The Bonsai Bench

Watering & Feeding

9 guides

Tap, rain, or filtered water for bonsai? Learn which source works best, what to check in your tap, and simple fixes for hard water problems.

Going on vacation? Learn how to keep your bonsai alive with self-watering setups, wicks, and a reliable plant-sitter plan.

Learn how to water a bonsai tree properly with this beginner guide — timing, technique, top watering vs soaking, and common mistakes to avoid.

Yellow bonsai leaves usually point to watering, light, or nutrition issues. Learn how to diagnose and fix the most common causes for beginners.

Learn to identify and treat spider mites, fungus gnats, scale insects, and root rot on bonsai trees using safe, beginner-friendly methods.

Learn how to fertilize a bonsai tree through every season, choose the best bonsai fertilizer, and build a simple feeding schedule for beginners.

Learn which bonsai soil actually works for beginners, why regular potting mix kills trees, and how to build or buy the right blend.

Learn the key overwatering bonsai signs and underwatered bonsai symptoms so you can fix your watering routine before your tree suffers.

No fixed schedule works for every bonsai. Learn how to read your tree's soil so you water at the right time, every time.