How do I take care of my bonsai tree?
I just got it.
Instructions were minimal. It says:
Water once a week
Keep in light(Is a lamp okay or does it need sunlight?)
Dont let it get in temperatures under 4 celcius.
Fertilize every 2 months
What else should i do?
Any tips?
You need to figure out what type of tree you have in order to take care of it properly. Bonsai is a technique used to create a small version of a tree in nature - not the plant itself. Bonsai can be created from almost any plant type.
Until you figure out what kind of tree it is, your best bet would be to put it outside, as long as the temperatures are above 50 F, in bright but not direct sun, and water it enough to keep it from drying out completely, but not constantly soaked. Don’t use any fertilizer until you ID the tree.
Unless you are using a lamp designed specifically for plants, your tree will need sunlight.
Check around at the many bonsai sites on the internet to try to ID your tree, or even post a picture at one of the bonsai forums.
September 28th, 2009 at 10:19 pm
http://www.bonsai4me.com
http://www.bonsaisite.com
References :
September 28th, 2009 at 10:33 pm
You need to figure out what type of tree you have in order to take care of it properly. Bonsai is a technique used to create a small version of a tree in nature - not the plant itself. Bonsai can be created from almost any plant type.
Until you figure out what kind of tree it is, your best bet would be to put it outside, as long as the temperatures are above 50 F, in bright but not direct sun, and water it enough to keep it from drying out completely, but not constantly soaked. Don’t use any fertilizer until you ID the tree.
Unless you are using a lamp designed specifically for plants, your tree will need sunlight.
Check around at the many bonsai sites on the internet to try to ID your tree, or even post a picture at one of the bonsai forums.
References :
Bonsai grower - 15+ yrs
September 28th, 2009 at 10:44 pm
Sometimes doing less is more
This website will give you some basic information on Bonsai Care http://www.bonsai-garden.com/
Additionally there are a series of bonsai related articles that address specific issues growers of bonsai deal with http://www.bonsai-garden.com/bonsai-articles.htm
Goodluck!
References :
September 28th, 2009 at 11:03 pm
This sounds like a tree that is ok to keep indoors, a lamp will work, and you DON’T have to spend the extra money on a "special" plant light. For using a lamp you have a few options, if this is your only bonsai a desktop lamp will do a great job without taking up much space. For the light in the lamp, you want to get a compact florescent equal to or greater than 60W. LED lighting also works great but it is more expensive up front. You want the light about 4" from the top of your tree, if the light is too close to the tree it will burn the leaves, if it is too far away the won’t recieve enough light. Get a plug in timer for the light and set it to run 16hrs on with 8hrs off.
Test the soil before you water it, use a chopstick or something similar (toothpick, bbq skewer etc.) stick it in the soil for 3mins, then pull it out. If it’s damp don’t water it, but when it’s dry water it.
You can fertilize every 2 weeks, be sure to water it before you fertilize or it will burn the roots. Use the fertilizer at half reccomended dosage.
Post a picture on a forum to get an ID, http://www.bonsaigeeks.com is a place to start, also for more indoor growing information check out http://www.bonsaihunk.us
Hope this helps
References :
Personal bonsai experience, both indoor (with LED’s, compact florescents, and hydroponics) and outdoors with mother nature and the garden hose