1300A E. Sunshine Springfield MO 65804
1300A E. Sunshine Springfield MO 65804
(417) 883-7676   or   Toll Free  (866) 461-7673
Springfield Flower Company a florist in Missouri serving Springfield, Ozark, Nixa, Strafford, Battlefield, Brookline, Republic, Rogersville, Willard,
St. Johns Hospital, Cox South, Cox North, Cox Walnut Lawn, Ozarks Community Hospital, Greenlawn Funeral Homes, Herman H Lohmeyer
Funeral Home, Klingner - Cope Family Funeral Home: Midtown, Gorman Scharpf Funeral Home, Klingner - Cope Family Funeral Home:
Rivermonte, Walnut Lawn Funeral Home Ltd Degraffenreid Wood, University Plaza Hotel, Holiday Inn North, and Holiday Inn Express.
Florist delivery in 65721, 65742, 65802, 65803, 65804, 65806, 65807, 65809, 65810, 65801, 65805, 65808, 65814, 65817, 65714, 65619

    Frequently Asked Questions & Care for your Bonsai Tree

Q:  How often should I water my bonsai tree?
    General rule of thumb for most bonsai is watering every other day.  They are
    grown in significantly less soil and, therefore require more watering. Factors such
    as tree location, temperature, lighting conditions, quantity of soil used, and the
    changing seasons will also determine the frequency of watering to some degree.
    You can get to know when your tree needs to be watered by observing the
    foliage, testing the soil with your index finger just below the surface, or just by the
    weight of the pot. (The drier the tree, the lighter it will feel.) To take the
    guesswork out of watering, some people have found it helpful to have an
    inexpensive moisture meter which works very much like a thermometer. Insert it
    into the soil and the movement of the needle will tell you how dry or moist the soil
    is.

Q:  How often should I fertilize my bonsai tree?
    Because bonsai trees are cultivated in limited amounts of soil, adequate feed is
    very important. As a general rule, a small amount of feed is given in the spring
    and a larger amount in the fall. Feed for bonsai should contain three principle
    ingredients; nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash. It is also a good idea to use a
    fertilizer containing "chelated" iron. Water before fertilizing your tree and then
    apply at half the strength recommended by the brand's manufacturer. We rotate
    the use of brands since different manufacturers add different amounts of trace
    elements and minerals.  You may find it simpler and easier to use slow release
    fertilizer granules (placed over the soil) whose nutrients are released with each
    watering.

Q:  How often should I mist my bonsai tree?
    All trees grow in more humid conditions than our homes, offices and dormitories.
    So what can we do to provide this essential humidity ? Misting the tree is only
    beneficial for a short time, so what we recommend is to place the tree on a
    humidity tray and add water to the tray. As the water in the tray evaporates it
    creates a humid environment around the tree 24 hours a day. When the water in
    the tray is gone, add more water. It's a good idea to separate the pot from the
    water in the tray by adding some pebbles to the bottom of the tray. This will
    prevent any roots from sitting in the water.

Q:  How much sunlight is required for my bonsai tree?
    Sunlight, especially the ultra-violet ray, affects the growth of trees. Therefore,
    except in special cases such as immediately after repotting, extensive trimming,
    etc, bonsai should be placed in a sunny location. Bright light will also work well
    but the tree should not be placed more than 12" away from the direct light
    source. An east, west or southern exposure works best. A northern exposure will
    require the use of "grow lights" which should remain on up to 16 hours each day
    and the lamp should not be more than 2 inches from the top of the tree.
    Incandescent light is too hot and will not provide the various spectrum of light that
    is required to maintain your bonsai tree. If you do not have a window or light
    source that provides an east, west or southern exposure, be sure to select a
    bonsai tree that does well in lower lighting conditions.

Q:  How is miniaturizing a tree possible?
    No one single technique is adequate to make a tree small. The fact that the tree
    is grown in a container, the trimming, pruning, repotting and other care given the
    tree -- all contribute to the final result of limited growth. Dwarf trees are often
    found in a natural environment, but in bonsai this environment is provided
    artificially. Bonsai are grown in shallow containers the size of which determines
    the amount of soil the roots are able to grow in. This environment definitely
    restricts the growth of the roots and its functions.

Q:  How do I trim and prune my bonsai?
    The main objective of trimming and pruning is to shape the bonsai into the
    desired form and to reduce growth above ground in order to maintain a balance
    with root growth. The process of shaping begins when the tree is very young and
    is on-going as it continues its growth. Trimming is accomplished by using sharp
    scissors or shears. This traditional tool is called butterfly shears or bonsai shears
    and is used for removing foliage and light branches. When heavier branches are
    removed, we call it pruning and the tool to use is the concave cutter, for which
    there is no substitute. The concave cutter allows you to remove small, medium
    and even large branches without leaving any visible scars. Some trees such as
    the Juniper should be trimmed by using the thumb and index finger to remove
    new growth and to prevent browning and a "sheared" appearance.

Q:  How do I prevent diseases and insects from infecting my bonsai?
    As living trees, bonsai are susceptible to insect attacks and disease. Preventive
    and corrective measures include (a) keeping your bonsai in good health, since
    insects and bacteria tend to attack weak trees, (b) giving your tree ample light,
    fresh air and ventilation, (c) keeping the soil free of spent blooms and fallen
    leaves etc. You may also use an insecticidal soap spray which is not harmful to
    humans or animals. This soap derivative, however, may require more than one
    application to control the insect population. It's also a good idea to use this spray
    weekly to prevent any infestation.

Q:  How do I train my bonsai?
    Wiring, a relatively modern method of training bonsai trunks and branches into
    the desired forms, has become commonly accepted. It is often used in place of,
    or in conjunction with the traditional methods of long-term pruning and hemp-
    rope binding. Copper bonsai wire is preferred. It is wrapped around the branches
    in the direction the branch is to be bent. The branch should be bent once into its
    final position so as not to harm the cambium layer under the bark. The wire
    should be wrapped taut, but not too tight, and should be removed just before it
    bites into the branch -- between 6 and 12 months. The wire is removed with a
    bonsai wire cutter by snipping the wire at each turn, thereby allowing the cut
    pieces to fall. Never unwind the wire or use pliers to cut the wire, since this will
    damage the branches.

Q:  What is bonsai soil and why is it used for bonsai?
    As noted previously, potted trees do not do well in soil that is always wet. Potting
    soil and top soil are heavy soils that can remain wet for weeks. Bonsai soil is a
    mixture of ingredients which allows the water to drain freely and at the same time,
    retain moisture. In addition, the ingredients allow the roots to breathe air and
    prevent compaction. There are two basic types of bonsai soil -- a conifer mix and
    a tropical/sub/tropical mix. Before adding a soil mixture, cover the drainage hole
    (s) with screening to prevent the soil from washing out of the pot. When re-
    potting, it is always best to use the soil mixture in its dry state.

Q:  How often should I re-pot my bonsai tree?
    All potted plants will eventually outgrow their containers. While houseplants need
    to be "up-potted", that is, placed in larger and larger containers, we maintain the
    miniaturization of a bonsai tree by keeping the roots confined to the small
    container. On average, repotting will be necessary every 3-5 years, but the tree
    should be removed from its container and its root system inspected once a year.
    If the roots form a circular ball around the perimeter of the pot, it is time to trim
    the roots and repot. When repotting remember to (a) use only bonsai soil (b)
    remove air pockets by working the soil down through the roots (c) do not remove
    more that 20% of the root system (d) repot during the appropriate repotting
    season (e) water well and keep out of the sun for a week or two.
also serving the Nixa,
and Ozark Areas
on Sunshine in Springfield
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1300A E. Sunshine
Springfield MO 65804

Local (417) 883-7676
Toll Free (866) 461-7673

Store Hours:
Monday - Friday 9:00 - 5:00 CT
and Saturday    10:00 - 2:00 CT
Closed Sunday
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