I need tips for my Bonsai

**gkp1031** · 01-02-2005, 09:31 AM

My sister gave me a Bonsai plant for Christmas. Today is the day I transplant it into the planter she gave me. I'm not very familiar with bonsai plants and was wondering if anyone has any experience and good tips.

She gave me the planter, soil, shears and the paste to put on cut ends. Is there anything else that I will need for the future? She also gave me a gift certificate to the garden center.

Thanks

**dolphin** · 01-09-2005, 02:19 AM

I got one at a roadside sale for dh for Christmas. We didn't get any paste for the tips but I did buy some small bottles of fertilizer that you put upside down in the container (dirt)and they told me to change the bottle every 4 months even though the bottle says two.

So I would say, look for fertilizer and use that GC. The people I got mine from gave me an information sheet on it's care so if you need me to type it here I can.

Good luck with yours. They are so neat.

**kimmee** · 01-09-2005, 10:25 AM

Be very careful with the roots when you transplant - they reccomend thinning them but everyone we have ever tried to thin just dried up and died - and we were doing it exactly like the book!! Now we don't bother - we just make sure they are gently spread and not cramped. Also when doing your trims start out very reserved til it gets used to the trims!! like only to the first bud - etc. We have been doing Bonzais for over twenty years butmost of ours that survived are not even ten years old - the books like to get you in there pretty radically but we have found that the plant needs to develop into your style!! Hope this helps.

Edited to say - OH yeah and cats think they are Hors D'ouvres trays - so you migt want to keep an eye on that!!

**gkp1031** · 01-09-2005, 07:52 PM

Thanks for the help Carolyn and Kimmee. It was suggested to me last night by a friend that I should place it on a humidity tray, so I'm going to stop by the garden center tomorrow and see if I can get one. I'm also going to get some fertilizer.

Thanks for the warning about the cats Kimmee!! Sydney was looking mighty interested in it earlier!!!