Harry HarringtonArtist and Author, Bonsai4me · Author, Publisher, Webmaster, Bonsai Artist

How To Feed Your Bonsai 2022

11 Jun 2022 · 2 min

Watch on YouTube

2:22

The video advocates using organic fertilizers for bonsai, focusing on the Oceana pellet feed as the presenter’s preferred product. It explains that organic fertilizers promote healthier, greener foliage and stronger root systems because they improve soil health and release nutrients slowly over about a month. The presenter describes a specific application method: soak Oceana pellets in water overnight, wet the soil surface, then spoon the slurry directly into the soil to reach the roots and deter animals from eating the feed. Fertilization should begin in February as buds appear, be repeated roughly every six weeks, and be increased after repotting or collecting to boost root growth. Oceana’s low NPK formulation encourages root development without burn, and its broader nutrient profile—including magnesium and enzymes—outperforms soluble chemical fertilizers, which provide high NPK but lack the full spectrum of nutrients needed for optimal bonsai health.

Chapters

In recent years, we have all realized the great importance of using organic fertilizers on our bonsai. If you haven't started yet, you really should be considering switching to them now. Organic fertilizers keep the soil and therefore the roots of the tree healthy and more vigorous. There are a number of good quality organic fertilizers on the market. But for the past couple of years, I have been using a new product called Oceana, a feed that I have— I believe to be currently the best there is for bonsai, both in terms of encouraging strong growth and also encouraging a healthy root ball. Certainly, my trees have never looked as green and lush as they do now. Although the Oceana pellets can be left on the surface of the soil to break down with every watering, As my previous fertilizing video on YouTube illustrates, I now prefer to soak the pellets in water overnight before spooning the slurry into the soil. Make sure you wet the soil surface first so it's ready to accept the fertilizer. It can then be watered straight into the soil and the root mass itself. This will also help avoid problems with birds or animals trying to eat the fertilizer. Repeat application every 6 weeks. Due to the ability to encourage root growth, I start using Oceana fairly early in the year as the spring buds start to appear in February, and I add extra pellets to any trees that I repot or collect as they encourage such strong root growth. With a relatively low NPK, the pellets encourage more root growth without any danger of root burn. Note that soluble chemical fertilizers will give bonsai relatively high levels of the basic NPK, but not the broad spectrum of nutrients and enzymes such as magnesium that are also required by our trees. Remember, the best thing of all is that organic fertilizers slowly release nutrients to your bonsai over the course of around a month. So there are nutrients available all of the time, promoting stronger and healthier growth, literally day by day.