How to Plant a Bonsai Tree

Bonsai hobbyists must exercise patience when establishing a new specimen. Bonsai trees take years to grow, but they can die in weeks from mishandling or poor cultivation. You must plant the tree with care to get it off to a healthy start.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Pruning shears
• Bonsai pot
• Bonsai soil
• Pliers
• Snips
• Bamboo stick
• Basin of water

1. Remove the tree's original soil by crumbling it off with your hands. It's acceptable if some roots fall off as you remove this soil.
2. Trim 1/3 of the remaining roots with clean pruning shears. Trees trained in bonsai culture are missing a significant amount of their top growth, so the tree requires fewer roots to sustain it.
3. Place the tree in a shallow bonsai pot. This pot is usually ceramic or terracotta, with a wire insert to hold the tree in place.
4. Tuck the roots into the pot with your fingers. When planting, you must cover all roots with bonsai soil for the tree to become well established.
5. Fasten the tree into place with the wire insert of the bonsai pot. Bend the wires around the root system and twist them together with pliers. Use snips to trim excess wire so it doesn't protrude from the soil.
6. Add more bonsai soil to the pot. Use a bamboo stick to pack the soil around the roots. Use a firm touch. The tree won't suffer from your prodding.
7. Plunge the entire bonsai tree and pot into a shallow basin of water. It can take 20 minutes or more for the dry soil to accept the water. Thereafter, water the bonsai tree twice daily for the first 3 weeks.

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