Anyone working with bonsai trees knows just how tricky it can be. Even without all the extra pruning you can do, sometimes it’s hard just to keep them alive! However, don’t give up: there are lots of bonsai care tips out there just waiting for you to find.

Watering

Watering is the key to a healthy bonsai tree. Most bonsai tree “deaths” occur because there is a problem with how they are being watered. Remember that different types of soil dry at different rates, and that every type of bonsai tree is different, which means their water requirements are different. Over-watering will damage plants as quickly as not watering them enough, so watch that as well.

Here are a few care tips for watering your bonsai tree. First, water the tree! (I know, duh. But some people honestly forget.) One of the best bonsai care tips isn’t a tip at all! It’s actually an old Japanese that adage goes “water three times: once for the pot, once for the soil, and once for the tree.” By going over the tree three times, the water gets a chance to soak into the water and pot, leaving some water for the actual tree itself. And if your bonsai flowers, don’t water them – it kills them almost instantly.

Soil

Bonsai soil and plant soil couldn’t be any different, so it’s important that you get the right type. A good bonsai care tip for soil is remembering that bonsai soil is meant to be extremely loose and quick-draining so the plant doesn’t drown.

Pots

You’ll also need some care tips for a bonsai pot as well. You can buy ceramic pots, glazed or unglazed pots, plastic, or mica. Ceramic is one of the most popular choices; it allows your bonsai tree to absorb and eliminate water easily because it’s porous. It also helps control fungi growth. Glazed pots come down to personal choice, but remember to never, ever buy a pot which is glazed on the inside. That is an invaluable tip when caring for your bonsai tree, because nothing will damage roots faster than glaze.

Work Hard For Your Tree

No matter how many bonsai care tips you receive, it all comes down to how much time and energy you’re willing to put in when it comes to your tree. Put your heart into it, and soon enough you’ll have some of the best bonsai trees out there!