You should keep in mind some things when buying a bonsai pot. First you’ll need to determine what type of location does your desired bonsai tree requires, outdoors or indoors. Some bonsai ceramic pots will deteriorate when exposed to weather conditions outdoors, such as extreme cold. For these cases the best is to look and ask for a ceramic bowl which is resistant to these conditions.

The drainage holes are also important to ensure good watering to the tree. One of the common errors among beginner bonsai gardeners is that they buy ceramic pots without these drainage holes. Since the water stays on the bowl, the roots will start to rot and the composite will ruin. Check out that your pot has at least one drainage hole to prevent early tree death. You could have the opposite situation, in which water drains too quickly from the pot; if that is your case you can place the bonsai ceramic pot on a tray.

Another point to keep in mind is the expected final size of the bonsai tree. Many people buy expensive pots, only to find out later that the tree will need to be repotted in less than a year. It is better to go for a cheaper option when it comes to younger trees or if you do not have several bonsai trees already. A large ceramic bowl could also help the tree more than you want to, and well the goal of bonsai growing is to keep our trees small right?

Finally, you should consider buying a bonsai ceramic bowl which complements the color of your tree. In general, you should stay away from brought colors that will deviate attention from the tree. Bonsai is an art and choosing the right ceramic color is part of such art. I always advise to be very subtle when choosing a ceramic pot color.

This particular type of plant can be considered a shrub, but it is grown as a tree with any bonsai style, including semi-cascade, windswept, root-over-rock and slanting. This is definitely a great looking plant if you love bonsai trees, and of course you’ll have to give it proper care to see it flourish healthily.

Azalea bonsai tree care

This plant is great if you are already accustomed to the activities involved in growing bonsai. Here are a few pointers you can’t miss if you want to give good care to your azalea bonsai:

Watering. The plant in its natural state needs rainwater, however this is not possible in all situations. In case you can’t give it rainfall, use this: a mix of a tablespoon of vinegar and a gallon of water. Water with this the plant once a month.

Location. Placing the azalea bonsai under direct sunlight will result in damage to the flowers, affecting their color. It is especially important to keep the plant in shade during summer.

Pruning and Sculpting. Pruning must be done after flowering, taking care not to leave dead flowers around it.

Soil Feeding. The soil will need to be treated every two weeks when spring begins, and feeding must be stopped when the azalea bonsai tree starts to bloom. For some people this requires a lot of patience, so be prepared for it. In the end the time invested will have great rewards, after all that’s why we all bonsai gardening!

The serissa bonsai tree is also known as the “Tree of a Thousand Stars” because it produces a big number of small funnel-shaped flowers at summer time in its native soil.

Serissa is definitely not a beginner bonsai tree; it is difficult to keep even for experienced people! What makes it difficult to keep is that it will yellow quickly and drop leaves if it is not located under the right growing conditions. If temperature drops below 7ºC, the tree could die pretty quickly, so in may cases this will be a call for indoor cultivation, but at the same time, the required humidity levels are hard to replicate in an indoor setting.

Growing serissa bonsai trees

Let’s talk about the things you need to consider when growing serissa bonsai tree. The first you need to establish is the plant’s location. This plant will grow nice in an outdoor setting if the temperature doesn’t drop below 7ºC, but do not move the tree around, just keep it in one place. This is a subtropical plant.

If temperatures tend to drop below the recommended level, then you’ll need to take your bonsai for indoor growing. You’ll need to find a permanent position out of cold draughts, next to a window. An humidity tray can be of great help to get the right levels of humidity needed by the plant, also avoid at all costs putting serissa near a radiator, or somewhere above it, or else the air will be too dry for the plant. Moving the plant constantly will make growing it more difficult as it will be under stress.

When it comes to watering, you need to give it the appropriate amounts of water and then do not water again until the soil has nearly dried out. Overwatering is an issue with Serissa bonsai trees, and it is evidenced by yellowish leaves.

Pruning and repotting is simpler. Just cut away the suckers unless they are needed for trunk styles, repotting is done in Spring when the growth starts and using always standard soil mix.

Serissa bonsai feeding must be done once a month when it is winter time, and when the growth is stronger, you’ll need to feed it every two weeks. If the plant is not showing new growth, do not feed it.

Bougainvillea bonsai tree care basics

Watering. There are many things to consider with this type of plant. To start let’s take about watering. This is a plant that finds more comfort with low levels of water, so you only do it sparingly. Once the plant enters flowering period, its needs for water will increase, so you’ll have to adjust the watering properly.

Soil Feeding. Feeding is usually recommended every week or up to two weeks. For this part, you’ll need to be very observant and check if it looks like your plant needs more feeding, that is why this is now a beginner bonsai tree.

Temperature and lighting. The ideal temperature for a bougainvillea bonsai tree is between 49 and 54 degrees Fahrenheit. If that is not possible, check that at least the temperature doesn’t drop down to 45 degrees. When it comes to lighting, the bonsai tree will enjoy more health when it is located in direct sunlight, caring of course not to overexpose the leaves to the sun, which can burn them.

Pruning and sculpting. You can prune the bougainvillea really whenever you want. When you first start with your plant, be sure to cut the new growth on a monthly basis, this way your plant will look ‘bushier’. Sometimes the growth of the plant can be a problem – if that is your case, it is time to cut back the desired branches.

The Chinese culture is permeated with different mythological figures, such as dragons, serpents, birds, and other animals that had their significance. It is believed that bonsai gardeners from that time, were interested in reproducing the shape of them through these trees.

With a change in location, art intention also changed. In Japan, rather than seeking to represent figures, bonsai growing was seen as a symbol of nature’s harmony and was practiced a lot by Buddhist monks. This was the end for bonsai trees looking like figures and were appreciatedby their true nature, leading to the development of bonsai gardening as we know it these days. Bonsai nowadays is linked to zen and meditation thanks to the monks that brought it to the ‘western civilizations’. However as it was brought to this new World, the bonsai tree meaning inevitably changed.

Yes, some people still link bonsai trees to harmony and zen meditation. But if you look at today’s bonsai interest, you’ll see that it is used as a decoration in spaces that want an Asian inspiration or as part of a growing decoration trend.

However, the meaning also changes from person to person. For some, even without knowing anything about zen meditation, bonsai is something that they can enjoy at peace free of stress and worries, and so it becomes a very important part of their lives. Some might even grow bonsais just because they look great and find a way to be creative along with nature.

As you can see there is a whole ‘liquid aspect’ to the meaning of bonsai trees, and this is something you’ll discover only when you get started with this art through beginner bonsai trees.

The physical features that characterize this tree are the wide spreading branches and the thick strong trunk that supports them all. Here is a picture that will let you look at its beauty.

One of the features of the banyan bonsai is that it can “take care of its won” when for some reason you neglect to care for it. However, this is only for a time, as any other tree, if it doesn’t receive what it needs and proper care, it won’t grow healthily. Caring for it means pruning and trimming the branches with the right tools when it is needed; wiring is also important as well as
giving it moderate light, since this is an outdoor tree.

This tree needs light, so if you put it in a dark corner of your house, it will simply die slowly, and every banyan bonsai tree must understand this. It is all about balance, because direct hot sunlight will be also detrimental to the tree’s state.

Like all bonsai trees, it is also important to learn how to water the banyan bonsai properly, this will have a direct effect on the health and looks of your bonsai tree, after some days, check out if the soil is not dried up completely, and keep watering the plant from time to time, soon you’ll know the time intervals for your specific banyan bonsai tree.

The pot with this type of tree must be taken care of, these types of trees seem to grow better on mud color pots, and preferably angled ones. From time to time, check out the drainage hole to see if there are bacteria or fungus present in the pot that could hurt the tree’s health.

Can this be considered a beginner bonsai tree? Well, caring for it can involve more work than other trees such as the dwarf bonsai tree or the ficus bonsai, however this work is rewarded by what experts consider a more beautiful bonsai tree.

A variation of this type of tree is the dwarf juniper bonsai tree. This plant is native from Japan and its scientific name is Juniper Procumbens Nana, some people name it “Karate Kid”. This dwarf bonsai tree is a typical one, sued many times for illustrations about the topic. Perhaps that’s why many people immediately recall this plant when they think of bonsais. In Japan this plant is typically grown outdoors, but upon its arrival in other countries, the plant is grown indoors, especially on extreme weathers.

When you decide to buy a dwarf beginner bonsai tree, you need to keep in mind the different things needed, such as lighting, temperature, watering, soil feeding, pruning and sculpting, and winter care. Don’t worry these things are pretty simple to do, as growing bonsai trees is really no rocket science. For example, when it comes to watering, you need to avoid over watering and instead go for small doses. From there, you need to make sure the soil isn’t dry and have a consistency watering the plant.

The dwarf bonsai tree is also an excellent choice for a gift, thanks to its low-maintenance properties and how nice it looks. Because of this, you may find quite easily starter kits for people who don’t have any experience with bonsai trees in general. The usually come with a 3 year old plant, a ceramic pot, soil, wire and extra tools for pruning.

These bonsai ficus trees are really small versions of the Banyan tree and it has an exotic nature that makes it very interesting to grow. If you are interested in indoor bonsai growing, then you’ll love the ficus bonsai tree, as it is perfect for your situation. Inside the group of bonsai ficus, you’ll find different varieties worth considering growing, including the dwarf ficus, the weeping ficus, and the narrow-leaf ficus. The difference is present in the leaves and growth habits. There is no really a “best on” within this choices, so you can pick any of them to start with.

Something to keep in mind with ficus bonsai trees is that it needs to be kept indoors all year long; giving it sunshine and fresh air can be done but only occasionally. A key aspect of successfully growing a bonsai ficus tree is to never allow the tree to go completely dry for a long period of time; for this purpose, you’ll need to test the soil by sticking your finger an inch or so in it. Watering the tree will require you to soak the tree and container in water for 10 minutes, after that you’ll need to let the soil drain until no more water drips.

Another thing you’ll need to understand is repotting. Since the bonsai ficus tree grows slowly, there is only a need to repot the tree every two years. However, if you notice the tree has grown faster than usual, taking over the pt in the first year, you can go ahead and repot at that time, without having to wait any longer. I have found that the best idea is to repot the bonsai ficus tree during early spring. After repotting, you need to give the tree water using the same procedure above, then let the tree rest under shade for 2-3 weeks, until the new root system is well placed.

During cold months, the need to keep the bonsai ficus tree indoors is even more important. You need to keep the tree in a sunny area that doesn’t register a temperature lower than 65 degrees. If temperatures are too low for the tree, you’ll know because some leaves will start to fall off. If that is the case, choose a better location without this problem. As you can see, it is not hard at all to take care of a ficus bonsai tree, but you need to understand the plant and its requirements.

Bonsai soil mixes vary in its composition, as there are a great number of components that can be employed for their elaboration. Since we are talking about beginner bonsai trees here, we know that it can be a daunting subject for a lot of people, but let’s learn some basic information to know what we are getting into.

As you know, a bonsai tree will have to exist in a small volume of soil that will have to serve its purpose all along the year.  The tree nurtures from this soil, so we can say that it totally depends on its quality, through the soil, the bonsai tree will get water, minerals, gases and nutrients that will help it become a healthy good looking tree. If you neglect to find a great bonsai soil mix, you’ll end up with a tree that has no vigor and looks unhealthy.

What You Should Look For on a Soil Mix

Adequate drainage. Water retention is bad for soil, because as water build up, it won’t be able to aerate properly and will build up salts.  A quality soil, must get rid of all excess water immediately.

Adequate water retention.  Water retention is the other side of the coin when it comes to a bonsai soil mix. It must hold water so that the try gets hydrated and moisturized.  As ou can see there has to be a balance between these two soil features.

Adequate aeration. Aeration will depend on the air pockets found in the soil.  These pockets of air will hold oxygen which is also extremely important for the life of your tree. Fresh air must continually enter the soil and provide a solution for its needs.

Bonsai soil mix for beginner bonsai trees can be also purchased online if you can’t find it near your area.  On Amazon you can find Hoffman Soil Mix, which has a presentation containing 2 quarts and serves for all kinds of bonsai tree, and Bonsai Boy’s Conifer Soil Mix, which contains a quarter and comes with a ziplock for easy management.

There are different ways in which we can grow our bonsai tree, and keep them miniature.  This is an art that has its origins in China, and then was slowly introduced in the Japanese and Korean cultures. As people from the Western world came to know this art, they quickly became in love with bonsai trees and its unique beauty.

If you are planning to enter the World of Bonsai trees, you must spend some time learning about the different varieties of trees. This will allow you to have more control over the tree growing process and will in turn show. Later on, as an experienced gardener, you will have greater knowledge and intuition when it comes to different bonsai trees.

A small number of trees will end up being small and healthy as you intend them to grow in small pots.  You will get more successful as you learn to differentiate and select the best trees for this purpose. If you work on achieving a great method and have care and patience, you’ll be surprised at how many years this miniature plant can live!

Care makes a big difference, and that’s the difference we have to get accustomed when dedicating ourselves to bonsai trees.  We need small containers, as they will restrict the growth of roots and the tree itself. This in the other hand means that the plants will have a limited supply of nutrient.  Persistent moistening of the soil is needed, or else the tree will die, but if it is too much, we leave the way open to fungus infection that will rot the plant.

Bonsai tree pruning must also be done with care and attention. We must do it at the right time and in the right proportion.