Using a soil rich in nutrients is essential for a correct development of our bonsai. The bonsai fertilization must have a set of components so that the tree can take advantage of different properties and perform certain processes such as photosynthesis. A shortage of these substrates in our bonsai can mean the appearance of different problems and diseases that could end with all the effort made.
Regularly subscribing your bonsai during the growing season is crucial for your survival. Normal trees are able to extend their root system in search of nutrients, however, bonsai are planted in small pots and need to be fertilized with the aim of renewing the nutritional content of the little land they have.
Bonsai fertilization
The three basic chemical elements of any fertilizer are nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) having a different function in the plant. Nitrogen helps the growth of leaves and stem; Phosphorus helps the healthy growth of roots, and potassium helps the growth of flowers and fruits. Fertilizers with different NPK ratios are used for different species and different times of the year. For some trees it is very important to use fertilizers of a specific composition although in general with a balanced fertilizer is enough to fertilize a bonsai properly.
Place the bonsai fertilizer during the growing season of the tree, from spring to late autumn. Some caregivers begin to pay once the trees have finished the strong spring growth; in this way it prevents that the internodes of the new branches become too big.
Indoor bonsai can be paid throughout the year. Do not fertilize the newly transplanted trees, wait a month to do so and it is not advisable to fertilize diseased bonsais.
During the spring use a fertilizer with a relatively high nitrogen content (eg NPK 12: 6: 6) to help the tree grow.
During the summer use a more balanced fertilizer like NPK 10:10:10
During the autumn a fertilizer is recommended to strengthen the tree and prepare it for the winter (for example NPK 3:10:10).
To help bloom bonsai use a fertilizer with a high content of potassium (K), for example 6: 6: 12
