Rosemary Bonsai Trees

Environment

• The rosemary bonsai is an evergreen shrub that requires full sunlight for best growth. The rosemary should be placed in a warm, well-ventilated location that receives at least six to eight hours of daily sunlight. To prevent foliage sunburn, choose a location that provides full morning sunlight with indirect afternoon and evening sunlight.

Irrigation

• Although the rosemary bonsai is slightly drought tolerant, this vigorously growing bonsai requires frequent irrigation. The rosemary bonsai may need to be watered two to three times a week during the growing season, and even two to three times a day during the hot, dry summer months. The rosemary bonsai is intolerant to saturated soils. Therefore, you should always check the soil's moisture levels prior to irrigating. Place your finger in the soil to check those moisture levels and irrigate your rosemary bonsai when the soil begins to feel dry.

Feeding

• The rosemary bonsai will benefit from several fertilizer applications throughout the growing season. For best results, the fertilizer applications should be applied approximately every six weeks, from early spring through midsummer. Avoid late summer and fall fertilizer applications so the rosemary bonsai has a chance to harden before the onset of the winter season.

Pruning

• The vigorously growing rosemary bonsai requires regular pruning to control its shape and maintain its health. During the early spring, remove dead and dying branches and stems. Trim back healthy branches to develop shape. Trim this bonsai periodically throughout the growing season. The rosemary's interior may become dense during that season. Thin out the interior branches to increase the air circulation and light penetration throughout the tree. This will promote and increase healthy cell development and reduce the potential of disease.

Repotting

• It is rare for a young rosemary bonsai to remain comfortably in its container for more than one or two years. In most cases, the young rosemary bonsai requires an annual repotting, while the mature rosemary may require repotting every two to three years. Give the rosemary a good root pruning during this process to remove any wilted roots and refresh the tips. Use sharp, sterile shears and avoid removing more than 1/3 of the roots to avoid growth stunt.

Harvesting

• Rosemary leaves are often used as an herbal enhancement in the kitchen. The rosemary bonsai gives enthusiasts instant access to fresh herbs, all throughout the year. Save the healthy trimmings that you take from this bonsai during pruning. Before you know it, you will have a generous container of fragrant rosemary herbs.