Care SheetsWatering and Fertilizing
Watering is the most frequently misunderstood aspect of bonsai care. Proper watering technique is the "secret" of growing happy, healthy bonsai and is easy to understand. Bonsai should be watered until the soil is thoroughly saturated and then allowed to dry between waterings. Think of how plants growing outdoors are watered by a gentle, soaking rain. Duplicate this when watering and your tree will thank you profusely.
Bonsai should be checked daily for watering. Feel the moss or check the soil moisture under the rock. When the moss or soil surface beneath the rock looks and feels hard and dry, it is time to water your tree. Your tree will tell you when it needs water by using this technique. There are two methods for watering bonsai: immersion watering and top watering.
Immersion Watering
This is the "least risk" method and recommended for people beginning with bonsai. Fill your sink or a plastic basin with enough water to completely cover the bonsai pot. The water should reach 1/2 to 3/4 inch up the trunk of the tree.
Set the pot gently into the water and you won't disturb the moss or gravel. The soil will begin bubbling in a steady stream. When the bubbling stops, the soil is well saturated and you may remove your tree from the water.
If your tree bubbles like alka seltzer, you are not watering frequently enough. If the soil bubbles very slowly or not at all, you are watering too frequently. Adjust your watering frequency so the soil bubbles evenly for 2-4 minutes. Each tree should be checked individually for watering. Watering requirements will vary due to pot size, temperature, tree location, light intensity, tree species and if the tree is becoming potbound.
Top Watering
Water your tree from the top with a watering can or a sink sprayer. Water three times, waiting 3-5 minutes between each watering until water begins running from the drain holes in the bottom of the pot. It is more difficult for beginning bonsai growers to judge if the soil is saturated using this method but more closely duplicates the pattern of natural rainfall.
Fertilizing
When your bonsai begins to grow, start fertilizing. If your tree is not actively growing new shoots or foliage, just water it as needed until new growth begins. Once the new growth begins, fertilize it every 2 to 4 weeks until the new flush of growth ceases. Use a low nitrogen fertilizer (less than 5% nitrogen) or use high nitrogen fertilizers at 1/2 to 1/3 strength. It is best to fertilize one day after watering when the soil is moist. Do not fertilize your tree when the soil is dry, water it first.
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