Bonsai is unique hobby pursued by an esoteric lot which requires immense interest as well as artistic will. People pursue bonsai as a hobby so that they can give a decorative looks to their outdoors as well as indoors, offices, terraces, etc. One has to have a great love and care for plants coupled with little creativity in order to carry along with bonsai odyssey.

Amongst all the forms of bonsai the maple bonsai is one the most famous. Maple trees specially the Trident Maple tree and Japanese maple tree are famously used for bonsai purpose. Trident Maple is a deciduous tree usually found only western countries. Trident Maple trees usually grow upright and can be beautifully shaped. Trident Maple is considered as a robust plant whose bonsai can be done in all places irrespective of the vicinity being urban or rural surroundings. Though Trident Maple is pollution resident it needs due care. Trident Maple can thrive in shallow pots which dry out quickly and are regarded more drought resistent as compared to other varieties of same species.

Trident Maple bonsai requires sufficient sunlight exposure preferably as much as possible. Trident Maple bonsai roots have a fairly high moisture content, hence are vulnerable to frost which can be troublesome during winters .hence during winters it is better off to keep Trident Maple bonsai in a sunny place with bouts of shades in afternoons or green house .For Trident Maple bonsai it is generally better to use bonsai potting soil along with some percentage of organic material mixed with it.

Maple bonsai can be easy to maintain if kept in sufficient sunlight accompanied with a bit of shade and desired watering. Same applies for the Japanese maple bonsai. There are many varied forms of Japanese maple which can be selected from, like Nishiki Gawa ,Nishiki Issai having tough barks and Kiyo-hime,Tama-hime which are dwarfs andtheSanku and the Aoyji having unusual barks. The Japanese maple bonsai has a very susceptible foliage pattern however it has produces varied colors of gold, green, burgundy and red depending on seasons. Different species produce different colors, shapes and size of leaves which is lovely to watch. In order to take proper care you should prune your new shoots within three to five nodes and pinch off unwanted shoots during springs.

During summers Japanese maple has to be kept in slightly shady regions .Japanese maple is to be exposed to sunlight for the rest part of year but protected from wind. As far as soil is concerned a normal bonsai potting soil with some amount of organic stuff would be good. Japanese maple soil needs to be repotted and fertilized during the later winter and early springs. Japanese maple pot soil is to be watered in a requisite manner in such a way that a tradeoff is maintained between overwatering it and maintaining sufficient moisture. Hence if these things are taken into consideration while maintaining the maple bonsai you will have your dream bonsai.

Growing bonsai for a particular cause is different from the viewpoint of those people who look for an interesting plant, glance at a bonsai, buy it and take it home with great pleasure. The thing these people do not realize is that the bonsai is absolutely an outdoor plant, never an indoor one, though since the 1990s it is absolutely used as a part to add glamour to indoor decoration. Plants of different kinds are used for indoor bonsai as opposed to outside, so it must be taken into account where to place the tree in an ideal manner.

If a tree is brought home inside what would be done with it? The bonsai is that tree whose shape may be given after one’s own whims. It never changes, never dies. It’s a plant that is always lively and needs attention and pruning to remain after one’s own choice.

Bonsai must be placed in an area where enough light is available. If a bonsai fails to have enough UV rays, it dries. The bonsai needs warmth in the daytime – at least 60 degree Fahrenheit and the humidity to flourish. Regular spraying on the leaves with water is mandatory. However, bonsai can never be placed in a saucer or tray filled with water, as this can rot the roots. At night what the bonsai needs most is cooling down as it occurs in the nature as well.

Repotting of the bonsai once every two years or so is very crucial and this should be done in the spring. When the re-potting is made the roots should be pruned. Depending on the size of the roots, 1/3 to 2/3 should be removed from the tips. Repotting in a similar type of container as the original is necessary to create the same kind of effect. Drainage holes for the water must be cared of. If the roots come in close contact of much damp they will rot gradually.

Bonsai containers should be shallower than normal indoor pots used for plants. So if fertilizer is added dilution is to be accordingly otherwise the fertilizer will burn the roots. Bonsai should be fed this fertilizer about once every three weeks – but it should not be fed in winter.

Bonsai needs to be “pruned” and “pinched back” at a regular interval to keep it at the desired shape. Actually, this should be done in the spring before the season’s growth begins, and then regularly throughout the season. Actually everything depends on perfect pruning .It must be taken care of what kind of tree was got before this pruning – for example, if a ficus is taken all the leaves should be cut back.

Take Care of the Bonsai to be amused

As the bonsai is kept in a shallow container, it can attract pets and prone to be diseased. Bonsai requires more care. Even more than any other plant we generally see at hand

1. The bonsai should be cleaned with a small brush on a regular basis. Any plant debris on the soil is not allowed after the finishing of pruning the bonsai.. It will decompose and hamper the growth with fungal diseases or moss.

There is a common idea that moss is decorative and is not removed. If this is the case it should be kept away it form the trunk and branches of the tree – using a special spatula, or a hard nylon toothbrush just scraping away . A pair of tweezers is needed to remove any weed and it must be remembered that any grass can steal nutrients away from the tree.

2. Pests always should be kept away. As bonsai is watered often to keep it humid, this attract

pests such as aphids (aka greenfly), caterpillars, ants and red spider mites.

Diseases to combat

Diseases like Powdery mildew are the most widespread fungus disease. If a white, floury layer on

the shoots and leaves of the tree is seen it is nothing but powdery mildew. Rust may appear as orange or brown patches on the leaves. You may be using too much potassium in the soil, if this begins to occur.

Iron deficiency will cause yellowing of the trees. The leaves or needles will turn yellow – while the veins will remain green. This usually takes place in chalky or lime soil, which “locks up” the iron.

Repot and changes in the potting compost should be done.

The four seasons to notice

Special treatments for the outdoor bonsai will need special treatment in each of the four seasons, but even the indoor bonsai needs special treatment at times, for the biological necessities, rather

than environmental ones.

There’s no need to give fertilizer during the winter, for example Pruning for shape should be done in early spring, and, as stated earlier, repotting should take place in the spring of every second year, and the roots trimmed.