Bonsai Supplies

If you possess a bonsai plant, you have to remember that caring for them is akin to caring for a infant. Loving and caring is important but it’s not sufficient; you also need to show some “parenting” abilities to make sure that your bonsai plant will enjoy a long and healthy life.

Tip #1 The source of life for all creatures is water but it’s particularly so for bonsai plants. Although they need to be watered more frequently than other types of plants, they also need a precise amount of watering. Anything that’s less or beyond the ideal amount of water can kill your bonsai plant so it’s essential that you ask for professional advice.

There are many factors that affect the amount of water required by a bonsai plant such as the sort of tree you’re taking care of, what season it is at present, if the tree’s is growing outdoors or indoors, and so forth.

Tip #2 Light is another source of energy for your bonsai plant. Your bonsai plant will benefit from exposure to sunlight just like any other plant|Just like any other plant, your bonsai plant will benefit from exposure to sunlight}. You’ll have to arrange for artificial lighting however, if you’re growing it in an indoor garden. In such cases, it’s important to use a timer so that you avoid risking overexposure for your plants.

Tip #3 Humidity is unfortunately one of the most important but overlooked factors when caring for bonsai plants; the best way to make sure that perfect humidity levels remain regular is by using a humidity tray. You may use decorative stones to make your bonsai plant appear more attractive.

Tip #4 If you’re determined to keep your bonsai plant indoors, you need to choose the pot for your bonsai plant very carefully. To be safe, be certain that you purchase pots that are specifically designed for bonsai plants. These pots have pre-made holes for drainage and training wires.

Tip #5 Many people are not sure as to precisely what role fertilizer plays in taking care of bonsai plants. To begin with, fertilizer is required when you are keeping your bonsai plant indoors since this provides the added nutrition that your indoor soil is missing. Secondly, fertilizer is not medicine so don’t use it as a cure for sick or dying trees. Finally, make certain that you thoroughly water your bonsai plant before fertilizing.

Lastly, don’t risk your bonsai plant’s health on the basis of any assumption. If you’re not certain, always ask for professional advice!

There are two primary benefits you can enjoy if you choose to build a bonsai nursery of your own and grow your bonsai trees from seed. Firstly, bonsai seeds are cheaper to procure than live bonsai trees. Whereas rare bonsai trees can cost you a considerable amount of money, a packet of seeds of the same bonsai tree species may just cost you $5.

Secondly, nursing bonsai trees from seed will give you God-like powers over every aspect of your plants. You can fully control all aspects of your bonsai tree to ensure that it grows according to your plans.

Tips on Nurturing Your Bonsai Nursery

Before planting any seed, take the time to prepare and plan about which shapes you desire for your bonsai plants to have in the future. Knowing what shape you wish to achieve will consequently guide you as to which pot you should choose and how to wire your plant.

Since it will take you quite some time to see bonsai seeds sprout to life, you will have no visible indicators to depend on when caring for your nursery. As such, make sure that you strictly keep a timetable for nurturing your bonsai nursery. Have a checklist for all the to-do tasks for your nursery to ensure that you don’t miss anything important.

A clean environment is essential to your bonsai nursery’s growth. Always make sure that your bonsai nursery itself as well as its surroundings is free from dirt, dust, or any other debris as these can easily affect the health conditions of your bonsai nursery.

Good ventilation and clean air are important for your bonsai nursery to grow to its fullest potential. Thus, if you’re keeping it indoors, do make sure that you place it in the appropriate location. Anywhere near windows are ideal while placing them in proximity to fireplaces is undesirable.

Water and light are the main foods of your bonsai nursery. You can effectively satisfy the watering needs of your bonsai nursery even in winter by using a humidity tray. As for lighting, daily exposure to sunlight is adequate but you will of course have to make plans for artificial lighting and use a timetable for it if you’re keeping your bonsai nursery indoors.

A bonsai nursery definitely takes more time to nurture than procuring live bonsai trees but it’s definitely a more rewarding goal. Good luck to taking care of your bonsai nursery!

Serissa bonsai (serissa foetida) information and care

Serissas make excellent bonsai with the right care and shaping. They are an evergreen shrub native to China, Japan, and Indochina (Southeast Asia) where it may be found growing in the woods and wet fields. The serissa foetida has small oval leaves which are slightly larger than the serissa japonica’s. It may erupt with small white flowers several times per year giving it the nickname the “thousand star” serissa. Additionally, it naturally grows surface roots and an interesting bark pattern on the trunk which give them the desirable appearance of age.

Along with junipers this is one of the most common bonsai trees for beginners. Unfortunately this has also led to them getting a bad reputation for being easy to picky and easy to kill. With the right care this is not the case.

Serissa care

The most important thing learn about serissa bonsai is that they do not like change. They also do not like extremes. If a serissa bonsai is unhappy it lets you know by dropping its leaves and flowers.

Watering

Keeping your serissa watered properly is the most important part of its care. If you over or underwater your serissa it will lose its leaves. Serissas do not tolerate drying out and the shock may kill them. You should keep the soil moist but not wet or soggy. They also like a humid environment. We recommend that you place a humidity tray under its pot to create an area of humidity around the tree. Occasionally misting the leaves when the tree is not in bloom will also help. If you purchased the bonsai tree from a store that does not specialize in bonsai it may not be potted in the correct soil. Repotting your serissa in a well draining bonsai soil bonsai soil will help make it harder to overwater your serissa bonsai.

Light

Serissa can be grown indoors or outdoors. If kept outdoors a mix of full and partial sun in most zones will be fine. If kept indoors it can do well under fluorescent lighting, but keeping it in a room where it can get indirect light from an open window and supplementary fluorescent lighting tends to work best. If the serissa does not get enough light its growth may not be compact enough to give it a nice bonsai appearance.

Special care should be taken when bringing the plant indoors after it has been living outside or outside if it has been growing indoors. As noted earlier, serissa do not like change. If it had been growing in a sunny area try gradually moving it into a shadier location before bringing it indoors. Additionally, make sure the indoor location receives a good amount of light. If you use a grow light it may need to be left on for 12 hours per day. If the tree was indoors move it into a shadier outdoor area before moving it to a very sunny spot.

Temperature

The serissa grows in USDA zones 7-11 and hardiness range 8A to 9B. However, serissa may not survive freezing temperatures and will lose their leaves when the temperate approaches freezing. If you live in an area with a cold winter you may want to take precautions or bring the tree inside when the temperatures begin to fall below 50 degrees F.

When you should repot

Serissa should be repotted during their growing season which is in spring. You should do this every 1-2 years when the tree is younger. Use a bonsai soil that holds moisture, but drains easily without remaining soggy. The leaves and roots tend to smell pretty bad when you prune them. This is normal.

Styling

Serissa tend to be pretty flexible on styles they can be trained into. They can be grown into informal upright, informal broom, oak style, and semi-cascade. They do not work very well as formal upright and formal broom. You can use the clip and grow method or wire on these trees. Wiring allows for more intricate designs. Serissa are often used in Chinese Penjing landscapes.

Serissa bonsai pests

Spider Mites

Scale

Wooly Aphids

Mildew

For more information checkout http://www.mellobonsai.com/care/