• Plant it in well-drained soil; buy special bonsai soil at a nursery.
• Water your bonsai regularly. The soil should always be moist; a bonsai tree that dries out will perish. If you’re unsure, water it every day because if it’s planted in well-drained soil, the excess water will simply drain away.
• Place your tree in the right spot; somewhere that gets direct morning sun is ideal.
• Feed your bonsai as you would a potted plant. Any bonsai fertiliser will work (available from nurseries), or use a product such as Seagro or Nitrosol; follow the instructions on the packaging.
• Replant your tree about every two years. New soil will provide new, fresh nutrients to the plant.
• Prune if the branches start to grow too prolifically; this will help to retain the shape of your tree. This is an ongoing process.

Text: Ernst Nieuwoudt
Image: Home magazine