
So you just got your first Bonsai. Maybe you bought it from a general nursery, maybe it was a gift….
Or maybe you are interested and aren’t sure if you will know what to do to look after it……
Bonsai are scary right? Difficult to look after? Delicate? They need constant care?
Well the last one has some truth. They do need lots of care, but they generally aren’t difficult or delicate. Most species used for bonsai are hardy plants that need no more care to keep alive than any other plant in a pot. The difference is only whether you want to keep it alive or make it a Masterpiece!
Here we will talk about keeping it alive. As for making it a Masterpiece, that will take time and there are other posts on this website and others that talk about techniques and design.
So, if you haven’t grown plants in pots before then the following will give you the basics. And if you have kept plants alive in pots before, then you’re most of the way there and this will give some specifics on Bonsai and their needs.
Basic Needs of Plants
All plants need Air, Light, Water and Nutrients to stay alive and keep healthy.
All plants take in Air through their leaves and absorb Carbon Dioxide. Through the process of Photosynthesis, Energy is harnessed from Sunlight and combines Carbon Dioxide with Water to create Sugars and then Oxygen is released. The sugars are then broken down and the Energy released is used to combine Nutrients into molecules that make up the different Cells of the plants. This is a complex system that people study many years to understand and more is being learnt about it all the time, yet the principles help us to understand what it is that plants in our care need to continue to thrive.
So what does that mean for your new Bonsai?
Position - Where to Keep Your Tree
First of all you need to know where to keep it. Most plants grown for Bonsai are usually Trees. That is, if placed in the ground and given the right conditions they will become a full sized version. They aren’t special plants that just grow as Bonsai. This means they need a similar environment that they would if they were in the ground. There are a few plants that are grown as Bonsai that can be kept inside for a time, and any Bonsai can be bought inside for a few days or maybe a week, but they need to be outside in the fresh Air and Sunlight. Some may like a bit of shade, but the inside of a house is usually far too dark and the lack of Air movement means they will suffer. Others like as much sun as they can get and grow best in full exposure.
Also keep in mind that you will need to care for it with water, which we will get to soon, and making sure it has no pests, that weeds aren’t taking over the pot and it is generally happy. So a spot somewhere outside with good light, some direct sun and where you will see it every day is a great start.
Watering
Water is essential for plant health. All plants take up water through their roots, carring nutrients to all parts of the plant and travelling to the leaves where it either evaporates or is used in Photosynthesis to make sugars. Without water plants will die.
So how often do you need to water your Bonsai?
Well, as much as it needs…….

This will depend on where it is kept, how much sun and air movement it gets, what the weather has been, what type of tree it is, what size pot it is in and what condition the potting mix it is in is like. Most plants grown as Bonsai like to dry slightly between waterings to stay in optimum health, but very few can cope with becoming completely dry. Generally speaking, a good soak as the mix starts to dry out will keep most plants happy. By a good soak, I mean watering it well until water runs freely through the drainage holes in the pot. So if its outside and gets good sun usually once a day in Summer, possibly twice, and maybe every few days in winter. If it is inside for a while, probably a lot less.
Sounds Complicated? Well it has been said that watering is the first thing you learn and the last one you master!

It took me a long time to keep plants alive and the first thing that I learnt as to the reason why was not watering enough. Over watering can also cause issues. One thing I learnt was to check on the weight of the pot. A plant that needs water will be a lot lighter than one that doesn’t, taking into account the weight of the pot and the tree of course. Pick up your tree every now and then. Get used to the way it feels when its well watered and when it’s not. You will soon get a feel for how often to water.
One thing to keep in mind too, as the potting mix ages it may when it dries out become difficult to water it well. It may need a good soak in a tub of water filled up to the rim of the pot and left for an hour or 2. This will help wet the mix thoroughly and allow it to absorb moisture when watered agin next time.
Oh and one last thing, don’t just water a little bit each day keeping the mix looking moist. It may be moist on top, but not get all the way through. Like I said before, water it until water freely flows through the drainage holes like the image to the right.
Feeding/ Fertilising
All plants need nutrients to survive. Technically we don’t “Feed” our plants as they create their own food in the way of sugars through Photosynthesis. They then use these sugars to create energy and combine with nutrients to make all the cells the plant needs. These nutrients are mostly taken up with the Water through the Roots.
There are lots of fertilisers out there, and their use and how much depends on what you want to achieve with your tree. For Basic Care a simple liquid fertiliser diluted to the recommended strength and applied fortnightly while the tree is growing should provide enough Nutrients to keep your tree healthy.
Next Steps
Well hopefully now you feel confident you can keep your Tree alive and you may want to know more about how to maintain or improve it. Keep your eye out for more Articles as I post them which will cover techniques and go deeper into care and development. I will add links to this page or you can browse the site for more info. And you can always subscribe via the homepage for updates on when I add to the site, or use the contact form if you have specific questions you would like answered.