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Watering Water daily. Give enough water to wet the soil thoroughly. Let excess water drain away completely. The soil must must not be allowed to dry right out, nor must it be kept water logged. |
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Light Bonsai need a lot of light. They are happiest and healthiest if kept outside most times. Bonsai which are brought inside must be put in a well lighted place, and put outside frequently for a rest in a sheltered position. Avoid frost, snow, strong sun, and strong winds. |
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Repotting You can shift your Bonsai from one container to another at any time of the year providing you do not disturb the root system. Water before and after potting. Put some fresh potting mix under and around the root ball if there is enough room. We use Tree and Shrub mix for our Bonsai, which is available from most garden centers. If a tree is repotted yearly, no extra feeding should be needed. A liquid pot-plant food can be used if necessary. |
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Root pruning Every Spring, carefully check your Bonsai's root system. If the roots are crowded or matted, root pruning is necessary. Tease out the roots, trim off around one fifth of the soil and roots. The root ball must be moist, and must not be exposed to the sun or drying winds. Repot firmly using potting mix then water thoroughly and place in a sheltered spot for 2 weeks. Keep the soil moist. |
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Shaping There are many ways of shaping Bonsai. The aim is to produce a pleasant and artistic effect. All the new tips are nipped back to promote branchiness. Only those shoots needed to improve the shape are left untouched. The shape of your tree can be permanently changed by wiring. Use copper, aluminum, galvanized or fuse wire. Twine wire around the branches and gently bend into the desired shape. The shape will be fixed in around 3 months time, and the wire can then be removed. |
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Holiday care Water well and allow to drain for half an hour. Place the entire Bonsai in a plastic bag, leaving the trunk and branches protruding out at the top. Seal the bag at the bottom of the trunk, leaving the pot, roots and soil fully enclosed in the bag. Suitable for up to 3 weeks. |
