The missus has rather kindly bought me a Bonsai tree this afternoon – a pleasant surprise when I got in from work, I have to say…
The only problem is I have literally *no* idea how to look after one?

I’m not green fingered in any way so can anyone provide a few beginners’ tips?

ahhh

thats not off topic for me at all – but surprised me here on singletrack

Im a professional bonsai artist when Im not playing with bikes

any way, first hing is to know what type of tree it is

either post a pic or let me know

most commonly people kill them by letting them dry out – I would check them and water everyday esp in summer

would need to identify it as either an indoor or outdoor bonsai then I can help further

you can see a general care guide on my website here

http://www.bonsai.co.uk/care.html

any questions let me know

Im off to belgium tomorrow to give a bonsai lecture / demonstration !!

Singletrack is bloody brilliant 😀

A friend of mine works for a company that sells them and stuff for looking after them. There are books on the site too.

http://www.got-bonsai.co.uk/

Yay! I love bonsai!

can you grow any tree into a bonsai?

i want a bonsai eucalyptus.

my siberian elm in winter

genuine 30 years old

I *knew* there’d be an expert on here somewhere 🙂

It’s an Ilex Crenata for what it’s worth, aka a Japanese Holly?

I’ve read stuff about having to buy a moisture tray for it, but so far I just have a normal tray!

EDIT: Wow, that 30yo tree looks amazing!!

most trees or woody stems shrubs can be used

small leaved varieties are easier to work with, as they look more in proportion

eucalyptus are tricky as they grow so incredibly fast they can be difficult to control

chinese holly are great trees, very suitable for different conditions

Ideally I’d put it outside now through till end of sept

then inside, in a window sill, with maximum light, warm, not too hot or cold and keep it well watered

a shallow tray placed underneath with some gravel in it kept damp will help to increase humidity around the tree when its kept inside

And my Japanese maple group in autumn colour (outdoor tree) about 25″ across

Acer palmatum shishigashira

So how often would I need to water it outside? I’ve got some feed to go with it too – how often will it need that too?
It appears to be a concentrate food which need to be part mixed with water

Do i also need the humidity tray thing when it’s outside too?

I would check it everyday, and be prepared to water it every day once, maybe twice if very sunny or windy

best to water in the eve

you can dilute the feed and feed it once a month or so
Granular feed is better,,as the tree will get more consistenty fed over time

no need for humidity tray outside

Wow!

Cool. So, after you’ve said to yourself “wow, looks just like a small tree”…

You feel like a bit of a tit

Do you? 😛

Cozz – I shall put it outside now, thanks for the advice 🙂
One more (silly) question: When I water it, should I put the water in the tray or directly on to the soil?
How do I know if i’ve over watered it?

I wasn’t joking when I said I had no idea how to look after any plant!

water it from above using a fine spray on a watering can, enough water till it can be seen running out from the bottom of the pot

Yes, I did slightly 😳 😆

Just reading up on your website – we have very hard water round these parts… are Ilex Crenata lime tolerant?

aaawww poor girlie – come here and give me an ‘ug ;P

perv 😆

if you have hard water then rain water would be preferable, if not it shouldnt matter too much with a holly

perv?! you know me too well already!

Cozz – i’ll try and collect rain water for it somehow 🙂
I’m actually quite excited about my first ever tree, never thought I’d hear myself say that!
Must be a sign of getting old… i’m 29 already 🙁

can you get silver birch bonsai trees .???

i tried growing some snowy eucalypts, but over fed them and they died…. 🙁

yes you can get silver birch as bonsai – trouble is when you grow them in a pot their bark doe not go “white/silver”

you really need to find one already silver in the ground (on some waste land etc) and dig it up and style it for bonsai

silver birch are also quite short lived trees and naturally loose branches as they age, which can be terrible when you rely on branches to give a tree like structure as bonsai

Greenwood Bonsai? Not one of Harry’s lads are you?

yeah

im Corin

Wow!

Used to dabble in Bonsai a lot and your Dad’s book was a real source of inspiration. Have you guys still got *the* English Oak?

yep, but past its prime

you been up to the nursery lately?

Shame, that was a real beauty. Got a 10 y/o Oak in the garden that has been hard pruned every year waiting for me to get back into things.

Never made it over to the nursery but it is deffo on my “bucket list”. Hopefully I’ll get over soon.

cheers cozz for your replie.

I’d love to have a Bonsai tree but having killed two that my girlfriend bought me I kind of got disheartened. Seeing this thread and some of the trees has got me interested again though!

I’m sure it won’t be long before I kill mine, Sidney. 🙂

there’s a bonsai tree shop in brighton, can’t remember where it was exactly but it was in/near the ‘lanes’

bought one for my sister, bet its dead 🙁

had a free (think it’s a chinese elm) one delivered to work from some marketing co. took it home and it lives (just) on the kitchen windowsill.

watered every day but never repotted or fed. what’s the best thing to feed it with? proper bonsai stuff or will tomorite do?

*Very* diluted tomato feed will do however check out Corin’s link above. It’s full of useful titbits.