Bonsai 101 - Chapter 7: How to Make Your Very First Bonsai
All you need to know to make your first bonsai!
Bonsai Heirloom makes it easy for you to implement your first bonsai. In today’s video, Milton describes the procedure BH uses to implement our bonsai for you to follow. That ensures you do it right the first time. Doing so also allows you to follow instructions on how to maintain your bonsai to achieve longevity. Our bonsai are intended to become your legacy and heirloom with a high degree of certainty.
Implementation Materials
Soil blend
Tools (BH Clippers, BH Bonsai Pots)
Fertilizer (Fish & Kelp Liquid Fertilizer, Chicken Manure Pellets, or Empro 12-12-12 Fertilizer)
The Tree
Starting with the right kind of tree can avoid wasting time in the long run.
For those new to bonsai, we recommend Chinese Elms, Japanese Zelkovas, or Trident Maples.
These are hardy trees that can withstand a wide range of environmental conditions and can tolerate some degree of neglect. They have also proven to develop elegance over time as bonsai.
First, make sure your tree is healthy and is growing vigorously.
Then, cut off the big roots to encourage the development of fibrous roots (which feed the tree effectively). You’ll need to cut enough to fit the pot, especially during the warmer months.
Always make sure the remaining roots could adequately support the amount of branches and leaves left. In other words, you’ll need to cut off a comparable amount of branches to compensate for the roots you’ve just pruned.
Soil
For BH bonsai, we use equal parts of:
Rich, Pescadero sandy loam
A special blend of organic compost
Perlite
You can substitute our soil blend with:
Rich topsoil from your vegetable garden
Commercial planter soil for your house plants (usually ground up wood chips with a small amount of topsoil)
Coarse sand (make sure it has no salt)
You just have to pay attention to adjust your watering routine to accommodate the characteristics of your soil composition and to ensure the rootball stays moist at all times.
The rootball drying out is the most common cause of a bonsai’s demise.
Root Pruning Screen
We line the pot with a mosquito window screen to minimize the need for frequently repotting the tree.
As the roots grow, they are naturally restricted when attempting to penetrate the small grid.
This “pruning” forces the development of fibrous roots within the confines of the bonsai pot, preventing them from making the bonsai “root bound.”
A bonsai becomes “root bound” when the roots are not pruned regularly enough, and they start to curl around the bottom of the pot, eventually fusing together into a solid lump – ultimately preventing water from being able to reach the rootball.
The nursery trade actually uses root pruning to grow huge trees in modest size nursery pots for easy transport and to sell trees year round -- as with bonsai, it’s a technique used to grow an oversized tree within a small, confined space.
Potting
Put a layer of the soil mixture in the bottom of the pot before adding the tree.
Prune the tree to look pleasing all-around, with depth perception – i.e. not with branches in a narrow plane.
Position the tree to look its best from one side, which is appropriately referred to as the “front” of the tree.
Comb out any roots that are tangled so that the tree will eventually grow with its roots spreading out like a mature tree in nature, majestically grasping mother earth.
Note: It is only possible to untangle roots while the tree is still young. The tree will never look right from that point on otherwise. Dealing with root cause when solving a problem is consistent with good management principles.
Introduce asymmetry when positioning the tree, because irregularity causes eye movement. A simple rule of thumb is to position the tree approximately ⅓ -⅔ from left to right, and usually as close to the back edge of the pot to leave room up front to create an impression of openness and span when viewing from the front.
“Firm” the soil by pushing it under and pressing down, making sure there is no air gap under the root ball. Doing so will assure the roots are in contact with soil and that no air pockets are left.
Note: Some people like to then poke the soil with chopsticks, but I do not recommend this, because while doing so firms the soil, it also creates air pockets and can damage the roots.
Water the bonsai thoroughly and firm the soil again with your fingers. The soil is likely to be firm enough after a few times.
Place your new bonsai in a shady location to avoid having the leaves dry out due to the reduction of roots. Move the tree to full sun as soon as there are signs of growth, usually in about four weeks.
Watering is important. I recommend having a soaking tub (like an aluminum baking tray) to provide a few hours for the root ball to absorb the water (with water approximately ½ above the bottom of the soil line).
Routine Maintenance
Maintenance can be viewed as a hassle or as relaxing – caring for something you enjoy. We will discuss this topic thoroughly in a subsequent chapter.
Just remember: the rootball drying out is the main reason trees will suddenly die. I recommend the use of our patent-pending pots. (Our patent pending feature is – in essence – putting the soaking pen inside the pot to allow time for the root ball to absorb moisture every time you water.) Otherwise – use a soaking tub.
Fertilizer
Nutrients will speed up the thickening of the trunk and keep the bonsai strong – it will also help to provide ample enough growth to allow you more opportunities to refine your design.
There are plenty of residual nutrients and nutrients from continuous decay of the organic material to keep the tree healthy.
Just use whatever you have around for house plants, in lower concentration trading off with frequency of application – be mindful that there is a very small volume of soil in a bonsai pot.
I have personally found it convenient to use fish emulsion with kelp at half concentration at the following intervals:
Every other week during the summer
Every quarter during cooler months
Not at all in the winter time
Bonsai also seem to thrive on chicken manure pellets – which you can find on Amazon. They are not smelly or messy, and can be easily spread at a concentration of one pellet per square inch or two.
About Bonsai Heirloom
We document bonsai transformations and the philosophy behind them. If you're feeling inspired to begin your own bonsai journey, consider adopting a bonsai from our curated collection. Each tree is hand-selected, artistically shaped, and ready to grow with you.