Tree welfare

Probably the first thing that springs to mind when thinking of Bonsai care is the subject of watering.

There are no hard and fast rules governing the amount of water a tree will need because it depends on many factors, such as the tree species, the environment where the tree is kept, and the amount of compost available for water retention, to name but a few. One thing that is for sure, too much water is at least as damaging as too little. A well maintained Bonsai should never be allowed to dry out completely, but should be thouroughly watered to maintain the soil in a moist condition. It is important to ensure that the soil is evenly watered so that the entire root system has moisture available. Trees should be checked for water requirement at least once a day, more frequently in hot conditions.

The second care consideration is probably going to be that of feeding the tree.

This can take two forms. Either the tree will require fertiliser added to the water, or it will be fed by a slow release fertiliser that is added to the compost, usually as pellets or cakes. Fertilisers that are added with water should be applied 2 to 3 times a month during the growing season to trees kept outdoors. Indoor trees will require feeding at this rate all year round. Slow release feeds will automatically maintain a steady source of nutrient to the tree.

The final topic for this page, and maybe the least obvious, is that of daylight.

It must be remembered that trees need plenty of light in order to thrive. This is not usually a problem for trees kept outdoors, and these will usually benefit from partial shade for a part of the day. However, trees kept indoors are often kept in conditions of inadequate lighting. This will lead to weak, leggy growth, and eventually the tree will show signs of ill health, and may even die if the problem is not recognised and corrected. Trees kept indoors should be placed where there is plenty of light, but away from places where they would become scorched by too much direct sunshine or overheated. On top of the T.V. and window sills above radiators are obvious places to avoid.