Conifer bonsai

Conifer bonsai

Plants need to have a more or less constant supply of food to grow and stay alive, something that in nature is not usually a problem, since there is always organic matter decomposing and becoming compost. But when they are grown in pots, the fertilizer becomes one of the most important tasks that every gardener must do, especially if he has a bonsai.

Although the substrate that we put on our beloved miniature tree contains a large amount of nutrients, over time it becomes what we call a poor substrate. When that happens, growth and development stop, and your health weakens. What to do to avoid it? Indeed, pay it. Let’s know when to fertilize a bonsai.

When are bonsai paid?

Azalea bonsai in bloom

Azalea bonsai in bloom

When we acquire a bonsai for the first time we have a thousand and one doubts: when to prune it, when to wire it, when to water it … But the truth is that during the first year you do not have to do anything at all: just water it and fertilize it. Why? Because it is a plant that has to acclimatize to its new growing area, and we have to learn from our bonsai; that is, we have to spend time observing it to see how it grows and develops, when it blooms, and when it rests.

You couldn’t do any of that without a regular supply of compost. Said contribution must be given from spring to late fall; However, if our bonsai is »indoor» We can pay it throughout the year with a specific fertilizer for bonsai that we will find for sale in nurseries and garden stores.

When NOT to pay?

Zelkova serrata bonsai

Zelkova serrata bonsai

As important as the fertilizer itself is knowing how to use it at the right time and season. If we want our bonsai to be able to make the most of it, we must bear in mind that there will be times when it should not be paid. Which are? These:

  • If he is sick: Fertilizing a sick bonsai would be like feeding a hamburger and fries to a person with the flu: it would end up feeling bad. The diseased bonsai roots cannot absorb as many nutrients, since they spend practically all their energy staying hydrated and hydrating the tree.
  • If you are newly transplanted: you always have to wait at least one month to pay it again.
  • If we just acquired it: During the first weeks the newly bought bonsai the most normal thing is that it loses leaves and weakens a little due to the change in conditions, so it is better to wait 3-4 weeks before fertilizing it.

Enjoy your bonsai .