Fertilizing bonsai - when to fertilize?

Fertilization always begins in spring, the gardener starts when the buds of deciduous trees begin to swell. In the case of deciduous bonsai, you start when the new leaves have hardened, if you fertilize earlier, this can result in larger leaves.

Pines

Pine trees are only fertilized when the candles are fully grown and the needles begin to stretch. All other conifers are fertilized from the moment you notice growth.

Indoor bonsai

Indoor bonsai, if they are of tropical origin, are also fertilized throughout the winter. If organic fertilizer is used, this is always applied when the previous one has been used up.

Indoors of subtropical origin, fertilize like outdoors. In other words, at the beginning of spring. Fertilization is completed in autumn, or in October at the latest. In the case of deciduous trees, a final nitrogen-emphasized liquid fertilization is applied in autumn after the plant has shed its leaves.

The purpose of this is to give the bonsai more strength to sprout in spring. The conifers are fertilized for the last time at the end of October with an emphasis on nitrogen, the reason is the same as for the deciduous trees. At the end of August, beginning of September, potassium and calcium fertilizers can be applied. This has the advantage that the plant can better root out the new growth and the calcium promotes root formation.

When should you not fertilize?

Do not fertilize when a plant is sick or when a plant is flowering. If you fertilize flowering plants, the flowering is usually not long-lasting and the bonsai is cultivated to pamper the eye and the heart, a bonsai does not need to produce a yield, it should be healthy and beautiful to look at.