Our 3-Step Guide to Keeping Your Bonsai Tree Healthy and Growing

If your space is limited, try bonsai gardening to add greenery to your home or balcony. This ancient art is a small-scale way to work with plants.

By

Andrea Beck

Updated on March 4, 2024

Reviewed by

Joseph Tychonievich

Bonsai trees never fail to look elegant and impressive. Bonsai gardening is the art of working with regular trees intentionally dwarfed by pruning the branches and roots, then shaped into various forms or even miniature landscapes.

Bonsai gardening (Japanese for "tree in a tray or pot") originated in China more than 2,000 years ago before becoming popular in Japan. The art form reflects contemplative ideas of nature, elements, and change, uniquely expressed on a small scale. With regular care and attention, many prized Bonsai trees grow so old that they're handed down from generation to generation.

You can create your own bonsai tree from young nursery plants or volunteer seedlings you find in the garden, like from a maple tree that drops its little green helicopters everywhere. You can even buy bonsai gardening kits that contain suitable seeds. Evergreen or deciduous trees and shrubs work equally well. Seasonal bloomers, such as azaleas, crabapples, or wisteria can also make pretty bonsai.

conifer bonsai on steps and gravel base — Matthew Benson

How to Begin Cultivating Bonsai Trees

Bonsai trees and plants are grown and trained in shallow pots, so they often need daily watering in warm weather. In the winter, tender bonsai need to go indoors or in a greenhouse; hardy plants can stay outdoors as long as they're protected from drying wind and direct sun.

bonsai tree on table with spray bottle and prunes — William N. Hopkins

Step 1: Prep Root Ball

Remove the plant from its nursery container and cut off the bottom two-thirds of the root ball. Rake through the soil on the surface to expose some roots. Moisten all the roots using a spray bottle.

bonsai tree roots on wood table next to small purple scissors — William N. Hopkins

Step 2: Put Root Ball in Pot

Remove dead branches and branches that detract from the vision you have for your tree. Remove any dead roots and any large roots that will interfere with potting. Position the plant in the pot and work the soil around the roots. Top the soil with gravel or moss, and water well.

bonsai tree in square pot — William N. Hopkins

Step 3: Start Shaping Bonsai Tree

Decide which branches would benefit from shaping. To achieve the desired shape, wrap wire around the tree snugly but not so tightly that it inhibits growth (this will help guide the branch to grow in the direction and shape you want). Remove the wire when the branch has grown enough to hold its new shape.

Bonsai Tree Care After Planting

Once you've planted your bonsai tree, follow these tips to keep it in top shape.

Watering

Type-A plant parents won't love this tip, but it's the best way to ensure your bonsai gets the right amount of water: Never water on a schedule. With some other houseplants, you may know that Saturday is your watering day, but that doesn't work for delicate bonsai gardening. Instead, water when the soil feels slightly (not totally) dry.

Fertilizing

As a rule of thumb, most bonsai trees should be fertilized throughout their growing season (early spring to midfall). However, fertilizing needs can vary based on the type of tree you are working with. You can use a granular or liquid fertilizer and fertilizers made specifically for bonsai trees ($25, Walmart). Follow the instructions on the package for the best results.

Soil

Most bonsai soil mixes are a combination of Akadama (hard-baked clay), pumice, lava rock, and soil. There are endless combinations, and you'll have to experiment to determine which works best for you. A good bonsai soil mix ($14, Etsy) needs to retain water well without drowning the roots.

Repotting

Most young bonsai trees need repotting every two years, while more mature trees can be in the same pot for up to five years. You'll know you need to repot if the roots are exposed and circling around the bottom of the container. If you need to repot, do so in the early spring when the tree is still dormant. As you upgrade to a larger pot, be mindful of your soil mixture to make sure it isn't too different from what the tree is used to.