Flowering Bonsai Trees – Care Guide

Flowering bonsai are a fascinating addition to your bonsai collection. Nothing feels as rewarding as seeing your tree bloom with beautiful white or pink flowers. 

Although taking care of flowering bonsai trees is similar to regular bonsai, there are certain things to look out for if you want your tree to be healthy and produce gorgeous flowers.  

In this guide we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about caring for your flowering miniature tree as well as the best bonsai to buy if you want to add some colour to your collection. 

How to Take Care of Your Flowering Bonsai 

Just like every other blooming plant, bonsai trees require the needed growing conditions such as sunlight, water and soil. Due to the small size of bonsai and the limitation of the plant pot they are in, however, it can be tricky finding the balance needed for your bonsai to thrive. 

Here are some of our expert tips on care and maintenance for blooming bonsai trees: 

Watering

As we have already mentioned numerous times it’s essential to make sure your bonsai gets enough water. Different trees may have slightly different requirements depending on their species, but it’s absolutely crucial to not let your bonsai get completely dry. 

Give your tree a decent amount of water when the top soil looks dry and if you’re unsure poke a finger in the soil to check the moisture level. 

In winter most trees will need watering only a couple times a week at most. In spring and summer, however, you might need to water your flowering trees every day. This way you will not only keep your tree healthy, but will also be able to enjoy its wonderful blossoms for longer. 

Placement and Conditions

Generally speaking flowering bonsai trees require a bit more light in comparison to non-flowering ones. The additional sunlight is essential to help the tree produce flowers or in some cases even fruits. 

When grown indoors these bonsai will thrive when placed near a south-facing window, where your tree can get a full day of indirect light exposure. 

Outdoors, the best place for your bonsai tree is in a sunny corner where it can enjoy its much needed rays of sunshine all day long. 

Feeding and Fertilising 

Fertilising your bonsai is important for promoting the healthy growth of flowers and fruits. A flowering tree may not bloom if it’s lacking certain nutrients. 

In most cases a bonsai fertiliser or slow-release feed with a balanced mix of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium is beneficial for your tree. If you want your tree to produce more flowers, you can use a fertiliser that is low in nitrogen and higher in the other two components. 

Pruning and Wiring Flowering Bonsai

If your bonsai is quite young, you might not have to think about training quite yet. You only need to wire train your bonsai unless you want to change its general shape or get your plant to look a certain way. 

With flowering trees it’s important to prune it regularly to promote healthy growth. If you notice that your tree is bearing too many flowers you should prune the smaller ones to prevent your tree from bending and looking sick. You should also make sure that the flowers are distributed evenly so your tree can look its best. 

Pests and Diseases to Look Out for

Depending on the bonsai species you’re growing there are different pests and diseases to keep an eye out for. Certain conditions such as low or high humidity can predispose the growth of spider mites and fungi. 

To limit the spread of pests and diseases, don’t overwater your plant and regularly mist the leaves. If the problem persists, treat with pesticides as needed. 

Best Flowering Bonsai Trees

Azalea

Azalea is one of the most popular choices if you want a tree that will produce beautiful flowers. This excellent evergreen blooms in clouds of tiny pink, white or red flowers. Our broom style azalea is the perfect for beginners as it can be trained and shaped to your desired look. With some care, artistry and precision this tree will delight you with its lovely blossoms. 

Ilex

The gorgeous Ilex Crenada is another pristine example of an evergreen bonsai that produces tiny white flowers in summer which grow into dark berries in autumn. This tree will thrive either indoors or outdoors and is guaranteed to bring enjoyment with its beauty. Have a look at our shaped flowering ilex bonsai or if you would rather train your bonsai yourself, perhaps our broom style ilex would be a better match. 

Ligustrum

A unique choice and perfect for beginner bonsai gardeners – ligustrum trees form inflorescences with many small, white flowers. This bonsai tree usually blooms in late spring and early summer. In autumn those flowers develop into small berry-like fruits. 

Carmona

Also called Fukien Tree, carmona trees are well-known for their lovely white flowers. This type of bonsai is traditionally best grown indoors. It’s low maintenance which makes it a great choice for beginners or to give as a gift to a loved one. Our elegant carmona bonsai is truly a splendid choice if you want to add a flowering tree to your bonsai collection. 

Other popular flowering bonsai types include Hibiscus, Wisteria and Japanese Cherry, but there are also many others you can explore. 

In our Lutterworth bonsai nursery, you will find an amazing choice of flowering bonsai trees for sale. Pay us a visit and pick the perfect tree to add to your collection. You can also shop our beautiful blooming bonsai online with free UK delivery. 

For more useful advice on bonsai maintenance visit our blog and Care Hub. If you require more information feel free to also contact us directly via our website contact form or by emailing us at richard@bonsai2u.co.uk.