a lot of attention?

I've heard that Bonsai Trees really need a lot of care and attention, is this right? I really like Bonsai Trees but i'm hardly ever at home. Would it be a good idea to get one or would it probably die.

[Dave]

Yes bonsai trees need to be watered frequently as you can not let them dry out. When watering, rather than pour water on top, I find it is best to use a small bucket or tray and soak the bonsai in an inch or two or water and let it sit anywhere from 5 minutes to 30 minutes. This provides the perfect amount of water!

Since your never home you might be better off with a silk bonsai tree
Or give a shot at growing cacti as they require very little care- just sunlight.

[rogerrpowell]

Dont know were you live but here in Cornwall I have all my trees out side summer and winter and I have 200 plus never got round to counting them
during the summer I water everday with a hose never lost a tree yet to the weather.Lost some to weavels little monsters.Try growing tree common to your area.If the can live in your garden they can live in a pot. roger

[Dave]

200 bonsai trees...Wow that is a lot!!
Did you propogate them all from cuttings or buy them?
How cold does it get in Cornwall during the winter time?
In Massachusetts it gets really cold during the winter, last winter I believe it got down to negative 5.

[rogerrpowell]

. rogerdont often get frosts down here ,can get to a blistering -2 !!! so they can stay outside.Most of my trees are from cuttings,airlayering,grubed up hedgerows and people that are redoing thier gardens allways a great sorce of material someturn out rubbish but some go on to make nice trees.proberly not master peices but trees that please my eye. I think in any hobby it`s what pleases you that matters if others like them great, I grow plants for my enjoyment.I actually travel around the county showing clubs and societys how easy it is to to grow `trees in pots`

[Maddy]

Originally Posted by Dave

Yes bonsai trees need to be watered frequently as you can not let them dry out. When watering, rather than pour water on top, I find it is best to use a small bucket or tray and soak the bonsai in an inch or two or water and let it sit anywhere from 5 minutes to 30 minutes. This provides the perfect amount of water!

Since your never home you might be better off with a silk bonsai tree
Or give a shot at growing cacti as they require very little care- just sunlight.

Jade plants actually do nicely in bonsai pots and they develop woody-looking trunks as they mature - the look of bonsai but lower maintainance.

And bonsai pots also make lovely containers for miniature cactus gardens.

[Ellen]

I've been growing bonsai trees for at least as long as I've been growing orchids, but as my orchid collection has grown the bonsai have been more and more neglected. The bonsai stay outside all year round, and I consider them "outside plants" in the same sense as the trees that grow in the ground. This winter we had a few nights when the temperature got as low as 16 F (about -10C, very unusual for here) and it didn't hurt the bonsai as far as I can tell. Mine areon wooden benches between a greenhouse and the woods, so are shaded for a good part of the day. I started out growing them in an area with a full southern exposure but ended up losing some due to too much sun, heat, and drought in summer. I would think that if you lived in a climate where it rains regularly year round you could keep bonsai outside with virtually no care. During our winter wet season (now) I can totally forget about the bonsai. However, during the dry summer season they have to be watered on a regular basis. More than a week and they start suffering. Since they're outside, hosing them down only takes a few minutes - the key is remembering to do it. The only other care they get from me is maybe repotting once every few years and trimming/wiring once every year or two.

I have three jade trees, too, complete with treelike trunks, but they're incredible hulks, much bigger than any of the bonsai. Maybe it's possible to keep them small by regular trimming - I just haven't done it. They're just finishing blooming right now.