Caring for Bonsai Trees

Master gardener Jonathan Pedersen shares tips on caring for and growing bonsai trees.

Bonsai is Japanese for pot tree. "Bon" means pot and "sai" means tree.
A bonsai tree is a small plant that is made to look like a mature tree with an older, thicker, callused trunk.
Bonsai trees need a lot of water. Mist the foliage of the tree every few days and immerse the pot in water about once a week for 15 minutes.
After immersing the plant in water, place into the saucer. To avoid root rot, remove any water that collects in the saucer.
A pre-bonsai is a plant that is not in a pot yet.
If you decide to prune a pre-bonsai plant before placing into a pot, make sure to wait two weeks before transplanting.
Before transferring the pruned plant into a bonsai pot, make sure that the pot has large drainage holes and that nursery fabric has been placed over the holes.
Place bonsai potting soil in the bottom of the pot and pat down with a bonsai fork.
Remove any dirt from the pre-bonsai and trim the roots. Place into the pot and add slow-release fertilizer.
Bonsai trees should be kept at 65 degrees or above and should be kept out of direct sunlight, but in a bright area.
Prune once a year and replant every two to three years.

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•	Caring for Bonsai Trees
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