Things You Should Look Out For When You A Buy Bonsai Tree

Are you planning to buy bonsai tree for your home, office or simply as a gift for someone? Indeed, a bonsai can make for excellent and extremely thoughtful gifts. These miniature trees are meant to give you the feel of “heaven and earth in one container” – possessing the intrinsic qualities of truth, essence and beauty. However, unless you make an informed choice about the bonsai tree, you might end up bringing home a sickly tree that will not last you long. Read on to know how you can buy a bonsai tree that is healthy.

Things to look out for when you buy bonsai tree

Perhaps the most important thing to look out for when you buy bonsai tree is the reputation of the nursery. Do not settle for just any nursery. Make sure that they specialize in creating and taking care of bonsais, because this is a special art and not every nursery has the required skills to come up with healthy and well-created bonsais.

Once you have located a good plant-dealer, you should look at the general collection of the dealer. Do all his plants look good and healthy? Thereafter, you can move on to the specific plant that you want to purchase. See if it is healthy – you can access the health of the plant in many ways, which we will discuss soon after.

Next, you should check if the plant is pot-bound. This means that if you see the plant roots peeking out through the drainage hole, it has been in the pot for too long – this is not a good thing for a bonsai, and you should choose a different tree.

Once you have ensured that the bonsai is healthy, take a note of the overall shape of the tree. Note if the trunk of the tree looks strong enough to hold up all the branches. Also, note the style of the twist of the knot in the bonsai and check if it will require staking.

When you buy bonsai trees, you will have to be careful even after the selecting and purchasing portion is done away with. Apart from the fact that you will have to carry our regular maintenance, fertilization, watering and repotting, you will also have to be extremely careful while transferring the bonsai from the nursery to your home or office.

After you buy bonsai tree, you need to travel in some enclosed vehicle, so that the wind does not mess with the tree. Also, make sure that you do not blast on the air conditioner, or heat. Keep the plant away from the direct vents. Maintain a steady and moderate temperature inside the car. You will also need to support the bonsai, so that it is not knocked against your vehicle.

Do not buy bonsai tree on a very cold day. Your bonsai can get killed even during the small span of time between taking it from the nursery and transferring it home, if it is too cold. Make sure that the temperature is not below 10°C. Before bringing the bonsai home, you should also check that it is not infested with any worms that can destroy other plants when you bring it home.

How to check if the bonsai is healthy

Checking if the bonsai that you bring home is healthy is extremely important. Start with checking if the tree shows any signs of rot. You need to closely inspect the bark, the leaves and the limbs of the tree for scratches, breaks or rips. Also, look out for any signs of places where damage may have occurred previously. If you notice any slimy area on the tree, avoid purchasing the tree, as this may be a sign of rot.

You can also check for root rot by gently poking your fingers though the soil. If you find that the soil feels mushy or slimy, then there is a very good chance that the tree is showing signs of root rot. You can ask the plant dealer if he can show you the root of the bonsai by carefully removing the plant from the pot. If he is unwilling, you can go ahead and choose something else. However, if you are confident about your skills as a botanist, and if you feel you can deal with the root rot, go ahead and purchase the bonsai, though this is not recommended.

Finally, when you buy bonsai tree, you should note the leaves. Do not buy a tree with leaves that are yellow, brown or brittle. There should be very less leaf drop around the pot. In addition, check if the soil is too dry, because in that case, the roots will be dry too. This can kill the bonsai. Ask for a little water from the shop owner and pour it on the soil. If you find that the water runs through the soil immediately, this means that the plant has been under watered.

Remember that when you buy bonsai tree, make a major investment for the future. If you can choose a good specimen, it will last you for years and it can even go down in your family from generation to generation!