buy | How to Take Care of a Bonsai Tree

Jade Bonsai

Jade trees, naturally grown in South Africa, are actually shrubs that grow well as bonsai. They are indoor bonsai that require temperatures above 50 degrees and like well-draining soil. These trees grow small rubbery leaves and expand rather quickly. Certain varieties of the Jade plant bonsai can display small white flowers and red-tipped leaves. These plants are extremely low maintenance, only requiring a large amount of sunlight and periodic watering.

Watering Jade Bonsai

Your Jade plant bonsai should be watered enough to keep the soil moist, but allowed to almost dry out before watering. The leaves of the Jade tree store water, allowing the tree to go short periods with no water. This species is susceptible to root rot if they are consistently overwatered. This tree will enjoy periodic misting to wash away the dust that can collect on the cumbersome leaves.

Placement of your Jade Bonsai

Jade trees are indoor bonsai that need to be placed in a location that does not drop below 50 degrees. This tree also requires a large amount of natural sunlight; full sunlight is preferred for this species of bonsai.

Training Jade Bonsai

Jade plant bonsai respond well to heavy pruning, forcing more growth to compensate. New growth needs to be pinched back as it grows to maintain shape. Wire this tree with the thinnest wire that you can use to hold each branch. The wires should be removed from a Jade after 3-6 weeks, and the branch should then stay in place

Repotting Jade Bonsai

Jade plant bonsai need to be repotted every two years to replenish soil nutrients. If you can pull the Jade plant out of the pot and the dirt comes with the roots and maintains shape, it’s time to repot. Repot the miniature tree in well-draining or cactus soil. Jade bonsai prefer water to quickly run through the soil, like in the deserts of South Africa.

Fertilizing Jade Bonsai

Jade bonsai respond well to using a balanced fertilizer year round. We recommend that you feed your tree every other week all year. This species relies on fertilizers to provide nutrition since they are watered far less than other bonsai trees.

Azalea Bonsai

Satsuki Azalea bonsai are one of the most sought after species of indoor bonsai regularly available. These miniature Azalea plants are gorgeous when grown as bonsai. They produce a large amount of beautiful flowers and are eye catching when in full bloom. They typically bloom in late spring and are available in any flower color. Azalea bonsai grow smaller leaves then most trees, making them the perfect choice for a bonsai.

Watering Azalea Bonsai

Azaleas do not do well with dry soil. They need to have moist soil at all times, so checking daily is crucial. Dry roots sill shrivel up and die very quickly, leaving you with a dead plant. Azaleas do not like lime, so use lime-free tap water or rainwater whenever possible.

Placement of your Azalea Bonsai

This species enjoys well lit areas that are sheltered from direct sunlight. They can do well in partial sun if needed, but ensure that the midday sun is filtered. This tree performs best in diffused light or partially shady locations, which are ideal for producing flowers and keeping a Satsuki Azalea healthy.

Training Azalea Bonsai

When wiring your Azalea bonsai, you should use aluminum wire instead of copper. Aluminum wire, with is softer than copper, was specifically designed to training Azalea bonsai due to their brittle branches and soft bark. Wire this miniature tree in November, after the growing season has ended. This species is typically trained into a semi-cascade, windswept, slanting, or informal upright style.

Repotting Azalea Bonsai

Satsuki Azalea bonsai prefer acidic soils, so using extra peat moss is advised. Peat moss also helps retain water while still allowing air to reach the roots. The best time to repot this type of tree is before you see the tree flower. You can trim a substantial amount of the feeder roots from an azalea. Do not prune the less prevalent thicker tap roots. Repotting can also be done later in the season, just make sure to pluck all flowers; you want the tree concentrating on recovery instead of growing flowers.

Fertilizing Azalea Bonsai

Satsuki Azalea bonsai prefer an acidic fertilizer that does not include lime. Fertilize this bonsai every other week in the spring. Stop feeding fertilizer while the tree is flowering. If you forget to stop, new leaves will overpower the flowers. In the late summer and early fall, switch to a monthly feeding of high phosphor fertilizer.

Chinese Elm Bonsai

Chinese Elm trees are considered one of the best true “miniature trees”. They look very natural in bonsai form, and look more like a full grown tree then almost any other species when used for bonsai. Chinese Elms produce dark green foliage with tiny blue teeth at the tip of each leaf. The Chinese Elm tree is the perfect beginner’s bonsai because it is easy to care for, forgiving, and it’s easy to predict the growth pattern. These trees can be kept indoors or outdoors as long as the temperature does not go below 20 degrees.

Watering Chinese Elm Bonsai

Chinese Elm trees need to be watered sufficiently year round, whether grown inside or out. The more sun you give this tree, the more water it is going to require. It is vital that you check the soil every day and ensure that it does not dry out. If you have your Chinese Elm bonsai indoors, you will need to keep it moderately humid by using a humidity tray or misting occasionally.

Placement of your Chinese Elm Bonsai

This type of tree can thrive in full sun or partial shade. They are extremely forgiving of their environment as long as you keep them well watered. Water them by submerging the entire pot in water for a few minutes, and then letting excess water drain out.

Training Chinese Elm Bonsai

Chinese Elms require a large amount of maintenance pruning, or pruning new growth to ensure the tree stays in small form. One of the most desired features of the Chinese Elm tree is the small leaves with a large trunk. You want to keep a large amount of foliage on the branches, since the leaves are so small; this will ensure that the branches don’t look bare. Allow new shoots to extend 3 or 4 nodes, then prune back to 1 or two as required. This will make the tree sprout new shoots and continue to expand.

Repotting Chinese Elm Bonsai

You should repot your Chinese Elm tree every 1 to 3 years, cutting back a large amount of the root system. Chinese Elms have strong and vigorous root systems and do not do well when they are root bound. Do not fertilize your miniature trees directly after repotting or you will experience root burn.

Fertilizing Chinese Elm Bonsai

Chinese Elms should be fed with a high nitrogen fertilizer once a week as soon as buds appear. After one month, switch to a balanced fertilizer every other week from summer to fall. During winter months, apply the balanced fertilizer monthly.

Find Chinese Elm Bonsai for sale here!

Fukien Tea Bonsai

Fukien Tea Bonsai are some of the most prestigious, one-of-a-kind specimen bonsai in the world. These trees begin to look aged earlier than most other trees suitable for bonsai. These trees sport small dark-green, shiny leaves that grow in small clumps. During the growing season, your Fukien Tea tree will produce small white flowers that turn into small red berries. The light brown bark of this species will become cracked and fissured in appearance, adding to the aged look of the tree.

Watering Fukien Tea Bonsai

A Fukien Tea trees needs a considerable amount of water on a regular basis. Being in full sun, the soil will dry out much faster than most other miniature trees. You should check the soil at least once a day, and water if it feel s dry. You should submerge the entire pot in water for a few minutes and then let excess water runoff before returning the plant to its original location.

Fukien Tea trees require a large amount of humidity and are traditionally placed in a humidity tray. The humidity tray provides a small bubble of moisture around the tree to keep the tree from drying out. Periodically spraying the tree with a mist bottle will also help improve humidity. This will also help keep the soil from drying out quickly.

Placement of your Fukien Tea Bonsai

This species is typically kept indoors, unless you live in a very warm and humid environment. Place you Fukien Tea tree in full sun with at least one hour of direct sunlight a day, preferably morning sun. Your Fukien Tea tree will produce more flowers and berries if set in a well lit, full sun location.

Training Fukien Tea Bonsai

This species of miniature tree grows slowly, but will still need to be pruned to stay small. Prune leaves back to 3-4 leaves per branch after you notice 7 or 8 have grown. These trees can be easily shaped with hard pruning at any time of the year.

Repotting Fukien Tea Bonsai

Fukien Tea trees should be repotted every 2 to 3 years, removing no more than 20% of surface roots. Repot your Fukien Tea tree in early spring, just before its biggest growing season. This will replenish the nutrients in the soil and leave more room for new roots to grow. Do not fertilize your tree for a month after repotting.

Fertilizing Fukien Tea Bonsai

In early spring, use a high phosphorus fertilizer, feeding the tree weekly. In late fall, switch to a high potassium fertilizer twice a month and continue through winter

Ficus Bonsai

Ficus Bonsai (Ficus Microcarpa Bonsai)

Ficus trees are native to Southeast Asia and Australia, where it is warm and humid most of the year. They are also known to grow considerably quickly while developing strong root systems relatively swiftly. The leaves of a Ficus tree are shiny, looking like they are covered in wax, and are very susceptible to changes in light. Changes in light typically result in the tree losing all leaves and growing new ones for the new light environment. There are many Ficus varieties that are very suitable for Ficus bonsai.

–Ficus Benjamina Bonsai

–Golden Gate Ficus Bonsai

–Ginseng Ficus Bonsai

Watering Ficus Bonsai

Ficus microcarpa bonsai like to dry out a bit between watering, but make sure they do not dry out entirely. Check your miniature tree daily with a moisture meter or your finger to make sure the soil is not completely dry. Water your bonsai trees by submerging them completely in water up to the top of the soil line for a few minutes, then pull them out and allow the excess water to drain. If you are watering your bonsai with a watering can, it’s best to water them twice with a few minutes in between. You should see water come out of the drainage holes, ensuring that you have watered all the dirt in the pot. Your Ficus bonsai should thrive with the right amount of water and sunlight.

Placement of your Ficus Bonsai

This type of tree enjoys partial shade and needs to be sheltered from midday sun. It is important that you do not shelter the tree from all sun, as they enjoy bright locations that do not singe the leaves during midday heat.

Training Ficus Bonsai

Each verity of Ficus prefers a different type of training. Check out the links above for individual training advice.

Repotting Ficus Bonsai

Most trees require repotting every other year to ensure that the roots do not run out of room. If the tree runs out of room to grow, it will stop growing. Check out the individual links for species-specific information.

Fertilizing Ficus Bonsai

Fertilize your Ficus weekly during the spring and then every other week for the rest of the year. This will replenish the nutrients lost in the soil from extra watering.

Indoor Bonsai Tree

Ficus Bonsai

Ficus bonsai thrive as indoor bonsai trees because of the humidity and temperature that they are used to having in their natural habitat. This tree has many variations that are suitable for bonsai due to their compact nature and scalable leaves. Ficus are known for having shiny, waxy leaves and an attractive trunk. These miniature trees grow faster than most other suitable bonsai trees, making them perfect for beginners and intermediate growers alike!

Fukien Tea Bonsai

Fukien Tea bonsai are evergreen trees that are naturally grown in southeastern China. This species is extremely popular as an indoor bonsai tree because of the shiny leaves, split bark appearance, red berries, and small white flowers it displays throughout the growing season. These trees begin to look mature and weathered at a young age. For this reason, Fukien Tea trees make for some of the most amazing and prestigious specimen indoor bonsai.

Chinese Elm Bonsai

Chinese Elm trees are one of the true “miniature trees” that we use in bonsai. They are perfect for use in bonsai because of the small leaves and large branches and trunk. These trees are great for beginner bonsai growers because they are very forgiving, can be grown in any amount of light, and can be grown as an indoor bonsai tree or as outdoor bonsai.

Azalea Bonsai

Azalea bonsai are sought after for the gorgeous blooms they produce. This tree produces large flowers throughout spring, partnered with minute leaves. These two qualities make them ideal candidates for an indoor bonsai tree. They can be grown indoors or outdoors as long as temperatures don’t drop below 9 degrees. Azalea bonsai can be grown in any well-lit location, making them a prime candidate for almost any window in your house.

Jade Bonsai

Jade bonsai are perfect for beginners because they need less watering and can grow anywhere warm with full sun. These trees prefer to almost dry out between watering so they can make use of the water that they store in their leaves. Varieties of this tree can display striking white flowers and red-tipped leaves. This tree grows slow and compact, making it the perfect choice for growth as an indoor bonsai tree.

Serissa Bonsai

Serissa, or “snow rose”, bonsai are well known for the large amount of small white flowers that they produce year round. They can also be trained to have air roots and be used in root over rock formations rather easily. This tree requires plenty of humidity and is best for intermediate bonsai growers. Any change in environment will cause this tree to lose all its leaves and re-grow them. Serissa bonsai are some of the most beautiful bonsai trees in the world.

How to Grow a Bonsai Tree

If you are new to bonsai, it’s very important to understand the hobby before you buy one of these spectacular plants and start to care for one for yourself. A bonsai tree is much more than decoration for your home and although a bonsai tree may seem to be something that’s very attractive for fun to grow, it can take a lot of work. Over the course of this guide we will explain how to grow a bonsai tree, the types of bonsai trees, exactly what a bonsai tree is and where you can start to think about buying a bonsai tree and the accessories that you will need to care for one.

What is a bonsai tree?

Before we discuss how to grow a bonsai tree We must understand what a bonsai is. Bonsai trees are miniature trees which can form their own mini ecosystems and grow in a very small pot. A bonsai tree may be one of the only trees that you can think of that you could keep on a bookshelf or in a small spot within your home. Different types of bonsai trees will achieve different looks and depending on the type of bonsai tree that you have it can take on different sizes, different leaf shapes as well as flowering blossoms and more.

The bonsai tree first started in Japan and this tradition dates back well over 1000 years. The primary purpose of a bonsai tree is to provide meditation and contemplation as well as a fine hobby that strengthens ingenuity and creativity. A bonsai tree takes real effort to cultivate and a well kept bonsai tree is extremely respected among enthusiasts.

Starting a bonsai tree may involve the use of a smaller pot and the idea is to grow and cultivate a small tree or shrub to the point where it eventually starts to take on the look of a full tree or landscape when placed in a display pot. Display pots are designed to give the illusion that a bonsai tree is much bigger. There are many designs that you can find online and there are only really if you accepted shapes and proportions that would classify a tree as being a true bonsai. Since it’s introduction there are many enthusiasts who have perfected precise cultivation techniques when it comes to potting, grafting, training, pruning and reducing the roots to make sure that the trees will grow and continue to mimic the same style as a full grown tree. It is possible for you to learn how to grow a bonsai tree for yourself or to even buy one of these trained trees for your home.

How to start a bonsai tree:

One of the easiest things for beginners to start with when it comes to learning how to grow bonsai tree, is to find out where to buy a bonsai tree that has been trained and trimmed. A variety of different greenhouses and decor stores will have bonsai style trees which have been appreciated and pre-trained so that you need to only carry out the upkeep to make sure that the tree will continue to look its best. Many of these bonsai trees are sold already in their show pots and resemble a finished bonsai tree even upon the date of purchase.

Of course if you are interested in creating your own bonsai tree you will need to start with some type of wild plant. Look around your yard or a wooded area to find trees or shrubs that you would like to re-create in a show pots. There are most likely some plants from your area that would be great for starting a bonsai tree. You can also grow a bonsai tree from cuttings or start from seeds. Grafting is also a popular method for starting a bonsai tree as well. When you find a plant that you would like and you have chosen to collect wild plants as your bonsai method, dig up the soil surrounding the plant and transplanted into a deep training box or directly into your garden. From here you can prune the plant as well as guide its movement and growth with wires to get the proper shape. After the plant has grown to your specifications you can transplant it into its own pot. It’s usually best not to start with a show pot to begin with and it’s very important that you use the soil that the tree has been growing in until you have developed a strong root structure. When you feel as though your plant is ready to come inside, and you have created a strong root structure you can switch over to bonsai soil which will help to shape the growth of an indoor plant into a bonsai tree.

Traditional names:

Once you figure out how to grow a bonsai tree, you can learn about the traditions. When learning how to grow a bonsai tree it’s important to learn about some of the more traditional shapes and names so that you can receive advice depending on the style you would eventually like to produce. Here are some of the top bonsai tree types:

Chokkan- this type of tree is based off of a Cedar or cypress tree and it resembles a triangular arrangement of branches in a taller bonsai style with a thick trunk.

Hokidachi- this bonsai type looks similar to a broom and can be one of the more difficult types to grow. The branches form a half dome at the top added features a medium-size trunk similar to an Elm or Maple.

Shakan- these types of trees have a slanted trunk and look similar to trees that you might find growing on a mountaintop with strong winds. Growing these trees perfectly did take a lot of work.

Moyohgi- this type of bonsai tree has a curved trunk and twisted branches. This is an intricate design with complex curves that require patients and dedication to grow.

These are just a few types of the most popular bonsai trees. Feel free to look online to see other types that have been created and to find inspiration for your own style of bonsai tree.

Bonsai Soil:

The soil that you use for indoor bonsai plants is slightly different than what you might find in your garden. Many bonsai gardening information websites will tell you that bonsai soil is extremely important to keeping your bonsai tree sustainable. If you can find out where to buy a bonsai tree is a good chance that the same retailer will have bonsai soil as well as bonsai tools that you can use for upkeep. Understanding soil and the differences between different mixtures is one of the keys to mastering how to grow a bonsai tree.

Soil for a bonsai tree is made up of organic and some man-made compounds which will work at keeping the bonsai restricted to its container. This means that when you’re tree is strong enough, if you are able to use this type of soil your tree will no longer try to grow outside of its pot. Without using this type of soil you could have a real mess on your hands when the root structure begins to crack its way through your pot and the tree becomes large and unmanageable. Most bonsai retailers can not only tell you how to grow bonsai tree but can also tell you the right type of soil mix for the plant that you are growing. Some types of bonsai soil will have extra sand and grit whereas others are more clay based. Ultimately it’s entirely dependent on the plant that you have collected and turned into a bonsai tree.

Bonsai care:

In order to make sure that your bonsai tree remains healthy you will need to continue to perform daily care. Without daily care your bonsai tree could die off and you may have to start again after all of your hard work.

Perhaps one of the most commonly asked questions when people want to know how to grow a bonsai tree, is how often a bonsai tree will need water. Ultimately this is all dependent on the climate that the bonsai tree is kept in an a spot in the house that you keep your bonsai tree. The best time to water a bonsai tree is usually early on in the morning with room temperature tap water. The easiest way to see if a bonsai tree needs water is to check the soil to make sure it has moisture. When watering your bonsai tree make sure that most of the soil surrounding the trunk gets wet and keep dampening the soil until you start to see a bit of drainage from the bottom of your pot. This will mean that the roots are getting some water and your bonsai tree should remain watered throughout the day barring that it isn’t left in direct sunlight in a dry climate.

Fertilization is also important for bonsai trees. When kept inside bonsai trees will need balanced fertilizer biweekly. Find a local retailer where you can buy bonsai trees and asked them for their fertilization recommendations. Normally a balanced fertilizer of 20-20-20 is great for keeping bonsai trees healthy however you should not fertilize a bonsai tree if it is sick or experiencing difficulty such as fading leaves or pests.

Tools of the trade:

In learning how to care for a bonsai tree part of growing a bonsai tree involves the use of special tools to keep it healthy. Just as you may have to regularly prune and outdoor tree there are pruning tools available for indoor bonsai trees as well and you may need to prune back some of the leaves in order to keep your tree healthy. Removing some of the dead leaves is also a great way that you can spur future growth and this is something that will need to be done on occasion. Special tools such as knob cutters, root breaks, branch benders and bud scissors will also help you to fully customize the look of your bonsai tree and change the way that it grows. There are many people that use wire to direct their bonsai tree and change the shape of the tree and its growth patterns as well. If you’re looking for a specific look it’s important that you get out a small set up shears and wire so that you can produce a custom bonsai tree to your specifications. As you get better with bonsai trees you can produce more difficult shapes and expand upon your hobby.

How Long do They Live For:

Regardless of whether you purchased a trained bonsai kit, or grew your own bonsai tree the truth is if you are able to care for your bonsai tree it could actually outlive you. The oldest bonsai tree to date is well over 300 years old and was created using a white pine. This bonsai tree was incredibly resilient and even survived the Hiroshima bomb blast of 1945. This website will give you everything you need to know about how to grow a bonsai tree, give your tree the opportunity to outlive it’s owner.

Japanese Maple Bonsai

Japanese maple trees are one of the most extravagant specimens of bonsai trees regularly available today. They can be grown in formal upright, informal upright, and slanting style outdoor bonsai. These trees are regularly trained as bonsai due to their spectacular colors, decent growth rate, and overall scalability. Another strong case for using Japanese maples for your miniature tree is the fact that there are many cultivators, or genetic strains, that already grow dwarfed and are easily trained. I will cover the basic strategies that are essential to understand when owning and training a Japanese maple bonsai.

Watering Japanese Maple Bonsai

As always, we suggest that you check your miniature tress daily for moisture, but this species will probably need to be watered every day during the growing season, and every other or every third day in winter, depending on your soil drainage.

Placement of your Japanese Maple Bonsai

Japanese maple bonsai are typically grown in temperate zones and need a real or simulated winter, where they can go dormant, in order to survive. For this reason, these trees are typically outdoor bonsai. This type of tree typically is grown in partial shade, but you must ensure it does get some daytime sun because this is what creates the red pigment in the fall. It is essential that you keep this tree in shady areas in early spring to prevent leaf burn. Newly sprouted leaves are susceptible to sun damage for about a week after sprouting.

Training Japanese Maple Bonsai

Leaf pruning is conducted throughout the growing season to scale back growth and balance the tree. New shoots should be pinched back in areas of the tree that do not require new growth in order to force the tree to grow in other areas. This tree can be defoliated in midsummer if the tree is healthy. This process forces the tree to grow new leaves by removing the older, larger leaves. The new leaves will grow back smaller, and thus increase the foliation of the tree. Branch pruning is ordinarily conducted in autumn after the leaves fall to avoid an abundance of bleeding.

Repotting Japanese Maple Bonsai

Repot this species every other year to replace the soil that has had all nutrients washed away. Maple prefer a soil with good drainage. Cut back up to one third on the roots to ensure the tree does not become rootbound.

Fertilizing Japanese Maple Bonsai

It is very important to fertilize Japanese maple bonsais with a good slow release formula to encourage vigorous growth. Feed this tree every week throughout the growing season to help encourage rapid growth.

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