Many people love to keep bonsai trees but find it very hard to keep them alive if you aren't supremely patient and learn how to look after them.
If you talk to a lot of people who owned bonsai trees, you'll find that usually the tree has died for a variety of reasons.
Bonsai are miniature trees, forced to grow small by keeping them in a small pot so their root ball doesn't grow.
The pruning of the bonsai also helps to keep them small and shaped nicely.
The idea is to make the tree look ascetically pleasing by pruning it to a shape.
However, with a couple of pointers you can keep your bonsai tree looking great.
The biggest different in pruning bonsai as compared to normal plants is that not only do you prune the leaves and the branches but you also need to prune the roots.
By pruning the roots you are restricting the size of the root ball and how much food and water the tree can absorb.
Obviously, this is going to help ensure that the tree remains small.
Pruning the top of the bonsai is for a couple of reasons.
Firstly, it encourages the development of the branches in a direction specified by you.
Secondly, it also maintains the shape and look of the tree.
You are aiming to shape the bonsai tree by not only deciding which direction the growth takes place in but also the shape.
The art of bonsai is all about the good form of the tree.
The root system isn't pruned specifically to make the tree look pretty as they are below the soil and out of sight.
The roots are pruned to restrict the supply of nutrients and water to the tree itself.
Pruning the roots impacts the size and shape of the bonsai tree.
However, you need to balance your pruning.
The roots need to keep the tree strong, healthy and stable whilst not allowing it to grow too big.
Pruning your bonsai requires a pair of good quality, sharp hand pruners that will give you a clean cut.
Cut the branches at a forty five degree angle, close to the main branch.
Make sure it is a clean cut and not ragged.
If it is, then you need to cut it back a little more to make sure it is neat.
Ragged cuts can be difficult for the tree to heal and could introduce disease.
Prune your tree regularly as it grows to train it to grow in the direction you want.
If your bonsai is kept indoors you can prune it year round without too much worry.
If it is outdoors then don't prune when the new growth will get damaged by frost or cold weather.
If you follow these simple tips to help you prune your bonsai then you will keep it looking fantastic and growing well.
Remember to use a good quality pair of hand pruners to make the pruning as easy as possible.
If you talk to a lot of people who owned bonsai trees, you'll find that usually the tree has died for a variety of reasons.
Bonsai are miniature trees, forced to grow small by keeping them in a small pot so their root ball doesn't grow.
The pruning of the bonsai also helps to keep them small and shaped nicely.
The idea is to make the tree look ascetically pleasing by pruning it to a shape.
However, with a couple of pointers you can keep your bonsai tree looking great.
The biggest different in pruning bonsai as compared to normal plants is that not only do you prune the leaves and the branches but you also need to prune the roots.
By pruning the roots you are restricting the size of the root ball and how much food and water the tree can absorb.
Obviously, this is going to help ensure that the tree remains small.
Pruning the top of the bonsai is for a couple of reasons.
Firstly, it encourages the development of the branches in a direction specified by you.
Secondly, it also maintains the shape and look of the tree.
You are aiming to shape the bonsai tree by not only deciding which direction the growth takes place in but also the shape.
The art of bonsai is all about the good form of the tree.
The root system isn't pruned specifically to make the tree look pretty as they are below the soil and out of sight.
The roots are pruned to restrict the supply of nutrients and water to the tree itself.
Pruning the roots impacts the size and shape of the bonsai tree.
However, you need to balance your pruning.
The roots need to keep the tree strong, healthy and stable whilst not allowing it to grow too big.
Pruning your bonsai requires a pair of good quality, sharp hand pruners that will give you a clean cut.
Cut the branches at a forty five degree angle, close to the main branch.
Make sure it is a clean cut and not ragged.
If it is, then you need to cut it back a little more to make sure it is neat.
Ragged cuts can be difficult for the tree to heal and could introduce disease.
Prune your tree regularly as it grows to train it to grow in the direction you want.
If your bonsai is kept indoors you can prune it year round without too much worry.
If it is outdoors then don't prune when the new growth will get damaged by frost or cold weather.
If you follow these simple tips to help you prune your bonsai then you will keep it looking fantastic and growing well.
Remember to use a good quality pair of hand pruners to make the pruning as easy as possible.