Everything You Need to Know About Bonsai Care

Have you ever admired other people’s plants and gardens and wondered: How do they manage to get their plants looking so beautiful and flourishing? Wonder no more—in this blog, we’ll show you how to easily care for a bonsai tree.

Bonsai Tree Tips

“The more you learn about the art, the more interesting the bonsai can be—many find the art of bonsai very meditative and great for stress-reduction.” Megan Matanzo, ProFlowers Director of Merchandise

The bonsai is a delightful and fun plant to have around the home or office. Though it does need proper care and attention, don’t let that intimidate you.

Here are some tips on how to care for your bonsai:

Water your bonsai! You may think this is a no-brainer, but the bonsai has very specific watering requirements. Approximately once a week or so (when the topsoil feels completely dry) immerse the entire bonsai plant in a bucket or basin of water. Once the air bubbles have risen to the top, the bonsai has absorbed enough water.

Humidity is also an important consideration for the health of the bonsai. All beginner bonsais come with humidity trays and bag of pebbles. The humidity tray is unwrapped by the recipient, covered with the provided pebbles, and then the pebbles are covered with a little water. This will increase the humidity level for the tree, in addition to protecting the desk or table surface on which it is placed.

Where to put the bonsai. The bonsai brings a natural and peaceful feel to any living space. Since it’s not technically a plant, but a tree, it makes a unique and enchanting addition to a room or outdoor space. Just make sure it gets plenty of direct sunlight, so place it either outside or indoors near a window. Since the bonsai is known for its tranquillity, we also like the idea of placing it in an office space.

Prune your bonsai. First, take a deep breath. One of the greatest attractions of a bonsai is the calming effect of simply trimming this miniature tree. The goal with pruning is to maintain its shape as it grows. Plus, cleaning up the top growth ensures growth elsewhere on the plant.

Use bonsai clippers (not scissors!) to remove any dead branches. Then decide which branches to trim in order to maintain the desired design. Bonsai pruning is considered an art form, which is why this little tree makes such a great gift for creative friends. The more you learn about the art, the more interesting the bonsai can be—many find the art of bonsai very meditative and great for stress-reduction.

The right bonsai soil. Not just any soil will do for your bonsai. The goal is to find a soil that drains quickly, but still manages to retain its water. It also needs to contain small particles to ensure proper aeration, allowing oxygen to reach the roots. Luckily, we’ve done some research for you!

There are specialty soils on the market made just for bonsais (the easy route), or you can mix your own (if you’re feeling ambitious). It is also imperative to add fertilizer to your soil during growth season (typically early spring to mid fall).

Connect with other bonsai enthusiasts. Find other plant and bonsai lovers in your community to learn more tricks and tips. Go to your local botanical garden or nursery and sign up for a class. This is a fun way to meet new people and also perhaps pick up a new and exciting hobby.

The bonsai is unique, beautiful and something to be cherished for a long time with proper care—we hope the above care tips can get you started shopping for just the right bonsai tree for yourself or someone special!