How to plant and care for your own bonsai tree

If you want to level up your plantita skills, why not try planting a bonsai tree?

In an interview on Unang Hirit, Anthony Gedang from the Bonsai and Suiseki Philippines shared shared some tips on how to care for these gorgeous miniature trees.

Start with planting the cuttings of a tree's branch or roots in a pot. Once it grows, clip and grow it and keep this up for two to three years. After that period of time, you would start to see the tree's form.

"Wag kayo gupit ng gupit araw-araw, kasi hindi tataba 'yung branches pag ginugupitan. Mamimili ka ng branch na palalakihin mo, tapos guntingin mo, pagkatapo palakihin mo ulit until makuha mo na 'yung porma na gusto mo," Gedang said.

Water the bonsai once or twice a day. During the summer, water it more frequently because the soil dries up.

The soil must also be changed every two years so as to replenish the nutrients.

Gedang said that if you plant your own, it wouldn't be too costly. You would probably need about P200 to P500 for materials. If you buy established and well-rooted bonsai trees, that would be more expensive, he added.

Some trees you can grow into a bonsai include Tugas, Yellow Doggie, Sampalok, and Gardenia. —JCB, GMA News