Feeding Your Bonsai Trees

It is important to feed your bonsai and in this video I show you various feeds and methods of doing just that.
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[@immatear3091]

I've been waiting for this for years from you Peter! So glad you brought it out

[@user-ll6se8kv9i]

Thank you, Peter, for this wonderful and much needed lecture on how and when to fertilize your tree. The different methods in which to fertilize your tree is an priceless information. Thank you and God Bless You. 🙏🙏🙏

[@deepanjanbanerjee3491]

Good one, thanks. Do consider a sequel where you discuss the merits of organic vs inorganic and solid vs liquid pls.

[@Gbhmagic]

organic is generally better for slow growth and developing beneficial bacteria in the roots system. Liquid artificial is good a very fast growth. So initially if growing from seeding Liquid is ok but in my opinion over the long run you want organic as it takes a long time to establish the beneficial bacteria in tje roots.

[@jimmyhughes5392]

i use fish tank water for my plants, i've even got a bonsai planted in a fish tank

[@peterchan3100]

That is very nutritious for plants

[@briankavanagh7191]

Jimmy, freshwater not salt water?

[@jimmyhughes5392]

@@briankavanagh7191 imagine lol i use salt water to stop the weeds growing in my block paving.

[@nordicson2835]

I read you should freeze banana peel after eaten , when you have a few... boil the with an eggshel or two... for 30 minutes. Allow to cool , strain , water our plants with that.

[@dbe2705]

🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹 thanks Peter

[@VenhaVe]

I always wonder about how much fertilizer is right, or how often to do it. My experience for normal indoor plants is that when I fertilze them according to the instruction manual on the package, they die very quickly from over-fertilizing. Therefore, I rather fertilize very little to not accidently kill my plants, since the symptoms of over-fertilizing and under-fertilizing are very similar for an gardener amateur. But then, it might often be not enough and the plant starves. I find this very tricky and would be grateful for any clues. And thanks for your very informative videos, Peter!

[@andreasweber1533]

You get an overconcentration of mineral salts in the soil if water evaporates, leaving the dissolved salts behind. The way to avoid it is watering generously, until water freely runs from the drainage holes. This flushes out any excess of minerals, what remains in the pot will have the concentration you poured in. It's particularly effective with the kind of granular substrate bonsai growers use. With indoor plants the drawback is that you typically don't want to drench your window sill, so at least every few days you have to place the pots one by one over a tray, saucer or bucket for a proper watering.

[@Ak3am]

Another benefit to fertilizer baskets is that it stops birds and other animals from eating your organic fertilizers.

[@kuriseon]

This isn't necessarily a bad thing though? It happens in nature too, after all 🙃

[@MidniteSan]

Awesome... Thx for sharing Peter 👍

[@chrisbrayley6271]

Meaningfulness is always very much appreciated. Thank you for sharing 😊

[@playathomedad7335]

Again, thank you for a much needed reminder. I needed to hear this right now. Will be feeding my babies tonight.

[@notionbonsai]

Great video Peter. I love how you show that there are no wrong ways of fertilising! Great tips for nice autumn color!

[@walterwjr947]

_THANK YOU_ ... 🙏 😔 🙏 Dr. Chan, quite an informative video, simple and to the point. There are as many ways to feed plants as there are plants. Just feed them and they will grow, almost without us. I like the baskets, it adds a decorative touch and you can monitor the amount you are feeding. I will add, I don't like to get the fertilizer on the leaves, it can "burn". Spills and splashes do happen though. 🙏 🖖 🙏 😔 🙏

[@peterchan3100]

You are a "man after my own heart" as the saying goes - meaning? - your mindset is the same as mine.

[@walterwjr947]

@@peterchan3100 _THANK YOU_ 🙏 😔 🙏 we are both Dragons, 1952. Plants are so beautiful, they never cease to amaze me.

[@KIWISMAMA]

Hello Peter, I love your videos. I've watched, liked, and saved nearly every single one. I only own indoor trees, because I live in Texas, and it's just too hot for them in the summer, and for me to care for them. I would love to see you make videos on Fukien tea trees, and Barbados Cherry trees. Thank you for all the valuable information you share for amateurs like me. Blessings and joy!

[@peterchan3100]

Oh what a shame you dont keep outdoor bonsai. I am sure it is possible. Why dont you contact a local bonsai society and ask them for help and advice. I am sure someone who lives in your area will give you help and advice.

[@KIWISMAMA]

@@peterchan3100 Thank you so much for your kind response. I'm sure I probably could, if not for one thing, I didn't mention. I am handicapped, and use a walker. I don't have access to our hosepipe for watering without the chance of falling down in our lush grass yard. I am basically confined to our house, and my bedroom from a head injury. I have my bonsai trees around my bedroom, with a grow light, and one medium Fukien in our sunny livingroom. They give me so much pleasure, seeing, and caring for them. However, I could still use some advice on how to care for them. I recently purchased the Barbados Cherry bonsai from Brussels Bonsai, however it was delivered with the pot shattered. They sent me a new pot and some soil to repot it. I did my best from everything I've learned from you, but it's dropping leaves. I did trim it back to help reduce the trauma my poor baby bonsai suffered. I did pot it in a bowl while waiting for the new pot. I'm praying that I did everything right for it. I hope you know how much pleasure, and knowledge your videos provide to beginners as well as experts. I look forward to each new one you film. Wishing you prosperity, blessings and joy. Sincerely, Judy from Austin, TX

[@peterchan3100]

@@KIWISMAMA - Judy I simply admire you for your courage and determination to enjoy your bonsai despite all odds. The varieties you are growing are particularly difficult and are best suited to greenhouse conditions ie with high humidity and temperatures . The only reliable indoor variety is the Ficus. They are very forgiving. But be adventurous and persevere with the other varieties. So long as the soil does not dry out and you keep it in a bright location. They should be OK. Keep at it and stay blessed!

[@veziovignanelli2926]

BUONGIORNO GRAZIE PER I TUOI CONSIGLI PER IL FERTILIZZANTE E COME ANNAFFIARE I BONSAI BUONA GIORNATA

[@emijuman1397]

Thank you Peter. Your videos are very educational

[@andrewking1194]

Thank you, Peter. Your videos are always great to watch and I learn so much.. I have purchased some lovely dawn redwood trees from your nursery recently and I want to keep them healthy. Some small ones I ordered online and made a forest with, and on my first visit to Herons Bonsai a few weeks back you very kindly sold me a redwood you had in the back garden (which I decided to air layer after your suggestion to do so - why not!) - It was a pleasure to meet you, and thank you for taking the time to help me out that day, as well as through your videos! Much appreciated.

[@joegarland4885]

Thank you Peter, never heard the sock idea, we all have are favourite feed methods which work for for us, maybe we do waste too much.

[@jameswilmot4537]

I lost all my Hebe plants from those four nights around -8 -9. They all burst around the base and I think this meant the tree couldn't send water and nutrients up. I took cuttings from the Hebe's last summer and luckily I had these in my propagation boxes. I'll be keeping these in the greenhouse for winter. Another great video update.

[@t3dwards13]

I'm fortunate enough that I only fertilize with the compost I make.

[@theroe6988]

Always enjoy you your kind knowledge sir

[@almac2598]

Thanks Peter. Some good tips.

[@lorellstoneman74]

Thank you.

[@Chercher4848]

Excellent video thanks so much. I love that you are open minded & encourage others to explore & enjoy bonsai. You are a great teacher & so likable. 👍

[@tiffanytomasino335]

Thank you for sharing

[@cindymitchell6525]

Thanks.

[@caktrisbonsai]

wow cantik2 bonsainy om

[@mikec3820]

i like the powdered fertilizers. i use them for everything i grow in pots, except organic things like food crops that i use compost for. also compost for flower beds too. salt ferts are bad for soil gardens. i like re gen or jadam/ knf for soil beds. thanks peter. always great to see how the masters do it

[@davidfarrell7318]

i'm just going to feed my bonsai small slow release pellets right now thanks for the valuable information.

[@marievickbartucci134]

Thank you for teaching me the right way Peter!.

[@tinjoesstation]

Awesome!! Thank you so much!!❤❤

[@gloriablanco7856]

Valuable info. Thank you so much 😊

[@RoMa_cRudA]

I used Biogold Original, the German Saidung Ultra , and every week once liquid fertilizer

[@groovybuddha667]

I swear by diluting one can of wild caught sardines in water not in oil, in a gallon or two of water and feed that to my plants. They love it they use everything in that juice!

[@dtsivoulidis]

I have only fertilised by low release pellets or liquid fertiliser. I am going to try the slow release cages as this should provide more nutrients to the bonsai and less runoff immediately to drain/stormwater/local environment. This should also be more efficient per gram of NPK applied.

[@SysterYster]

I feed mine every day but with a very diluted fertiliser in the water. So far they seem to like it. I give it to them from a few weeks after repotting (in feb-mar) to mid august.

[@sigidaqso4869]

I use organic waste that I ferment with EM4 yeast. that's a natural organic liquid fertilizer that we make. and as far as possible do not use chemical fertilizers. BONSAI GREETINGS!!! INDONESIAN BONSAI TROPICAL BONSAI

[@KidMangaX]

Peter-san, this is such an excellent video! That being said, would you please make a video about the nutrients that trees need in order to thrive, and what they do? Fertilizers seem to be so widely varied in how much of each nutrient they carry... For instance, some fertilizers advertise 4 N, whereas on others you see almost 20. I struggle with knowing what is the right amount for my trees, and I also struggle with the idea of other micronutrients (which I don't believe my trees are getting from the usual NPK mixture.)

[@peterchan3100]

No need to make things so complicated. Ordinary farmers do not understand the intricate science of micro nutrients etc but they still manage to grow good crops. Dont confuse yourself with rocket science - just use a balanced NPK fertiliser in Spring and a slightly higher PK feed in late Summer.

[@lorellstoneman74]

Can you also add compost pile beautifully aged soil in a water solution, (like your sock method) to feed the trees ocationally?

[@andreasweber1533]

How high the numbers are just tells you how concentrated the product is. A fertilizer with an N of 20 is five times as strong as one with N only 4; so you'll need 5 times as much of the latter for the same effect, and the respective dosage instructions should reflect that. Where you have to consider concentration is when comparing prices (the weaker stuff rarely is proportionally cheaper). But in general you can use any somewhat balanced product, whether it's 16-8-12 or 4-2-3. The complement of secondary and trace minerals should be pretty similar between competent manufacturers, the typical list being magnesium, sulphur, iron, boron, copper, manganese, zinc and molybdenum.

[@thomas-lx5xj]

Your'e a very good Teatcher 😊

[@luisvega6770]

OTRA QUE SOLUCIONE ES EL RIEGO CON AGUA QUE RECOJO DE UN ARROLLO SERCANO PARA EVITAR EL USO DEL AGUA DE CASA CON LA QUE PERDI VARIOS EJEMPLARES ..MIL GRACIAS PETERS

[@krishnaghosh771]

🔥🔥🔥

[@luisvega6770]

GRACIAS MIL ES LO QUE ME HACIA FALTA DE COMO ABONAR MIS BONSAIS ..EXELENTE.

[@carlossoares712]

that sock trick 😮

[@ancientoak]

Amazing Explaination. I'm according to You!

[@mikeswain9085]

It sounds like you're on a very busy flight path Peter.

[@peterchan3100]

Yes we are 9 miles from London Gatwick and the planes are 1000 ft above us as they come in to land.

[@NoDecaf7]

N P K. So Nitrogen for leaves, Phosphorus for roots, Potassium for strength? I've seen all sorts of things here and there about what the "ideal" ratio should be for different types of plants, trees, fruiting plants.. it seems like a balanced ratio should be fine for most bonsai for most people?

[@ruralangwin]

The wisest of men.

[@Anika-Faystas]

This is a comment to raise the rating of the channel)

[@benmovens5376]

With the sock method is the fertilizer water used every time you water or once in a while? And is there a certain ratio with water-to-fertalizer?

[@adamwhitehurst]

10:15 That's one way to put your foot into something

[@Gbhmagic]

i make my own fertilizer out of npk materials have a nice ratio of 6:4:4 and I use fish emulsion to water once every 2 weeks... might have to do it once a moth as that stuff stinks

[@peterchan3100]

Sounds good to me.

[@rockys7726]

You guys really should get a remote mic. The ones with a fuzzy ball so it's a consistent volume and not affected by wind.

[@e-nglish635]

1 минуту назад I use AVA, a long-lasting fertiliser that lasts for 3-4 years, a unique fertiliser that looks like blue crystals. It has P-K and lots of necessary minerals. For bonsai it’s just what is needed.

[@TheBonsaiGarden]

Interesting to see your Podocarpus not looking healthy Peter. I have had a large tree for about four years and for the first time this year it looks like I might lose it as the foliage has browned and dried out like this one. It’s recuperating in a pot of sphagnum moss but I fear it may be destined for compost. Like yours it has been outside in all weather.

[@peterchan3100]

Yes the past winter has been very destructive for bonsai - Elms, Yews and tridents suffered most as well as Podocarpus etc

[@sadoldgit313]

Cant use the solid organic feeds! Like Catnip to my dog!

[@jjbpaca]

Peter, I enjoy your videos and would welcome a post which outlines the NPK ratios for different plants. You showed several fertilizers and they were all different NPK which might be used for different species or situations. My liquid NPK here is 7-9-5 that I received when I ordered a Japanese maple. I have not used it yet as there is nothing on the package that indicates plant species, issues the ratio addresses or frequency of use... Any help would be appreciated.

[@peterchan3100]

You are being much too fussy - Any fertiliser can be used for any plant in the spring and summer ( although a high N is best in Spring). In late Summer a high P + High K is best.

[@jac585]

You just got to use organic. Espoma starter mix is great.

[@voodooskratch]

🧦 🌳👍

[@murray821]

Can you put too much fertilizer on the plants? And what is too much or the recommended amount.

[@peterchan3100]

Indeed - if you put too much, you get a phenomenon called reverse osmosis - look it up in Google.

[@darpandahal8896]

Which one do you prefer for bonsai trees ? Organic manure or chemical fertilizers?

[@shivangnisharma9448]

Very informative, if we put the fertiliser directly in the water basin & dissolve, won’t it be sane a putting through sock ?

[@peterchan3100]

Yes you can but with the sock you can control the quantity more easily

[@shivangnisharma9448]

@@peterchan3100 💕

[@DrSpooglemon]

I am concerned about the possibility of creating too much vigorous growth if I give them too much nitrogen. Would it depend on the type of tree? I have a few Ash and Sycamore which self seeded around my house in the ground and in pots. I am using these to practice and they tend to be very vigorous. I have not fed them but they are in regular pots with compost as the are in the very early stages of training or completely untrained. There are a few which will have the roots pruned back and put into shallower pots with bonsai mix next year. Is it then that they require feed because of the lack of nutrients in the bonsai soil? What if I include a good bit of organic matter in the mix? Is a high potash feed still important for strengthening the wood?

[@peterchan3100]

Some people dont use any fertilisers which is not good. Using some fertiliser is better than not using any at all. I hope you understand what I am trying to convey

[@ashwindannenburg6283]

Great information again Peter! Thank you

[@brucedeacon28]

👍👌👌🙂

[@zimmermanlandscape9287]

Can’t afford socks lol

[@chrishornsby153]

No mention of using either rain water or tap water, does it matter which?

[@peterchan3100]

Not practical to use just rain water - You will not get enough and besides its not always the best water to use.

[@geriannroth449]

​@peterchan3100 oh that's interesting I've always heard rain water is better than tap water for both indoor & outdoor plants. I'd love to hear your views on this.

[@andreasweber1533]

If your tap water is safe to drink you can water your plants with it.

[@BrienJordan]

❤😂😂🎉

[@andrewaguirre7872]

Are bonsai maple 🍁 ok to be in side idk lol

[@Costic_Studio]

Tropical plants need worm water

[@SamSam563]

Peter do you like bio gold?

[@peterchan3100]

It is good like most other Japanese rape seed pellets. But remember its just another brand.

[@PresidentJorgeBush]

Master peter

[@MiyamotoMusashi9]

If I had to fill your shoes every day I would never need shoes or socks I'd spend my whole day barefoot With some flip flops in my back pocket

[@jilllawrence5174]

🤣🤣🤣 hi mr c! Would you like me to send you some socks???

[@peterchan3100]

Thank. you but I have lots of old ones which have holes in the heel.

[@allisavercool227]

Plant snaccc sprinkle

[@Zolee0809]

Just a tip: you should not touch fertilizers with bare hands.

[@peterchan3100]

I have done it for the past 60 years and I am still fit and healthy

[@Zolee0809]

@@peterchan3100 i believe you but that is a purely empirical statement, just as for example "i don't know anyone who had issues" :) Mild organic fertilizers are no threat but the more concentrated inorganic ones can cause contact dermatitis and even serious skin burn.

[@raybrowning2188]

You must never harvest a true bonsai from nature

[@yaroslavpronin5111]

Thanks for the video, but fertilizer doesn't "feed" the tree, it is fed by the sun and water, fertilizers are like vitamins

[@yopage]

So trees only need NPK, no other minerals?

[@peterchan3100]

There are trace elements etc but most fertilisers have this especially the organic fertilisers.

[@yopage]

@@peterchan3100 Thanks so much.

[@SysterYster]

Do you ever get mildew or other diseases or mould on your trees? And how do you prevent/treat it?

[@peterchan3100]

Of course we do, you just got to deal with it.

[@SysterYster]

@@peterchan3100 The question was how? :) I had two apple trees, and they got it constantly. I cut off leaves, I sprayed with stuff that would kill it, but that left white spots that didn't wash off, and so they were permanently ugly. So I wondered if there were some preventable things you could do to avoid it.