comments:
Fertilizer for bonsai often seems like a religious war. The truth is some very well known bonsai practitioners use just MiracleGro and Superthrive. Definitely do a deep dive here. You should be using very little fertilizer occasionally over each year, though aforesaid practitioners water regularly with very almost homeopathic dilutions. Superthrive is not a fertilizer but it is a root stimulant. Pests / fungus treatments tend to be specific to the problem. It’s a big enough topic you should do a deep dive. Preventatives and light insect treatments are neem oil dilutions, DIYs with dawn detergent and isopropyl alcohol, and predatory nematodes. Fungal treatments are pretty easy, all kinds of cheap sprayers on Amazon. Repotting is also unnecessarily controversial. The real answer is, when it’s root bound. Like watering, it’s not something one can just put on a schedule and not think about it. Best way is to see if the plant will budge at all in its pot. If not at all use something like a cheap harvest knife, carefully separate the rootball from the pot, and check if it’s root bound. Replace in pot if it’s not. https://www.amazon.com/OPINEL-Essential-Vegetable-Hornbeam-Handles/dp/B0DMJB3P7Q Coarse soil with no more than 20% organic material preferably pine fines. My favorite general purpose is Bonsai Jacks Organic. I like the owner, great guy very friendly. https://www.bonsaijack.com/shop/premixed-bonsai-soil/bonsaijack_organic_bonsai_soil_mix/