes.
Not every Bonsai can be maintained by just anyone, especially if you have no experience with plants. So, which Bonsai can you keep at home as a beginner and expect to outlive you? The five listed below are fairly easy and very accessible for beginners.
1. Ficus Bonsai
Most beginners dream of having a bonsai tree indoors, which makes the Ficus bonsai a good pick because it does pretty well inside. It’s also easy to trim and shape. Also, it has bendable branches and captivating trunks that make it beautiful to behold and manage. Conveniently, Ficus can allow you to skip a day or two of maintenance as they thrive regardless.
2. Juniper Bonsai
This Bonsai originates from Japan, and unlike the Ficus, it can only grow outdoors, but as an outdoor bonsai, it’s easy to grow for any beginner. They can be grown against the house or under a patio cover, only needing about 4 hours of sunlight daily. They have beautiful small leaves that keep them looking pretty. The best part is that this tree can handle cold weather, which means you don’t have to worry about winterizing them during the cold months.
3. Chinese Elm Bonsai
The Chinese elm is a unique bonsai that can grow anywhere and still be healthy-looking. However, to get the best result, it is best to leave them growing outside during summer and taking them in during winter. The Chinese elm grows slower than other Bonsai, and this is what every beginner needs to maintain their plant correctly. Though, when they are bigger, they are easy to prune, but you can start pruning as soon as any branch begins to come out of place.
4. Cotoneaster Bonsai
Just like the Juniper, the Cotoneaster has small leaves also that make them look beautiful. They have a solid tolerance to drought, so they can be grown outside or indoors. Yet, they need lots of sunlight to thrive, so growing them outdoors is the best bet. The Cotoneaster also has flexible branches that can bend easily, which makes shaping them, seamless.
5. Portulcaria Bonsai
This is an indoor plant that is also known as baby jade. It has small oval leaves that compliments the name and also the size. Portulcaria also allows for maintenance forgetfulness as they can grow without regular watering. In fact, they don’t need to be watered every day because too much of it can result in root rot. So, it is best to give space for them to grow without your supervision sometimes.
Beginners Tips for Taking Care of a Bonsai Tree
- Water your plant early in the morning
- Check the top of the soil before watering your plant
- Water the plant once a week during winter and as frequently as you can during summer.
- Both outdoor and indoor plants shouldn’t be kept under direct sunlight for a prolonged period.
- Use only fertilizers from a store not homemade to nourish your plants
- Indoor Bonsai needs fertilizer all year round, but outdoor plants have specific times, which is their growing season.
- Plants’ growth means time for repotting as the old pot will be too small to contain the plant.
- During the pruning period, the only tools that should be used are standard tools, not improvised ones.
- The growth of plants can be stimulated with the right amount of nitrogen.
- When the plant is not growing, cut down on the quantity of nitrogen fed to the plant.
- Use sprayers to remove any form of humidity off your plant during humid seasons.
- The soil will determine the amount of water that should be added. If it looks light brown, it needs lots of water, but if it appears dark, then don’t add water.
- Use soil that is well-drained and has enough aeration for your bonsai plant.
Conclusion
Hopefully, this helps to answer any questions you have on the difficulty of growing Bonsai Trees. No doubt, they are beautiful and hard to master but that doesn’t mean it is impossible to have thriving trees as a beginner. So, if you are interested in growing a Bonsai in your home, go ahead and make sure you follow the tips in keeping them healthy. Happy planting!