Your Bonsai Beginner’s Guide 

Have you ever wanted to start your own bonsai garden? Perhaps you love gardening, but feel like you lack bonsai knowledge? Or maybe you want to know how to care for bonsai trees? 

Our complete bonsai beginner’s guide is your first stop to getting to grips with this thousand-year-old Japanese art and learning how to care for a miniature ornamental garden all on your own.

What are Bonsai Trees? 

Bonsai is the ancient art of growing trees or shrubs in confined pots that are scaled down to mimic full-sized trees. A derivative of a similar Chinese art that dates back to 200 BC, Japanese bonsai trees have been grown and nurtured for over 2000 years. With long lifespans, easy maintenance and centuries of Asian culture, it’s hard to resist the charm and appeal that comes with creating your own bonsai tree collection.

Basics Every Bonsai Beginner Should Know

So where do you begin? Let’s start with our bonsai beginner’s guide!

There is a vast array of bonsai trees that can be kept both in an outdoor or indoor bonsai garden. You might have already heard of popular species, such as the Japanese Maple Bonsai or the Cherry Blossom Bonsai. Here at Bonsai 2 U we have a great selection of even more bonsai trees for sale, both online and in-store. 

Our indoor bonsai tree selection is a great place to start as a bonsai beginner and help you settle on a species you can care for easily. We would suggest the traditional Chinese Elm bonsai and the Fukien Tree to start with! 

Once you’ve decided on the species, you’ll need to consider the size of your bonsai as well as the environment and climate it will be kept in. Will there be a lot of direct light where it’s kept? Do you need a tree that requires infrequent watering? Will the plant get light all around or will you need to rotate it?

Have a good think and explore different options before finding the right home for your bonsai. Now that you’ve thought about where you will place your bonsai, your next step is to ensure you have the correct pot and tray to fit your tree.

Bonsai Pots

Our durable range of bonsai pots and trays come in all shapes, colours and sizes; from plastic to glazed ceramic for the perfect finishing touch. You can order yours online or we are happy to match your tree with its perfect bonsai pot at our Lutterworth nursery. 

Once it’s safely potted, you can focus on shaping the tree’s growth and creating your realistic miniature replica. For this we recommend our range of specialist bonsai accessories, such as bonsai wire to train and shape your tree’s branches, or bonsai cut paste to seal any scars or marks that blemish the trunk and branches should bacteria or fungi strike.

Soil and Fertilising

Your bonsai needs nutrient-rich and balanced soil to flourish – regular soil just won’t do here! 

Bonsai 2 U specialist bonsai soil contains Akadama, Pumice and other supplements for optimum growth. We would advise you to use soil specific to your bonsai’s needs. Ask us in-store or give us a call and we can help identify the correct soil for your tree-type. 

When it comes to watering, you should water your bonsai when the soil is dry to touch. We advise not to follow a watering routine as you risk overwatering your tree. 

As your bonsai tree will live its life contained within a pot, it’s very important to fertilise and feed your tree to keep it healthy, all the way from its roots to the tip of its leaves. Your tree will need feeding once a week during the growing season. Bonsai 2 U’s range of slow release and liquid feed formulas will keep your bonsai thriving.

Bonsai Tools

Every responsible bonsai owner needs a comprehensive tool kit to take the best care of your bonsai as it starts to take shape. 

While bonsai trees are, as a rule, very sturdy, they still require some periodic maintenance using specialist bonsai tools. 

Tools such as bonsai scissors and knob/branch cutters have been adapted for use on these trees, as well as miniature rakes and sieves to maintain a healthy plant and soil. 

The beginner’s bonsai tool kit should include all of the below to maintain your tree manicured and pruned to perfection:

• Rakes
• Root hooks
• Scissors
• Sieves
• Brushes
• Knob and branch cutters

Get Started

Even though it might seem overwhelming, bonsai trees are actually quite easy to keep once you’ve got the knack. With some proper care they can flourish into stunning features for both your home and garden. 

Why not have a look at our specialist beginner bonsai kits that contain not only your first tree, but all of the tools you need to get you going? While you might make some mistakes along the way that result in some crispy leaves and bent branches, there’s nothing stopping you from creating a beautiful bonsai collection with the help of Bonsa 2 U.

Why not visit our Care Hub and see our top tips on how to maintain your bonsai tree as it grows?