Rosemary Bonsai
Tips on How to Grow a Rosemary Bonsai Plant
Growing a rosemary bonsai can be rather easy. Bonsai is the Japanese art form of cultivating trees or woody plants into tiny decorative specimens, and can be performed by anyone with minimal effort. Because it is a perennial woody plant, rosemary makes a wonderful type of plant to cultivate into an interesting and intriguing bonsai.
Most commonly known for the aromatic herb used in culinary applications, the rosemary plant does grow woody branches that can be used in the art of bonsai. It is also an evergreen plant, so it will maintain its color all year long and grow rapidly if given the right conditions. It can also display small attractive lavender flowers. One of the reasons that rosemary is a popular plant to cultivate into a bonsai is that it can be done in a short amount of time and with a small amount of effort. It can take as little as a year to form a rosemary plant into a bonsai form. This type of herb is also easy to find and has simple growing requirements. Anyone who is interested in learning the art of bonsai will find the rosemary plant a good choice. When grown correctly, a rosemary bonsai can be expected to live to thirty years of age.
When attempting to grow a rosemary bonsai it is important to make sure that the plant receives enough light. These plants are sun loving plants regardless of the geographic zone that you live in. Direct sunlight is best, at least six hours of direct sunlight is important during the plant’s growing seasons. If growing the plant indoors, it is best to allow it access to about 12 hours of light a day, whether from windows or from artificial light. Rosemary can develop powdery mildew fungus if it doesn’t receive enough light. Don’t let the frost hit your bonsai plant if you grow it outdoors, bring it inside to overwinter before the first frost of the season. The best temperature for your bonsai is 50-70 degrees F during the growing season and between 40 degrees F and 60 degrees F during the winter.
The best soil type for growing a rosemary bonsai is a well draining soil that will keep the roots from becoming saturated. This will damage the plant’s growth. These plants should not be allowed to dry out completely before being watered either. You will also want to avoid over-watering or watering at night where the roots will stay wet for too long. Water a bonsai plant by soaking it in a tray of water until the soil is moist. This type of bonsai plant will also benefit from a higher humidity level than some other plants. Use a humidifier, daily sprayings, or a tray of water to keep the area around the plant at over 50% humidity.
Fertilize often during the growing season, about every other week. A 20-20-20 composition time-release fertilizer will work as long as the nitrogen levels of the soil do not drop too much. Organic fertilizers can also be added with the exception of peat moss. Common plant pests like spider mites or aphids can attack your rosemary bonsai, but commercial treatments are readily available for these types of pests.
Bonsai plants can be styled into specific upright or horizontal styles. Styling is performed by cutting or clipping back the plant and then allowing it to grow. Allow one set of leaves to open and then begin to pinch back any new growth after that. This will keep the plant growing small. During the warmer summer months you can pinch back the growth on the top of the plant to force that plant to become fuller and bushier. Sometimes a branch may die during this process, just remove it from the plant. A bonsai plant also requires a root pruning each spring. After the roots have been removed from its pot, cut some of the roots from the bottom and around each of the four sides. In all you should aim to cut away about 1/4th of the roots. Then add fresh soil when repotting. With a little maintenance and proper growing conditions you can turn a rosemary plant into a creative bonsai plant.