Because of their relative lack of protection from the elements, proper care can be quite challenging.
The shallowness of bonsai containers affords roots little protection and certainly little water and nutrient reserve.
As a result, proper watering of bonsai is practically an art in itself. Some species can handle and even prefer short dry periods, while others require near-constant moisture.
Heavy watering makes the trees more susceptible to fungal infections and "root rot". Sun, heat and wind exposure can quickly dry a bonsai tree to the point of drought, and most trees must be afforded some protection from these elements.
Good care requires constant vigilence. Allowing the bonsai soil to dry out completely is one of the fastest ways to kill the plant, for even a little bit of time in completely dry soil will cause massive damage that is very often fatal.
Various evergreens do not display an outward sign of drying and damage until long after the damage is done, and may even appear green and healthy despite having an dead root system.
Bonsai are generally repotted and root-pruned every few years. By doign this it prevents them from becoming pot-bound and encourages the growth of new feeder roots, allowing the tree to absorb moisture more efficiently.
 Soil
There are nearly as many opinions about soil mixes and fertilization as there are growers. Good soil is primarily a loose, fast-draining mix of components, usually a mixture of coarse sand or gravel, fired clay pellets, and an organic component such as peat or compost.
There are various thoughts as to proportion of these elements; some artists work with a standard 1:1:1 ratio for all trees, others vary depending on tree species, age, or climate.
Some artists even omit the organic component entirely, preferring to fertilize manually, in such cases a soil such as akadama is used. Various fertilizers exist for bonsai, and some artists maintain a very strict feeding schedule, reducing nitrogen content later in the season to discourage new growth.
Others rely on various vegetable fertilizers to encourage growth early in the season, although the long-term efficacy of this approach has not been conclusively demonstrated.
Contrary to most popular conception, most bonsai are not indoor plants, and if kept indoors will usually die. In fact, this is one of the best ways to kill them. Although certain trees, particularly tropicals, will flourish if kept indoors; those of similar species to common houseplants like ficus and umbrella plant (schefflera) will thrive indoors.
Bonsai based on outdoor shrubs or trees (most confiers, maples, larch, etc) require a cold dormant period in which to store energy for spring growth. These outdoor trees must be protected from wind and drying effects in the winter, and also must be kept cold and in a generally darker environment. In-ground cold frames, unheated garages, porches, and the like are often used by hobbyists and artists.
Inexpensive trees often sold in chain stores and gift shops are derisively referred to as "mallsai" by experienced bonsai growers, and are usually weak by the time they are sold. These are often mass produced and are rooted in thick clay from a field in China. The clay is very detrimental to the bonsai - it literally suffocates the roots and promotes root-rot.
 Very little if any shaping is done on mallsai, and often the foliage is crudely pruned with little finesse to resemble a tree. Due to the conditions under which they are transported and sold, they are often watered inadequately and are generally kept in poor soil - usually a clump of sphagnum moss or the aforementioned clay with a layer of gravel glued to the top. Proper tree care is essential in these cercumstances.
This leaves them susceptible to both drying and fungal infections. Some "mallsai" can be resuscitated with proper care and immediate repotting, although this is reportedly rare.
This top layer of glued-on gravel should be immediately removed once the bonsai is purchased, and the plant should be repotted in a proper bonsai soil such as akadama.
Most nursery stock trees can be grown as bonsai with differing degrees of success. While Japanese varieties of juniper and maple are usually seen as the most suited for traditional styles, other North American, Korean and Siberian species of various trees will also work quite well as these species are especially suited for colder climates. Some south Asian, south American and African species lend themselves well to tropical cultivation or growth in warmer climates.
Other times, trees collected from the wild are cultivated as bonsai. Known among enthusiasts as Yamadori, these specimens are highly prized and are often already many hundreds of years old when they are harvested from nature.
Great care must be taken when collecting Yamadori, as it is very easy to damage the tree's root system (often irreparably) by digging it up. Trees that are to be collected must be analyzed carefully to determine whether they may be removed safely. Trees with a shallow or partially exposed root system are usually ideal candidates for extraction.
There is also a legal aspect to removing trees, so the enthusiast should take all steps necessary to ensure permission from the owner of the land before attempting to harvest these 'Yamadori'. Bonsai tree care is most definitely an art in itself. . | |
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