Since bonsai trees are in small pots, it is very important to give them fertilizer because they will use up the nutrients in the small bit of soil that they are in very quickly. Often times, it is hard to find a specialized bonsai fertilizer in your local garden department. When you can't find it locally, you can go online and order it. But if it is time to fertilize your bonsai and you have nothing on hand, an all purpose plant food (10-10-10) will do the trick.
When using an all purpose plant food, give the bonsai less than the suggested amount first and see how it reacts. Every tree is different. For instance, I have a very young Chinese Elm (Ulmus parvifolia) that I gave just a little bit of all purpose fertilizer, and it had a nice flush of new growth within a week. It is important to remember that an all purpose fertilizer might not work for every tree. It is imperative to do research about your type of tree and find its specific nutrient requirements.
Another thing to note with an all purpose fertilizer: make sure not to get one with a weed or insect killer added. You can never know how a tree might react to the weed killer. It could damage the tree. If you have moss on the soil of your bonsai, it would most likely kill that too. One reason you don't want a pesticide in your fertilizer is because many species of trees are very sensitive to any type of chemicals. It is better to use an insecticidal soap spray, which, when used correctly, won't harm the tree, to prevent or treat a pest attack.
One nice thing about a specialized bonsai fertilizer is that it contains all of the necessary nutrients for a bonsai. Simply follow the instructions on the package.
With Azalea (Rhododendron) bonsai, you can buy an azalea fertilizer from your local garden department.
Coming May 30: Fertilizer - Part 2: When to Fertilize Your Bonsai
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