How to take care of a fruit bonsai?

Fruit bonsai need special care

Image - Wikimedia / Drew Avery

Do you have a fruit bonsai? Then you have to know that the care it requires is a little different from what you would give to another that is simply ornamental, especially if you would like to be able to taste its fruits.

And it is that you must never forget that, even if it is in a pot or bonsai tray, what you have is a tree that, through pruning, remains small; but if you planted it in the ground, it would grow big, for that is its nature. Namely, bonsai are made, and not 'born'.

Inside or outside?

The apple tree bonsai is outdoor

Image – Flickr/Jerry Norbury

This seems to be the million dollar question. Where should you put a bonsai? What if it's fruity? Well, the answer is really not as complex as it seems: as we said at the beginning of the article, bonsai are trees that have been worked to make them look healthy and beautiful in small pots or trays. But they are trees after all. And of course, these are plants that grow outside.

In fact, there are no indoor plants, absolutely none. What there are are plants that, due to their low resistance to cold, must be kept indoors or in a greenhouse if we want them to survive. That is why, for example, a kumquat or fig tree bonsai is considered indoors in a place where there are very intense frosts, but not in the Mediterranean.

Therefore, It will be the climate -and more specifically, the one in autumn and winter- and the rusticity of our bonsai, which determines if it has to be inside or outside the house. But even if it cannot be outdoors all year, it is highly recommended to take it outside during the warm months of the year to make it grow better.

Sun or shade?

When we think of a fruit tree, we usually imagine a very tall type of plant that is exposed to sunlight, but when working as a bonsai, it is not always a good idea to put it in a sunny place, or one where the sun hits it. for the whole day. Yes, need a lot of clarity, both to grow and to flower and bear fruit, but depending on what situations it will be better to put it in semi-shade or shade.

What situations are we talking about? Well, of these:

  • Bonsai that we usually have indoors, and that we take outside only in spring and/or summer.
  • Newly purchased bonsai trees that were indoors.

What is the best substrate for a fruit bonsai?

In bonsai stores, whether online or physical, there are many types of substrates and mixtures for this type of plant: akadama, kiryuzuna, kanuma, coconut fiber, etc. If we have a fruit bonsai, we want to put one that is light and also has very good drainage. so that the root system of our little tree can develop normally.

It is also advisable that it be rich in organic matter, but this is not really mandatory since with the subscriber we will ensure that it does not lack any important nutrient.

Thus, a good mix is ​​for example this: 60% black peat + 40% perlite. There are others who prefer to mix mineral substrates, such as akadama and kiryuzuna in a ratio of 7:3, but although in these the risk of rotting the roots is lower, there is a greater probability that the bonsai will dry out, since They lose moisture quite quickly.

How many times a week do you have to water it?

The pomegranate bonsai is little watered

Image - Wikimedia / Mark Pellegrini

The watering of the fruit bonsai it has to be moderate. In summer, and even more so if it is outdoors, it should be watered frequently, even daily or every two days if it is very hot and the substrate dries out quickly. But so that there are no problems, the humidity of said soil should always be checked, because whether we water excessively or, on the contrary, we do it very little, we would lose the bonsai.

So to check the humidity we will introduce a stick. When extracting it we will see if it is wet or if on the contrary it is dry.

When and with what to pay it?

Bonsai in garden
Related article:
Types of fertilizer for bonsai

Although there are fertilizers (commonly called chemical fertilizers), it is preferable to pay it with products of organic origin, that is, with fertilizers. And within this group we find guano, humus, or manure. Of course, whenever possible, we will buy liquid fertilizers so that the roots have the opportunity to absorb them faster.

In the event that we buy granulated or powdered fertilizers, we will add only a small spoonful (of the dessert ones) once every fortnight.

Of course, another option is to apply specific fertilizers for bonsai as this. As long as they are used correctly, having read the instructions that we will find on the packaging, our fruit bonsai will look very nice.

The most appropriate time to fertilize it is from spring to the end of summer, because during that time it is when it is growing, and therefore, the more it needs that extra energy contribution.

When and how to prune the fruit bonsai?

The fruit bonsai is a delicate plant

Image - Wikimedia / Ermell

The pruning of the fruit bonsai will be done in spring. This must consist of the elimination of those branches that are dry or broken, as well as the trimming of those that have grown excessively taking into account the design that has been given to the plant.

To do this, appropriate pruning tools must be used, such as previously washed and disinfected anvil shears, and brown healing paste if we cut branches with a thickness of about 0,5cm or more.

I trust that the advice that we have offered here will be useful to you in caring for your fruit bonsai.


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