Here are a couple of questions to get you thinking about how well you know your bonsai.

1. What does the word ‘Bonsai’ mean?

2. What flowering bonsai tree can be used in both the indoor or outdoor categories?

You’ll find the answers somewhere in this post.

If you are a beginner at bonsai you will want to get one that is very hardy, relatively easy to care for and can withstand various light conditions.

Some of the easier ones include:

Azalea - The satkuzi azalea and the kurume azalea are the most common species you will find. They also have very beautiful flowers, which will brighten, up any garden.

Cotoneaster - The most popular for bonsai purposes are horizontalis, Microphyllus and Compacta Nana. These plants prefer to be kept outdoors, and although they are generally very hardy plant, you will need to protect them from the winter frost.

Juniper - “Karate Kid” comes to mind whenever most people think of the juniper bonsai tree.

Japanese Maple - Beautiful leaves are what are prized for this species, ranging from tones of gold to red.

Cherry Blossom - Not many bonsai trees are considered to be either indoor or outdoor types. The one bonsai, which can fit into both categories, however is the cherry blossom. This one has gorgeous blossoms, and is well worth the effort.

Some other types of plants that make great bonsai include; Bradford pear, Hawaiian Umbrella, Jade plant, Chinese Elm, Japanese Kingsville Boxwood, Norfolk Pine, Wisteria, Bougainvillea, Rhododendron, Crabapple, Mistletoe Fig and many, many others.

It is very important for the health of your indoor bonsai to be maintained at a stable temperature. Keep it away from doors or heat sources, especially during the winter months.

You will need to prune your bonsai; so what kind of bonsai tools work best? Your first tool should be a good pair of shears. Next would be a concave branch cutter.

What in the world is a concave branch cutter?

Concave means that the shape of the cut mark left on the trunk or branch is concave. When used properly, the concave branch cutter will leave a wound that is somewhat taller than it is wider and slightly concave.

This concave shape promotes the rapid and even healing of the wound, with very little scarring. This is very desirable if you are going to win that blue ribbon for your bonsai!

As you get more involved in your new hobby, other specialized tools will be needed. You can get all of your tools from Bonsai Boy of New York.

Did you know that the word “Bonsai” is pronounced “Bone- Sigh”? It means,”Tree often planted in a small pot.”

Stay tuned for more tips and ideas for your bonsai in “bonsai talk“.
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We got a new puppy a few months ago. It took a lot of time to train him at first. We had to adjust our schedules for him. Now we really enjoy him. He’s a vital part of our family.

A bonsai is a lot like this. When you first get a bonsai you need to adjust your schedule a little to take care of it. You will really enjoy it once you have integrated it into your lifestyle.

An azalea bonsai needs indirect sunlight. It doesn’t like being left out in the sun all day. Neither did the puppy; we had to find a place in the house that he liked.

Select a place for your azalea bonsai that is in indirect sunlight.
It also likes a pot that allows proper drainage. Find a pot with some holes in the bottom, and then you can apply wire mesh over the holes for drainage. If you mix some sand, or gravel in the soil it will also help maintain appropriate drainage. Azaleas don’t care for wet soil.

Proper watering is essential for Azalea bonsai and for puppies. Water your bonsai only when the soil is beginning to dry out and water until you see the water come out of the bottom of the pot. The bonsai likes rainwater and they also like frequent misting to maintain a higher level of humidity. Puppies don’t care for frequent misting but ours enjoys a run through a puddle sometimes.

Feeding is vital in the proper care of a puppy. It should be fed twice a day. You should also reward him with treats when he does a trick.

Using an acid based fertilizer, such as Miracle Grow; you can feed your azalea once a month. Apply the fertilizer when the soil is wet. It’s important to fertilize your azalea every other week in the spring until it flowers. This is like a treat for your azalea.

In the early fall, you can reduce the nitrogen and begin to boost the phosphorous and potassium. This will help your plant set buds the next season.

Pruning is one thing that bonsai and puppies do not have in common. Puppies don’t like it at all; azalea bonsai need it.

You can prune the branches of the azalea in the late summer. Choose which branches you want to keep and then remove all others. Be sure to seal any major cuts that you make. Then each year you should remove only the new growth.

You must also prune the roots when they become root bound in the pot. They should be checked each year and trimmed. Keeping the roots the same size as your container is necessary for a healthy plant.

It’s a good idea to repot your bonsai each year for the first few years, then every three years for a mature plant. Be careful when you are repotting your azalea that there are no air pockets in the root ball. They should all be filled with soil.

With a little care you should be able to have a happy and healthy bonsai or puppy; Which ever you enjoy. A little care goes a long way in growing beautiful flowering azalea bonsai trees.

Following these simple steps of azalea bonsai care tree secrets will give you years of serenity and joy.
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Three months ago we got a new puppy. We discovered that raising the puppy takes a lot of time and patience.

Growing a bonsai is a lot like raising the puppy. You have to train both, the plant that will become a bonsai tree, and the puppy that will become a well trained adult dog.

Both the bonsai and the puppy will take time and patience to get them to obey. If you invest your time, you will be rewarded with a bonsai you will be proud of. Who knows, you may even win a blue ribbon!

Types of Pots:

There are two types of pots for your bonsai. There is the training pot and the display pot. Training pots are made of plastic, mica or even wood. You can make your own training pot using wood like redwood or cedar that doesn’t rot in water.

Use a training pot that is practical. It must be able to hold all of the soil or growing media that is required. This will provide the space for a healthy and stable root system. This will help develop a good branching habit with the desired trunk thickness.

It is imperative that your bonsai pot has large drainage holes to insure no water gets trapped at the bottom of the pot, because waterlogged roots will rot and be fatal for your bonsai.

Your bonsai will never really be ready for the display pot without all of these essential growth stages having already taken place in the training pot.

To see all the different types of pots for display and training Click the Bonsai Boy of New York

Display pots are usually ceramic and are available with either a glaze or an unglazed finish. Be sure your pot is unglazed on the inside because a glazed inside will trap the heat and be detrimental to your bonsai. If you are going to leave your bonsai outside then be sure to use a glazed ceramic pot because it must be frost proof.

The most appropriate display pot is one that compliments but does not overshadow the beauty of your prized bonsai. The most suitable type of pot depends largely on the type of bonsai you are displaying and its horticultural requirements.

The beauty of a azalea bonsai is greatly enhanced when matched with a glazed pot of a soft, attractive color, such as: light blue, cream, or green.

There is a direct correlation between the length of your bonsai pot and the height of your bonsai. A tall bonsai, in general, requires a long pot. The depth of your pot should be relative to the thickness of your bonsai’s trunk. A thick trunk usually requires a deeper pot.

Your bonsai plant and pot are like a marriage. Both partners must be compatible with each other for the marriage to work.
This is also true with bonsai. Be sure the pot enhances your tree.

If the azalea bonsai planter cannot sustain your bonsai, then it really doesn’t matter how good it looks, because the pot will soon be empty.

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