OUTDOOR BONSAI TREES - great for your landscape

Just because they are small doesn’t mean they can’t live outdoors. Outdoor bonsai trees do just as well as their larger version. This hobby has developed from a Japanese art form using miniature trees in containers. There are generally known two types of trees, evergreens and deciduous. Most know that evergreens are trees that never lose their leaves, but grow new ones each spring, and stay green all year long. Deciduous on the other hand, grow new leaves each spring only to shed them in the fall. It is no different with bonsai trees.

Some of the flowering outdoor species include azalea bonsais. These make a great decorative border for a patio or deck, mimicking the large azalea shrubs that display colorful blooms at certain times of the year. During the winter some outdoor bonsai trees become dormant as many other types of plants. The biggest precaution you must take is making sure this little tree doesn’t freeze, especially the roots as they are more exposed than your normal tree. Removing it from the dish or pot and placing it into the ground in a protected location is the best thing to do. You can move your outdoor bonsai trees into an unheated area indoors during the winter months. Though dormant, it will still require water occasionally.

Morning sun is typically the best for your outdoor bonsai trees, shade in the afternoon is the requirement. Your tree would prefer it if you didn’t let the soil dry out complete, and the roots should not be allowed to dry. You will get used to a watering procedure and how often your outdoor bonsai trees would like water, in some climates a regular rainfall is sufficient, but during the warmer, dryer months regular watering should be adhered to.

Never fertilize your tree during its dormant months, it will still however, require water. The trend is to repot when the plant gets root bound. Once this happens with your tree, if you are growing it in an outside pot you should gently remove it from its container and cut off the outer and bottom quarter of the root system. Clean the roots of soil and then cut them back.

When planting outdoor bonsai trees in their new container, do something different for a change. Maybe use a fancy dish and decorate it with white crystal gravel or terracotta chips. To avoid encouragement of air pockets, the fresh soil should be worked into the roots. A layer of gravel for aeration and watering purposes should be placed under the soil allowing drainage and avoiding root rot. Displays of two or three trees together become very picturesque when they are mini bonsai trees.

Outdoor bonsai trees can be planted in groups or pairs and trained to grow compatibly. Bonsai are grown from regular seeds, it is the cultivation techniques that produce the small tree. There are several steps to training outdoor bonsai trees, including root care, potting, and grafting to stunt the growth. This unique gardening experience can lead you quickly from one little plant to a complete forest of miniature trees.