Expert Tips for Caring for 17 Types of Bonsai Plants
Bonsai plants have a wide fan base around the world, captivating enthusiasts with their miniature beauty and intricate designs. The art of Bonsai, originating from Japan, involves growing plants and trees in miniature form. These tiny trees enhance indoor aesthetics and bring a sense of tranquillity and natural beauty to your home. Their unique appearance makes Bonsai one of the best plants to keep indoors.
Regardless of which Bonsai type you choose, proper Bonsai plant care is essential to ensure their health and longevity. Taking care of a Bonsai plant requires understanding its specific needs and providing the right conditions. Each aspect plays a crucial role in sustaining a healthy Bonsai, from selecting the perfect spot to understanding watering needs, pruning techniques, soil preferences, and fertilisation schedules. Here are some comprehensive Bonsai care tips on maintaining this plant.
Bonsai Plant Care Tips and Essentials
Proper care is essential to keeping your Bonsai healthy and vibrant. This includes choosing the right location, watering correctly, pruning regularly, using the ideal soil, fertilising as needed, and repotting periodically. Here are detailed bonsai plant care tips on how to care for these beautiful plants.
Which is the Best Place to Keep the Bonsai?
Bonsai plants thrive in places with plenty of light. However, to prevent leaf burn, avoid direct sunlight, especially during the afternoon. An ideal spot with indirect or morning sunlight is ideal.
How to Water the Bonsai?
Check the soil regularly and water the plant only when it seems dry. Use room temperature soft water and avoid overwatering. Ensure the soil is moist but not waterlogged.
How to Prune the Bonsai?
Pruning is crucial to maintaining the shape and health of your Bonsai. Trim back new growth during the growing season and perform heavy cutting in spring. Wiring branches can help shape the plant.
Which is the Perfect Soil for Bonsai Growth?
A well-draining soil mix is essential for Bonsai growth. Adding clay can improve water retention. The soil should be slightly acidic to neutral (pH 5.5-7.5), depending on the plant type.
Is Fertilising a Necessary Bonsai Plant Care Tip?
Fertilising helps maintain the health of Bonsai plants. Use organic liquid or seaweed fertilisers, typically applied once every two weeks during the growing season. Avoid fertilising during winter.
How do You Get the Repotting of Bonsai Done Properly?
Repotting is necessary to refresh the soil and manage root growth. It should be done in the early spring before the growing season starts. Ensure that the roots are pruned and that fresh soil is provided.
Detailed Care Tips for Different Types of Bonsai Plants
Below are the specific bonsai plant care tips for 17 different types of these beautiful and refreshing plants. Sunlight, water, fertiliser, soil, and cutting are the key points covered for each Bonsai plant.
| Plant Name | Sunlight | Water | Fertiliser | Soil | Cutting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ficus Plant | The plant prefers direct morning sunlight. Direct sunlight in the afternoon can burn the leaves | Water the plant with room temperature soft water whenever the soil gets slightly dry | Use organic liquid fertilizer or organic seaweed fertilizer and fertilize the Ficus Bonsai once every two weeks | Preferable to use sandy clay soil as it can hold and nutrients | Trim back the new growth in the growing season. Heavy cutting should be ideally done in the spring |
| Adenium Bonsai | Adenium bonsai plants require full sun for proper growth | You should only water your Adenium bonsai when the soil dries out | Use liquid fertilizer once a month from spring to autumn and do not apply fertilizer in winter | Always use a well-draining soil mix for better growth of Adenium bonsai plants | You should trim back the long shoots and cut off the damaged parts to keep the plant healthy and beautiful |
| Banyan or Bargad Tree Plant | The plant prefers direct morning sunlight. It is better to keep the plant close to the window in warmer climates | Make sure you do not let Banyan bonsai stand in water, i.e., avoid overwatering | It is better to fertilize once every two weeks using an organic liquid fertilizer | The soil should neither be acidic nor basic. A pH between 6.5-7.5 is preferable | Trim back the new growth during the growing season using scissors, cutters, or shears |
| Buxus or Boxwood Bonsai | The Boxwood bonsai can thrive in high sunlight and prefers a semi-shady position | Water the plant when the soil gets slightly dry. It is preferable to reduce watering during winters and fall | You should fertilize Boxwood bonsai using bonsai fertilizer once or twice a month | Make sure that the mixture of soil has a pH value between 7 to 8 so that your bonsai can stay young for long | To keep your Boxwood bonsai healthy and beautiful, trim the shoots, leaving one or two pairs of leaves |
| Carmona S Shape Bonsai | The plant prefers a lot of natural sunlight, and hence it should be kept near a window | Do not overwater the plant at once, and make sure that you don’t let it stand in water | Use organic fertilizer and feed once every two weeks. Make sure you fertilize properly during the growing season | A soil mixture that drains well and can retain moisture is recommended for Carmona S Shape Bonsai | The heavy pruning should be done during spring using scissors, cutters, or shears |
| Ficus I Shape Bonsai | Direct sunlight in the afternoon can burn the leaves. The plant prefers direct morning sunlight. | Water the plant with room temperature soft water whenever the soil gets slightly dry. | Use organic liquid fertilizer or organic seaweed fertilizer and fertilize the Ficus I Shape Bonsai once every two weeks. | Preferable to use sandy clay soil as it can hold and nutrients. | Trim back the new growth in the growing season. Heavy cutting should be ideally done in the spring. |
| Ficus Iceland Bonsai | The Ficus Iceland bonsai is happy to receive direct morning sunlight. | It is important to water thoroughly and deeply with room temperature soft water. | Feed the plant with an organic liquid fertilizer once every two weeks. | The plant prefers a well-draining and moist soil to grow at its best. | Keep new growth trimmed back during the growing season. |
| Ficus S Shape Bonsai | Direct sunlight in the afternoon can burn the leaves. The plant prefers direct morning sunlight | Water the plant with room temperature soft water whenever the soil gets slightly dry. | Use organic liquid fertilizer or organic seaweed fertilizer and fertilize the Ficus S Shape Bonsai once every two weeks. | Preferable to use sandy clay soil as it can hold and nutrients. | Trim back the new growth in the growing season. Heavy cutting should be ideally done in the spring. |
| Ficus Starlight Bonsai | Ficus Starlight can grow both in direct and indirect sunlight but does not like heavy sunlight. | It is better to water moderately in spring and summer but sparingly in winter. | Use organic liquid fertilizer or organic seaweed fertilizer and fertilize the Ficus S Shape Bonsai once every two weeks. | Preferable to use sandy clay soil as it can hold and nutrients. | You should prune the Ficus starlight bonsai regularly to keep it in shape. |
| Imli Bonsai | The plant prefers four to six hours of sunlight every day. | Water to lightly soak the soil and avoid watering until the upper 2 inches of soil is dry. | Any general-purpose fertilizer will be good for the plant—feed fertilizer at regular intervals. | Tamarind Bonsai can grow in all types of soil. It is better to place a layer of well-draining soil mix on top of the soil. | It is preferable to do heavy root pruning in spring. |
| Juniper Bonsai | It is better that you keep your Juniper bonsai plant away from direct sunlight. | The plant can grow well with minimum watering, so avoid overwatering. | Use organic fertilizer to feed the plant and apply fertilizer once every two months. | Thrives well in well-drained and dry light, sandy soil. | Cut the long shoots at the base to develop foliage pads. |
| Korean Pepper Bonsai | Korean Pepper bonsai plants require full sun for proper growth. | You should only water your plant when the soil dries out. | Use liquid fertilizer once a month from spring to autumn and do not apply fertilizer in winter. | Always use a well-draining soil mix for better growth of Korean pepper bonsai plants. | You should trim back the long shoots and cut off the damaged parts to keep the plant healthy and beautiful. |
| Paras Peepal Bonsai | The plant requires bright sunlight to grow at its best. | You should water Paras Peepal Bonsai more during the growing season. | Any general-purpose fertilizer will be good for the plant—feed fertilizer at regular intervals. | Make sure that you keep the soil moist at all times. | Keep removing the waste leaves. Trim back the extra-long branches. |
| Pilkhan Bonsai | The plant prefers direct morning sunlight. Direct sunlight in the afternoon can burn the leaves. | Water the plant with room temperature soft water whenever the soil gets slightly dry. | Use organic liquid fertilizer or organic seaweed fertilizer and fertilize the Pilkhan Bonsai once every two weeks. | Preferable to use sandy clay soil as it can hold and nutrients. | Trim back the new growth in the growing season. Heavy cutting should be ideally done in the spring. |
Pomegranate Bonsai |
Place in an area where the plant can get at least six hours of direct sunlight. | The plant requires regular watering but does not over water. Reduce watering in the months of winter. | Use a specific fertilizer used to feed plants that produce fruits and flowers. | Soil with a pH range between 5.5 to 7.2 is preferable for the Pomegranate Bonsai plant. | Let young shoots mature and lengthen before trimming them back. |
| Radermachera Bonsai | The plant requires plants of bright indirect sunlight. You can keep it close to a window where the sun shows up for most of the day. | You should water the plant only when the top of the soil feels dry to touch. | Use a standard 10-10-10 liquid fertilizer. Decrease feeding times and fertilize less during inactive growth. | The plant loves to grow in general-purpose rich potting soil that drains well. | The plant requires heavy pruning. You should trim back â…” of the plant. |
| Ulmus S Shaped Bonsai | The Ulmus S Shaped Bonsai thrives in either full sun and/or partial shade. | Provide one watering per week in spring and summer. Three watering per week in warmer climates is necessary. | Feed the plant with a combination of solid organic fertilizer and well-balanced liquid fertilizer. | The plant prefers to stand in slightly moist soil. | Prune in late winters or early weeks of spring before the growing season to attain good shape and look. |
Wrapping Up
Taking care of bonsai plants involves attention to detail and consistent care. Remember to place your bonsai in an ideal location, water it properly, prune it regularly, use the right soil, fertilise it as needed, and re-pot it when necessary. By following these bonsai plant care tips, you can maintain a healthy and beautiful bonsai.
This blog is filled with easy bonsai tips and tricks for growing beautiful plants in your surroundings. Remember, buying a bonsai tree is not enough! You should also know how to take care of bonsai plants so that you can keep them fresh, healthy, young, and green for a longer period of time.
