Feeding Your Bonsai Tree

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Fertilizer for Your Bonsai Plants

• There are 16 chemicals/elements which in different quantities are essential for plant growth. The most important ones are:


• NITROGEN promotes growth. In spring use a fertilizer mixture with low nitrogen content because nitrogen will cause excessive growth.


• PHOSPHORUS promotes root development and growth and the formation of flower buds.


• POTASSIUM / POTASH help with root growth and maintains a balance between nitrogen and phosphorus.


• CALCIUM / LIME help phosphorus and potassium to be readily available to be absorbed by plants. It is detrimental to plants which consume acid in their growth because it neutralizes the acid.


• And many trace elements such as iron, copper, zinc, molybdenum, manganese and boron plus lesser chemicals.

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Your bonsai plants need these chemicals / elements in the appropriate quantities to grow healthily and strongly. Different species of trees require different types of soil which have these chemicals in different quantities. Feeding cycles and types of feed vary according to the age, species, climatic location, when potted and also when the trees are developing. Ask your nursery attendant for the soil mix which is specifically recommended for your indoor bonsai plants.

In North America commercial fertilizers are generally used. They contain the three principal chemicals, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. For example, a mixture with a ratio 7 – 6 - 19 works very well with bonsai plants. The 7 – 6 - 19 means the fertilizer compound contains 7 percent nitrogen, 6 percent phosphorus and 19 percent potash. In spring it is best to use a 0 – 10 - 10 mixture because it has no nitrogen. Get a year-round fertilizing schedule from your bonsai nursery attendant.