It can take at least minimum of three years before seedlings mature enough to start shaping but it’s advantageous, as you have full control over your Bonsai tree from the beginning. Misho is the one of the real way to grow a Bonsai right from the start!
How to Plant your tree
First step will need to place a mix of soil and rocks in the bottom of your pot then place your tree in the pot on top of your base layer of rocks and soil in a way making sure that your tree’s roots are spread out.
While filling the pot up to to the top with the rest of the soil.
Make sure to water your soil thoroughly until the excess water begins to drain. After that you have to mix the top layer of soil with mulch to keep the moisture in.
Then, you can add a layer of moss to the top of your soil for aesthetic purposes.
HOW YOU CAN GROW AND CARE FOR BONSAI FRUIT TREES
Once you have tackled growing a beginner bonsai then you might be looking for more of a challenge.
Maybe one that is not only a beautiful demonstration of your skills but it is a way to produce full-sized fruits that you can actually eat, is up your alley?
Many people don’t realize that the art of growing bonsai trees isn’t about nurturing dwarf specimens but it is the process of confining a full-sized species into a very restricted space which is a kind of art. Nearly any type of tree can be grown as a bonsai and that also includes trees that grow totally normal-sized fruits.
There is something incredibly impressive about a full-sized lemon or pomegranate growing on a tree that you can carry in one hand, isn’t amazing!
If you’re up for the challenge and the glory, then here’s what it takes and what we will go over in this guide:
Are you ready to snack on your very first fruit from a bonsai tree? If yes, then let’s start our journey.
Here is a Quick Fruit Bonsai Overview
Technically, you can grow any tree species as a bonsai which includes fruit trees.
A 40-foot persimmon has ample room to produce fruit but a foot-tall tree might only produce two or three full-sized fruits and that’s completely okay but the point of bonsai isn’t to feed your family.
Genetically, a bonsai fruit species is the same as that 40-foot fruit tree that’s growing in an orchard and which is why it grows full-sized fruit
In case you are wondering if you could encourage your bonsai to grow smaller fruits so you can produce more of them or to look more proportional to the tree then the answer is no.
There is no way to alter the size of fruits that a bonsai tree will produce using horticultural practices. The size of the tree is determined by genetics and can only be altered through breeding.
If you want small fruits the you must pick a species that already has petite ones such as crabapple or blueberry.
How to select the Species
There are different species that lend themselves to bonsai more than others.
There are few species such as Crabapples, cherries, calamondin oranges (Citrus mitis), quince, key limes, and Meyer lemons are excellent trees to start with. Also, the woody bushes such as blueberries are also a great place to start.
How to Care Them
Caring for a fruit tree bonsai is not much different than caring for a standard one but there are a few things you always keep in mind such as if you are unfamiliar with caring for these plants then you might want to check out our beginner’s guide first. Then come back here, here are few tips:
Fruit species must be potted, repotted, shaped, and watered as you would any other bonsai.
Here, you can understand how fruit trees differ from other bonsai:
Just as many full-sized trees need a defined period of dormancy to produce fruit, the same way is for these plants.
Some trees may require a certain number of chill hours which is the amount of time spent below a certain temperature in order to produce. Be aware of this and do some research when deciding which species to grow.
For instance the apple trees need an average of 1,000 chill hours each year. To make things easy you must choose a species that thrives in your growing zone.
Beyond that, always make sure you know how much sun exposure your chosen species requires to produce a harvest. While your tree might grow just fine in lower light otherwise your tree might not produce those pretty treats without the sun it needs.
Most of the fruit trees need to be grown outdoors full time. If you couldn’t hypothetically grow a full-sized species indoors then you can’t grow the bonsai version indoors either.
You can not grow the apple trees indoors whether they are full-sized or teeny-tiny. However, there are a few varieties such as lemons and oranges, that can grow in a warm and sunny spot indoors.
Feeding
All bonsai must be fed with fertilizer to ensure good growth. These plants only have a small amount of substrate to pull nutrients form so you have to add the nutrients as per their requirement.
There is no need to use a special fruit species fertilizer. You just select one that’s formulated for bonsai.
A slow-release fertilizer is easiest to use because you can just sprinkle on a little and it will continue to feed the plant for months hence it is highly recommended.
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Love it,🍃 keep up the good work, and Good Luck.🌱🌷