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Repotting and Pruning Your Bonsai Tree

July 4th, 2009 | by |

The indoor Bonsai Tree is a beautiful addition to any home or office, and once you learn how to care for these unique trees, they are a great hobby.

The basics of Bonsai care

Well developed and healthy fibrous roots are essential for the continued good health of your Bonsai tree and it is essential to repot to manage this process. Caring for your Bonsai tree involves isnt as difficult as you may think as it involves many of the same activities associated with caring for a pot plant or an indoor plant. Normally a young or fast growing Bonsai will need to be repotted roughly once a year; for less prolific growers or older trees it can be done as infrequently as once every five years. You should try and repot during late winter or early spring when the buds start to swell.

How to repot a Bonsai tree

The process of repotting a Bonsai tree is one that you should take seriously and this is how you should repot your Bonsai tree:

Carefully tidy the tree by pruning off any unwanted, long branches. The roots need to be relatively dry so if it is an outdoor bonsai tree, then make sure the tree has been under cover to dry the roots out. If you are not sure if the tree needs repotting, remove it from the pot, and you will see if the roots have filled the entire pot if so then it needs repotting. If it is root bound then you should repot it, but, if there is a few inches of room so the roots can grow a little longer then you can carefully replace the tree in it’s original pot and continue as normal.

Remove the surface soil from the roots either by hand or you can use a nylon scrubbing brush. Brush away from the trunk and be careful not to damage any of the roots. Removing the loose soil will give the Bonsai tree a healthier look and feel. Once you’ve removed most of the soil in this way, you can use a small, fine bristled paintbrush to remove the soil stuck in the roots or that has collected in the roots.

Use a Bonsai fork to comb out the roots. Do this by combing out the roots from underneath and then use scissors to prune up to a third of the roots and then cut out small wedges around the root base to allow fresh soil to collect and keep your Bonsai healthy. Add a layer of grit to the bottom of the pot and then add the Bonsai compst of your choice.

Take the time to position your Bonsai tree in the pot and then push a little more soil into awkward places. Complete this as often as you need to as mentioned above.