Some time before Christmas I picked up a Bonsai Tree from Aldi for €7.99 – part of me thought “This could just be a trial run” as I had always wanted a Bonsai Tree, but had this preconcieved notion that they were too expensive (and that if I was unsuccessful in looking after it I would be rather annoyed with myself for wasting hard earned Euros).
Although I opted for the cheap route, I’m very happy with it because the plant I got in Aldi is absolutely flourishing. I’m so delighted! Take a look at the before and after picture, to see how much it’s grown in a month. At the moment it’s pruned in an informal style as I’m only just reading up on all the different methods to go about this. Lidl are selling them at the moment, pick one up if you can (pity the pot is so garish though).
Picking the perfect spot for it, and figuring out the perfect amount/frequency to of watering is certainly hit and miss (the first week I over-watered and it developed some mould on top of the soil) but once you figure it out it’s plain sailing from there. Mine is on our kitchen table (because the kitchen gets lots of sun, but you can’t put it in direct sunlight) and I water it once a week by submerging it up to the first branch.
This is my sweet little Bonsai, I love it because it simply is… a teeny tiny baby tree!
New Bonsai – 23/12/07
I love my Bonsai! – 04/02/07
€7.99 in Aldi was a steal, I’d have assumed it was a dud myself
I love Bonsai trees but I can never keep them alive. I’ve lost two in two years. Maybe I should try again with one on my desk in work.
@ Roy I thought it might be a dud too, but NO. It’s growing steadily. A real bargain.
@ John B I’ve read everywhere that getting that balance can be really difficult, so don’t beat yourself up about it. What happened to the two that died?
Not sure they just kind of withered away and all the leaves fell off. I think they probably didn’t get as much water as they needed. That’s why I think they’d be better off beside me in work.
It’s a really hard balance. If you over water you kill them, if you under water you kill them. Most of the guides say to always keep the soil moist, but that encouraged mould to grow on mine.
My method: once a week I submerge it in a basin of water, right up to the first branch, I watch for air bubbles escaping and only remove the plant from the water once the air bubbles have stopped. Seems to have worked so far so good.
As mentioned, it is the balance between root and leaf.
The following may help
http://www.bonsai.ie/know-how/your-first-bonsai/
The leaves fell off mines and my girlfriend said, yeah, well they would its Autumn … !!!!!! … still not quite sure whether I should have laughed or not and because its a delicious little question i do not want to ruin it by googling it !! …do the leaves from a bonsai tree fall off in autumn?