Bonsai tree care has always been steeped in mystery. Consequently, many myths and misconceptions have grown up over the years. One general misconception is that a bonsai tree is some special, genetically engineered species of tree. Of course, this is not true: almost any tree or shrub can be dwarfed and made into a bonsai tree. In fact, bonsai tree are ordinary trees and shrubs that have been miniaturized by skillful horticultural techniques. But these techniques are not too onerous, being similar to those for ornamental plants and shrubs grown in containers. If this is borne in mind then much of the worry of keeping bonsai tree can be overcome and work with them becomes a pleasure rather than a chore.

Although it is possible to use certain dwarf varieties of conifers for bonsai tree, it is not absolutely essential to do so. The range of trees and shrubs suitable for bonsai trees is quite vast, and the choice depends to a large extent on personal preference. Some species are more suitable than others, and they are usually the ones that have small foliage so that the leaves are in keeping with the scale of the tree when dwarfed. Bonsai tree should be regarded very much as ordinary trees and shrubs that is grown in bonsai pot: the only difference being that they are artistically trained and shaped. The bonsai pot is, of course, somewhat special. Once this principle is grasped, then the mystique of bonsai tree vanishes, and the cultivation of these lovely trees becomes less of a mystery.

Another myth that has grown up is that bonsai tree is starved in order to restrict their growth. Again, this quite wrong: bonsai are fed regularly and to be successful must be in the very best of health. The bonsai tree shown in this is all in tip – top condition. This can only be achieved through meticulous bonsai care and attention to the feeding requirements of individual bonsai trees. Feeding is essential, because bonsai tree, though small, are still growing plants. In fact, bonsai trees should be fed more regularly than their counterparts in nature, because bonsai pot is much smaller. Consequently, the nutrients in bonsai soil become exhausted sooner.

But perhaps the most common belief that prevails today is that one has to pruning the roots regularly in order to keep a bonsai trees dwarfed. While there is some element of truth in this, the idea is a gross distortion of what is generally practiced. In itself, pruning of roots does not dwarf a bonsai tree care. In fact, it is a combination of pruning of branches and restriction of roots in a container that miniaturizes a bonsai tree.

The roots of a bonsai tree are pruned when the tree requires repotting. This happens only when the tree becomes pot-bound, or when the bonsai artist wants to put the bonsai tree in a slightly larger bonsai pot. The main purpose of pruning the roots is to introduce fresh soil into the bonsai pot. By doing this the roots will have more room to grow, and so will be better able to breathe and to take up water and nutrients more efficiently.

There are no hard and fast rules about the frequency of root – pruning and repotting, because some varieties of trees grow more quickly than others. The more vigorous varieties, such as trident maple, hornbeam and cotoneaster, require pruning once a year. Other varieties, such as pines and junipers, require repotting less frequently – once every two to five years, say. As a general rule, the older a bonsai trees the less frequently it needs to be repotted. Some of the specimen trees shown in this article are well over 100-years old, and are only repotted once every five or six years. Even then, only a small amount of the root is removed.

If the bonsai trees are growing healthy, and the roots are not pushing the bonsai trees out of its pot, there is no need to un-pot the tree to prune its roots. Root-pruning does set the tree back to some extent, and it should always be done with great care. In any event, a tree should be protected for two to three weeks after repotting, in order that it can re-establish itself. Ideally, repotting bonsai trees should be sheltered from strong draughts and frosts-a cool greenhouse or conservatory is ideal.

Watering bonsai is perhaps the most important of all aspects of bonsai care. All too frequently, bonsai tree die as a result of not being watered regularly. Because a bonsai trees is a living plant, it needs to be watered almost daily during the growing season. During summer, this means watering bonsai tree at least once a day, or sometimes two or three times a day if the weather is very hot and dry. Preferable, you should water your trees in the late evening after the sun has gone down, or in the early morning before the sun begins to shine on the leaves. But bonsai tree should not be stood in water permanently, since the roots need air to breathe.

One or two varieties of bonsai tree, however, actually benefit from such treatment, because they are naturally fond of water: trees such as willow, alder wisteria and swamp cypress thrive if they are stood in a bowl of water during the summer, though these are perhaps the only species that should be treated in this way. In all other cases, trees should be allowed to drain freely after each watering bonsai.

It is said that watering bonsai is an art is acquired over many years. The point is that watering bonsai should never be done haphazardly. It is not sufficiently to rely on a passing shower of rain, for example, to water your bonsai. Very often the heavy canopy of leaves does not allow rain-water to even penetrate the surface of the pot. The only way to water a bonsai tree properly is to use a watering can or a garden hose. The bonsai tree should be drenched with water two or three times: each time for about thirty seconds, so that water soaks though the pot completely. Allow an interval of about two minutes between each soaking, and remember that the foliage benefits from being sprayed with water as well.

Bonsai tree should be fed regularly – and that means either every fortnight or once a month. But you should only feed your bonsai tree during the growing season: in other words, ordinary, temperature-climate hardy bonsai tree should be fed from late spring right though to late summer. However, you can start to feed evergreens slightly earlier than this, and continue feeding for a little longer – perhaps no more than a month each way. Indoor bonsai may need feeding regularly throughout the year, because the bonsai tree is continually in growth. Be sparing with the fertilizer, as overfeeding can sometimes make a tree sick, and only use it as the manufactures recommend.

The placement of your bonsai tree is important, too. Again, common sense should prevail. Your bonsai tree should be kept in a spot that only receives the sun for part of the day. Although it is possible to grow bonsai in full sun, a bonsai tree will require much more care and attention during the summer. The ideal position for your bonsai tree is a spot that gets the sun for three or four hours each day. A position near the house is probably as good a place as any: this will give protection both from fierce sunshine, strong winds and cold draughts.

It is important to keep your bonsai tree in a position in which it can enjoy the benefits of rainfall, for tap water should not be used all the time. During the winter, protect your bonsai tree as far as possible from draughts and frosts: a cool greenhouse or conservatory is ideal, but otherwise a sheltered spot near the house is probably adequate – a garden patio, for example, where your family and friends can enjoy the bonsai tree. Large collections of bonsai tree can be displayed on wooden staging raised off the ground, which can be adapted to provide an overhead shelter during the winter months.