Indoor Bonsai Care

"Basic Bonsai Tree Watering and Feeding..."

Indoor bonsai care is essential for success.  Outdoors trees are generally self-sufficient. They extract the elements from the environment that hey need without having to search and gather.

However, this can be a hindrance because they require the needed elements to be near to them since they cannot move.

Elements usually leech through the soil into the roots of the tree. Since indoor bonsai are confined to a pot, they need supplements artificially added to their soil.

Adding the right elements at the right time is one of the easier parts of raising bonsai and bonsai care.

You can purchase bonsai 'food' online or from a local nursery or garden supply section. NPK is found in the most common type. NPK is composed of nitrogen(N), phosphates (P), and potassium (K).

The potassium is usually supplied by the ashes of wood and plants called potash. Bonsai also need a number of other nutrients in addition to NPK. These include iron (Fe) and vitamins (especially B-vitamins).

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Beer can be used in the place of a commercial B-vitamin complex because it contains several B vitamins. However, a high alcohol content can damage the tree. Use a diluted mixture of half weak, American beer and half water to prevent damage.

Spray the beer mixture or a commercial B-complex onto the leaves in cool or moderately warm weather for the ideal results. The stomata (holes) in the leaves close above 85F(29C) greatly lowering the exchange of gases and moisture through the leaves.

The leaves will be cooled enough to open when sprayed in hot weather, but they will lose moisture because of the hot air. This dries out the leaves, and eventually dries out the whole tree. Incorrect watering practices are the cause of most bonsai deaths.

Nutrient Pills

Pills that supply nutrients are also commercially available. To get the best results, place the pills on the soil to the left and right of the trunk and water the soil daily. The water will cause the nutrients to leech down through the soil into the tree roots.

Several factors determine the number of nutrients that need to be supplied. Some of these factors are age, size and species of the tree, length of time the tree has been growing since the last re-potting, the quality of the drainage, and the development of the root system.

Start out by following the directions on the nutrient packet, but some experimentation may be needed to achieve the correct balance. Burned leaves and drooping flowers are a sign that too many nutrients are being added.

Larger amounts of nutrient supplements are needed during growth seasons. However, small amounts such as NPK 0-10-10 can be added during the fall to aid color enhancement.

At the top of the list of how to grow Bonsai trees indoors is feeding.  Feed the bonsai every 2-4 weeks, but wait three or four weeks after re-potting a bonsai to feed it. Moist soil aids the feeding process, but pill-type nutrients can be used as part of the daily watering regimen.

 
If I can do it, you can do it!
Tina Timms, Bonsai Babe

  Indoor Bonsai Care