| Tending your bonsai tree - or trees, takes a | | | | air pockets. You can also use chopsticks to |
| great deal of time and effort, moreso than for | | | | smooth the soil around the base of the tree. |
| practically any other type of plant you can | | | | Plastic Drainage Mesh |
| cultivate. It's important, therefore, that you use | | | | This is placed over the drainage holes in the pot |
| the proper tools for the job. | | | | to prevent soil from falling out. |
| Bonsai trees need to be potted and re-potted on | | | | Watering Can |
| a regular basis, so you'll need potting tools. They | | | | The soil around a bonsai must be kept moist at all |
| also need to be pruned and shaped on a regular | | | | times. Use a spray bottle to mist the foliage, and |
| basis, you'll need pruning and shaping tools, as well. | | | | a watering can with a head to produce a gentle |
| It's possible to get all kinds of tools at your local | | | | shower. |
| garden center, and some of these tools can be | | | | Pruning and Shaping Tools |
| used for doing the potting, if you so desire. But | | | | Concave Branch Cutterbonsai scissors are |
| when it comes to cutting-type tools, for pruning | | | | designed to be able to cut at all parts of the |
| branches, tree roots, or wire - these tools should | | | | blade, from the tips to the hinge. This allows you |
| be made specifically for bonsai. For example, the | | | | to get into the foliage of a tree without having to |
| concave branch cutter has blades that are angled, | | | | open the blades any wider than necessary, and |
| so that when you cut off a branch, they scoop | | | | possibly damage surrounding foliage. This tool, |
| some tissue from the trunk or main stem, and | | | | used to remove branches close to the trunk and |
| leave a dent in the surface. When a scar forms, it | | | | limbs, comes in many different sizes. |
| will therefore heal level with the surrounding plane. | | | | Bonsai Sheers |
| (Regular pruners will leave either a bump of scar | | | | Bonsai scissors have big, bowed handles which |
| tissue, or a stub at the base of a pruned branch, | | | | allow you to get a good grip, and short, sharp |
| which are undesirable.) | | | | blades. |
| Quality tools | | | | Wire Cutters |
| Buy the best quality tools that you can afford - | | | | Wire cutters used for bonsai have a rounded |
| because these tools will last longer than cheaper | | | | head. This prevents damage to the bark. This |
| varieties, and so will be more economical in the | | | | allows you to get close to the branch or trunk to |
| long run. It's imperative that you keep all of your | | | | cut wire. As with the concave branch cutter, the |
| tools clean, sharp, and free of rust. | | | | wire cutters come in different sizes, depending on |
| Bonsai tools for bonsai trees, only | | | | the size of wire to be used. |
| Don't use your bonsai tools for any other | | | | Tweezers |
| purposes - they were made for working on trees | | | | Tweezers are used to remove a leaf, needle or |
| and that's all they should be used for. When you | | | | small twig, without disturbing the remaining foliage. |
| need to cut screen or other material, for | | | | They are multi-purpose, however, use the spatula |
| example, use a plain old pair of scissors instead. | | | | end to smooth soil, for example, or to scrape |
| Tools for potting | | | | moss and tamp it onto the soil, or firming it |
| Sieve | | | | against the rim of the container. |
| You'll need a sieve - a holder with screen sets of | | | | Cut Paste |
| different sizes, to enable you to sift fine particles | | | | After pruning back your bonsai, it's necessary to |
| from the soil. | | | | apply cut paste to the wounds. It keeps the cut |
| Broom | | | | from drying out and prevents invasive pests and |
| You'll use a small broom to brush the surface soil | | | | diseases from entering through the wound. The |
| smooth | | | | cut paste comes in tube or jaws. |
| Soil scoop | | | | Specialist Tools |
| Scoops come in different sizes, and allow you to | | | | As you become more ambitious in your bonsai |
| transfer potting soil into the container with ease. | | | | efforts, you'll want to acquire more specialist tools. |
| Potting or Root Rake, with dirt patter | | | | Bud and Detail Shears |
| Use the root rake to loosen and remove soil | | | | This scissor is used for detail work. Experts use |
| from the root ball. Rake down the top, sides and | | | | this, for example, for trimming pine candles |
| bottom of the root ball to remove unneeded soil, | | | | (partially expanded shoots). |
| and to expose the roots for cutting. Use the | | | | Bonsai Saw |
| patter to tamp moss around the bonsai. (You can | | | | The Japanese saw cuts on the "pull" stroke, which |
| also use the chopsticks to help you with this | | | | allows a neat, even slice. |
| task.) | | | | Knob Cutter |
| Chopsticks | | | | The knob cutter is used to eliminate knobs and |
| Once you've removed excess soil from the root | | | | stubs from trunks and branches. Rather than |
| ball, and pruned the roots, you place the bonsai | | | | making flat wounds, wounds should be concave, |
| into the container, (wiring it in place) and then use | | | | so that they will heal level with the surrounding |
| the chopsticks to tap soil into, around and under | | | | surface. |
| the ball. This helps stabilize the tree, and removes | | | | |