ENTHUSIASTS and serious hobbyists say that the most critical part of cultivating bonsai is the maintenance and care of the plant.
Aside from watering and careful repotting, proper fertilization is another important thing.
Since bonsai trees are planted in small containers, with a limited space and nutrients available, fertilizing regularly during the tree’s growth season is very vital to keep it healthy.
However, it will depend on the tree species – when, how much, and how often it should be fertilized.
For the beginners, bonsai, which means tray planting in Japanese, is the art of nurturing a dwarfed tree or shrub in a small but proportionate container, where the branches are accurately pruned and wired to attain a sculptured effect.
A bonsai tree should be patiently watered and fertilized, and nurtured with love because it takes years to cultivate one.
Most enthusiasts prefer the bantigue (pemphis acidula) which can withstand the effect of typhoons and scorching heat of the Philippine climate.
This style mimics the work of nature where the trees try to twist or sway away from the wind and bend toward the sun.
Proper cultivation and care of bonsai requires techniques and tools which are focused to support the growth and long-term maintenance of growing trees in small containers.
While ideas about the use of fertilizers and fertilization techniques may vary among bonsai enthusiasts, some prefer the use of organic fertilizers to augment an essentially inorganic soil mix, while others use chemical fertilizers.
Maintaining the long-term health of a tree in a container will require specialized care techniques, however, soil composition and fertilization must be focused on the needs of each bonsai tree.
Aside from fertilization, watering a bonsai tree is the most important – it must be regular, and should relate to the species’ requirement for dry, moist, or wet soil.
Since bantigue is commonly found along the coastal areas, it needs occasional salt spray for its proper growth and development.
Other enthusiasts use a small amount of “bagoong” to supplement the nutrient requirement of a bonsai bantigue, aside from the regular application of amino plus foliar fertilizer or APFF.
Bonsai trees sprayed with APFF can become more resistant to diseases and other stresses.
When sprayed, it effectively adheres to the plant’s surface and provides quick supplementation.
Some species are more popular as bonsai material because they have unique characteristics, such as small leaves or needles, which make them appropriate for the compact visual scope of bonsai.
For style, the most common include the formal upright, informal upright, slanting, semi-cascade, cascade, raft, literati, and group/forest.
The other uncommon styles include windswept, weeping, split-trunk, and driftwood.
These styles are not exclusive, and a single bonsai specimen can exhibit more than one style characteristic.
Just a reminder though that a common misconception about bonsai trees is that the plants should be kept indoors.
The truth of the matter is that most bonsai trees should be placed outdoors where they can be exposed to prevailing weather conditions just like normal trees are./PN
