How to Fertilize Bonsai Trees

by: Chrisetina Jones

Bonsai trees, like all other living things, should have food for survival. Unlike the roots of ordinary trees that grow for further distances seeking nutrition, the roots of bonsai trees are controlled to grow inside the tray & hence they will be able to obtain merely whatever nutrition is present in the soil inside the tray. Therefore, the soil within the tray must be often re-furnished with the apt amount of nutrients.

The procedure of adding nutrients to the soil in which plants grow is termed 'Fertilizing' & it's a major section of bonsai tree care. The nutrients available in the fertilizer will aid the bonsai tree to produce its own food by a procedure termed 'Photosynthesis'. The amount & type of fertilizer to be endow for bonsai tree care is mainly dependant on conditions such as:

* Variety of bonsai tree

* How old is the bonsai tree

* Time of the year in which the bonsai is fertilized

The fundamental nutrients in fertilizers are Nitrogen, Phosphorous & Potassium, mixed in various shares for various fertilizers. You must apply fertilizer throughout the development season of the tree; starting early spring until mid autumn. Indoor trees nevertheless can be fertilized around the year. It is advisable to apply higher quantity of fertilizer recurrently (like once in two weeks) for young trees, & keep reducing the amount & rate of recurrence as the tree matures.

In order to provide correct bonsai tree care, on no account over-fertilize. Surplus fertilizer results in burning of roots & leaves. Burned roots are not competent enough for absorbing water from the soil & relaying it on to the various sections of the bonsai tree. On account of over-fertilizing, continue to water the plant until the water pours outside the drain hole & allow it to deplete. Then re-water it. This procedure is known as leaching & will help to discard surplus fertilizers.

Things to bear in mind:

* At all times water the bonsai tree previous to adding the fertilizer.

* Endeavor to utilize a water soluble fertilizer.

* On no account fertilize an ill plant until it has grown healthy.

* Although if it's a development season, do not add fertilizer to a inactive outdoor bonsai until it demonstrates signal of development. If it is indoors, you can add fertilizer less frequently, like once in a month.

With apt bonsai tree care, by adding the right amount of fertilizer at the right instance, you'll be able to grow & maintain a healthy bonsai tree.