Bonsai trees are miniature trees that are grown in containers as a form of Japanese art. They are great for small apartments or offices that need a bit of a green touch but don't have much from Nature to room for plants.

In order to grow, care, prune and maintain the Bonsai trees, we have to use tools which cater to our needs for god parenting of the Bonsai trees because we have to treat these trees as our own indispensible family members. Bonsai-Delicate plants

Good Japanese steel tools will outlast the user when proper care is given.

What is Bonsai?

The word “Bon-sai” (often misspelled as bonzai or banzai) is a Japanese term which, literally translated,

means “planted in a container”. This art form is derived from an ancient Chinese horticultural practice,

part of which was then redeveloped under the influence of Japanese Zen Buddhism. It has been around

for well over a thousand years. The ultimate goal of growing a Bonsai is to create a miniaturized but

realistic representation of nature in the form of a tree. Bonsai are not genetically dwarfed plants, in fact,

any tree species can be used to grow one.

History of Bonsai

Although the word ‘Bon-sai’ is Japanese, the art it describes originated in the Chinese empire. By the year

700 AD the Chinese had started the art of ‘pun-sai’ using special techniques to grow dwarf trees in

containers. Originally only the elite of the society practiced pun-tsai with native-collected specimens and

the trees where spread throughout China as luxurious gifts. During the Kamakura period, the period in

which Japan adopted most of China’s cultural trademarks, the art of growing trees in containers was

introduced into Japan. The Japanese developed Bonsai along certain lines due to the influence of Zen

Buddhism and the fact that Japan is only 4% the size of mainland China. The range of landscape forms

was thus much more limited. Many well-known techniques, styles and tools were developed in Japan

from Chinese originals. Although known to a limited extent outside Asia for three centuries, only recently

has Bonsai truly been spread outside its homelands.

A couple of plants, the right tools, a carefully chosen container and some loving attention over a period of time can combine to produce an exquisite item that will add a touch of beauty and graceful style to any garden.

Because indoor bonsai tree care can be such a difficult process I have decided to share my three best bonsai gardening tips.

Without proper care and attention bonsai trees are prone to dying which is a rather unfortunate for the grower and the tree itself.

Many people have different views on the proper way to care for bonsai trees and today I am going to tell you the five top indoor bonsai care tips around. By using the advice provided you will be able to grow great looking bonsai trees and prevent yourself from becoming a "bonsai gardening statistic".

The tips I am about to share with you are of course reasonably basic, however, they are extremely effective at encouraging the growth of bonsai trees. Without using these tips it is nearly impossible to grow a good tree as they are the basic things every bonsai tree requires in order to develop.

In a way indoor bonsai care is a bit like building a house - you need firm foundations before you can complete the rest of the construction. The following indoor bonsai care tips are a firm foundation for growing great trees.

Don't Over-water and Don't Under-water

Watering is easily one of the most important elements in indoor bonsai care. Too little water and the tree will dehydrate and die, too much water and you will literally drown the tree.

After many years experience of growing bonsai trees I have found that watering is the number one problem most people (especially beginners face) To ensure that you are correctly watering your bonsai tree you should wait for the soil to start drying out (don't let it completely dry though!) Next, water the plant until excess water seeps out of the bottom of the pot. Don't water the bonsai again until the soil starts to dry out. I have found that this is easily the best way to water a bonsai tree as it is nearly impossible to either over-water or under-water the tree.

By following this process you will find that the tree is neither dehydrated or over-hydrated which are two of the leading reasons why bonsai trees die.

Root Pruning and Branch Pruning

To master the art of indoor bonsai tree care you must be able to prune properly.

Pruning is done two different ways - "root pruning" and "branch pruning". Root pruning should be done at the start of spring and only when the bonsai's roots have become grounded in the pot. Simply select the roots you want to keep and get rid of the bad ones. Branch pruning should also occur near the start of spring. Pick the branches that you wish to keep and careful remove the others. Proper pruning is one of the most important factors in indoor bonsai tree care and without properly mastering this you won't be able to progress onto things like sculpting your bonsai tree into different shapes.

Applying Fertilizer and Soil

Another problem many beginners face with indoor bonsai tree care is picking and applying correct fertilizers and soil.

Picking the right soil is vital for indoor bonsai care - after all, half of the tree is covered by soil. To pick the right type of soil you should visit your nearest garden centre (or bonsai specialist if there's one in your area) and tell them what exact type of bonsai tree you have. They will help you find the right soil for your needs. Also, remember to buy the highest quality soil you can as this makes a massive difference. Spending an extra $5 a bag on higher quality soil is definitely worth it in the long run!

To correctly pick fertilizer you should ensure that you purchase a high quality, water-soluble fertilizer that contains a good variety of nutrients. Fertilizers should only be applied during the growing season and must be applied only when the soil is wet or they loose their effect.

Choosing The Right Environment To Encourage Growth

This final tip is one of the most important factors in correct indoor bonsai care. You should place your bonsai in an area that receives plenty of sunlight (by a window is a natural choice for most but ensure that the windowsill is wide enough to hold the pot properly so that it doesn't get knocked over by mistake) Make sure that the room is neither too warm nor too cold (room temperature works well if the tree is given a good source of light but this can vary species to species) Also, make sure that the room is reasonably humid so the soil doesn't dry out too quickly.

Indoor bonsai care can be quite a difficult process to say the least.

Without proper care and attention bonsai trees are prone to dying which is a rather unfortunate for the grower and the tree itself.

Many people have different views on the proper way to care for bonsai trees and today I am going to tell you the five top indoor bonsai care tips around. By using the advice provided you will be able to grow great looking bonsai trees and prevent yourself from becoming a "bonsai gardening statistic".

The tips I am about to share with you are of course reasonably basic, however, they are extremely effective at encouraging the growth of bonsai trees. Without using the five tips it is nearly impossible to grow a good tree as they are the basic things every bonsai tree requires in order to develop.

In a way indoor bonsai care is a bit like building a house - you need firm foundations before you can complete the rest of the construction. The following five indoor bonsai care tips are a firm foundation for growing great trees.

Tip 1 - How To Water A Bonsai Tree

Watering is easily one of the most important elements in indoor bonsai care. Too little water and the tree will dehydrate and die, too much water and you will literally drown the tree. After many years experience of growing bonsai trees I have found that watering is the number one problem most people (especially beginners face) To ensure that you are correctly watering your bonsai tree you should wait for the soil to start drying out (don't let it completely dry though!) Next, water the plant until excess water seeps out of the bottom of the pot. Don't water the bonsai again until the soil starts to dry out. I have found that this is easily the best way to water a bonsai tree as it is nearly impossible to either over-water or under-water the tree.

Tip 2 - Picking The Right Soil

Picking the right soil is vital for indoor bonsai care - after all, half of the tree is covered by soil. To pick the right type of soil you should visit your nearest garden centre (or bonsai specialist if there's one in your area) and tell them what exact type of bonsai tree you have. They will help you find the right soil for your needs. Also, remember to buy the highest quality soil you can as this makes a massive difference. Spending an extra $5 a bag on higher quality soil is definitely worth it in the long run!

Tip 3 - How To Apply Fertilizer Correctly

Incorrect application of fertilizer is quite a big problem for those new to indoor bonsai care. On many occasions I have even seen beginner bonsai growers pick insoluble fertilizers and then wonder why their tree wound up dying a few weeks down the track. Bonsai trees need to be given a water soluble fertilizer either once or twice a month during the growing season only. Also, the fertilizer must only be applied when the soil is wet or you will see no result from the fertilizer. Buying a high quality fertilizer is also worth the extra cost so visit your local gardening centre and inquire about the various types of water soluble fertilizer they have. If you try one type of fertilizer and it doesn't work then wait until the next growing season to try a different fertilizer - don't mix and match unless it is absolutely necessary.

Tip 4 - How To Prune A Bonsai Tree

Pruning is another vital part of indoor bonsai care. The process of pruning is done in two different ways ("branch pruning" and "root pruning") You should branch prune at the start of spring and carefully remove all the branches on the tree except those that you wish to keep. Root pruning is similar but should only occur when the bonsai's roots have bound themselves inside the pot. It is absolutely critical to learn the basic process of bonsai tree pruning before you try and sculpt your tree into various shapes so make sure you get this basic stuff right!

Tip 5 - Choosing The Right Environment To Encourage Growth

This final tip is one of the most important factors in correct indoor bonsai care. You should place your bonsai in an area that receives plenty of sunlight (by a window is a natural choice for most but ensure that the windowsill is wide enough to hold the pot properly so that it doesn't get knocked over by mistake) Make sure that the room is neither too warm nor too cold (room temperature works well if the tree is given a good source of light but this can vary species to species) Also, make sure that the room is reasonably humid so the soil doesn't dry out too quickly.

In this article I have covered the five most basic aspects of indoor bonsai care - how to water the tree, how to pick the right soil, how to properly apply fertilizer, how to prune the tree for optimum growth and how to get the growing environment/conditions just right. Follow this advice and you'll be well on your way to growing great bonsai trees and being an indoor bonsai care master!

By following these vital indoor bonsai tree care tips you will be able to grow amazing bonsai trees and avoid annoyances like having your trees die. I must stress that these are the foundations of proper indoor bonsai tree care - you cannot progress to any of the "fun stuff" (sculpting etc.) without first mastering these basic principles!

Regular care and maintenance is esssential if you want the best performance from your tools. Proper care will prevent the need for costly repiars or replacements. Store your tools indise at all times. Don't drop your tools.

Don't twist or wrench shears and cutters during cutting. This throws the blades out of alignment and ruins the tools.

Clean your tools after each use with soap and water or rubbing alcohol. Remove resistant sap with a little turpentine. Regular care and maintenance is esssential if you want the best performance from your tools. Proper care will prevent the need for costly repiars or replacements. Store your tools indise at all times. Don't drop your tools.

Don't twist or wrench shears and cutters during cutting. This throws the blades out of alignment and ruins the tools.

Clean your tools after each use with soap and water or rubbing alcohol. Remove resistant sap with a little turpentine.

Always dry your tools and oil lightly after each cleaning.

Keep cutting edges free of nicks. Sharpen edges only if necessay and remove as ittle metal as possible -- the tool will last longer.

Always dry your tools and oil lightly after each cleaning.

Keep cutting edges free of nicks. Sharpen edges only if necessay and remove as ittle metal as possible -- the tool will last longer.

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