Water Because bonsai are in pots, their soil is limited. Therefore watering is most essential. The soil should not be allowed to get dry, as this would cause valuable roots to die and wither. However, the soil should not stay too wet either. This causes root rot. OUTDOOR BONSAI In the hot summer months, water 2 times daily to keep soil moist. It is best to do so in the morning and in the evening. Water from the foliage down to the soil, until there is leakage from the drain holes. By spraying water on the foliage, humidity is increased. This causes the stomata, which closes during the day; to re-open. This accelerates evaporation and lowers the temperature of the tree. INDOOR BONSAI The indoor bonsai should be watered often enough to dampen the soil. Put a toothpick into the soil about 1 inch deep. When the toothpick tip is dry, it is time to water your Bonsai. I personally water my indoor trees a small amount everyday. HUMIDITY PAN A pan with gravel and water kept under your pot will help keep the area around your Bonsai humid. This will keep the tree from getting too dry. Fertilization Fertilizing Bonsai is very important for a good healthy tree. Because Bonsai are planted in a pot, the soil maintains only a small part of nutrients that a tree needs to grow. All fertilizer contains 3 substances: N is chemical denomination for nitrogenous, P for phosphorus and K for potassium. Some also contain other substances added to it. Nitrogenous promotes general growth of the tree. Phosphorus promotes the development of roots, buds and fruit. Potassium prepares the tree for winter, making it hardy and slowing growth. In the early spring you want to use a fertilizer with a higher phosphorus content. Use the fertilizer every 2 weeks. In late fall switch to a fertilizer with a higher potassium content and lower nitrogen content. Use this fertilizer once a month, until early spring. If the leaves on your tree start to turn yellow, then temporarily use a fertilizer with higher nitrogen. Because with Bonsai you want to control growth, you do not want to use fertilizer with high nitrogen for very long. Light The ideal amount of light for a Bonsai is partial sunlight. Early morning sunlight with afternoon shade is best, however as long as the Bonsai is shaded during the heat of the afternoon, it should do fairly well. Soil There are several purposes for Bonsai soil. The first being to anchor the tree, provide nutrients for the tree, provide moisture and then drainage as well. Bonsai soil should be a mixture of organic materials and inorganic materials. Deciduous (wide leaf, seasonal) trees usually require more organic material and Conifers (Evergreens) usually require more inorganic material. However, what you use and how much depends on the tree itself, the climate, and how often you water your trees. Organic materials consist of dead, carbon based lifeforms; rotting plant material, dead animals and insect, and manure. This gives the tree the nutrients as it decomposes. Inorganic materials consist of sand, rocks and clay. This makes for air pockets in the soil,and aiding in drainage. It is important to screen sift the soil, throwing out the very fine soil and the very large soil lumps, keeping the medium lumps for your Bonsai tree. This will insure that the unnecessary water is drained off to avoid root rot. However, you don't want the soil to be too dry either.