How to Replant Bonsai Trees

Bonsai is the art of maintaining and shaping miniature trees in pots. The practice was first recorded in China during the Jin Dynasty (A.D. 265 to A.D. 420). Soon it was adopted by Japanese culture, where it exploded into a full-blown art. Growing bonsai can be a very tranquil hobby, and it requires many years of practice and a lot of patience to master. To maintain a healthy and strong bonsai tree, a grower should replant it every few years to make sure the roots have ample room to grow.

Things You'll Need

• Fast-draining soil mix
• Pot
• Bonsai tree

Instructions

1. It is best to replant your bonsai tree in early spring but it can also be replanted in summer and fall if need be. Younger trees need to be replanted more frequently than older trees.

2. Remove your bonsai tree from its old container. At this time you can trim the roots but don't prune more than one-third of the roots, less if you are replanting later in the season.

3. Replant your bonsai tree in its new pot. In general, use a fast-draining soil that is not too acidic. Many beginning bonsai growers are overly concerned with the proper type of soil, but a simple mix of two parts sphagnum peat moss and granite grit to one part loam will work well for most to all types of bonsai trees.

4. For the first month or two after your bonsai has been replanted, protect it from strong winds and direct sunlight.

5. After two months you can begin fertilizing your newly replanted tree. You can use any balanced plant food with a low nitrogen content year-round. A popular fertilizer for bonsai growing is Osmocote, a pellet-form feed that is slow fertilizing and long-lasting.

Tips & Warnings

• If planting in a very shallow pot or slab, you can use traditional bonsai soil.

References

• Black Pine Information
• Repotting Bonsai
• Japanese White Pine Information