Everything to Know About a Bonsai Tree

Starting a Bonsai Tree

• 1

  Decide which species of tree you would like to grow as a bonsai tree. Choose a species native to your area for a greater chance of success. Take a cutting from an existing tree during the spring or summer months. Select a tip of a branch that is 4 to 5 inches long and roughly 2 to 3 millimeters wide. Cut the tip of with a pair of pruning shears.

• 2

  Fill a 6-inch pot 1/4 full with fine gravel. Add potting soil to the pot over top of the gravel. Pack the soil down gently but firmly. Continue to add soil to the pot and pat it down until the soil level is one inch below the top of the pot.

• 3

  Remove the leaves and any side stems from the bottom half of the cutting. Dip the bare portion of stem into a rooting hormone. Poke a hole in the surface of the soil in the center of the pot with your forefinger. Insert the bare portion of the cutting into the hole. Push the soil firmly around the cutting's stem to secure it in place.

• 4

  Water the cutting until water is flowing freely from the drainage holes in the bottom of the pot. Keep your bonsai tree in a room with good air circulation and a temperature between 60 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the potted cutting in a bright area out of direct sunlight.

• 5

  Check the soil in the pot daily. Water when the top one inch of soil begins to dry out. Keep your cutting damp but not wet. Begin applying a 20-20-20 nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium water-soluble fertilizer once a week when the cutting reaches its one month mark. Apply the fertilizer at one-quarter strength according to the rate specified on the package.

• 6

  Transplant your cutting into an 8-inch to 12-inch pot after one year of growth. Maintain the watering and fertilizing schedule outlined in Step 5.

Shaping and Pruning

• 7

  Begin shaping and pruning your bonsai tree once it's two years old. Identify any branches on your tree that are weak, damaged or diseased. Remove these branches first by pinching them off close to the tree's trunk with your fingers or clipping them with a pair of scissors.

• 8

  Observe your tree and decide what type of shape you want it to have. Use the tree's natural growth habit as inspiration for your bonsai tree's form. Begin removing excess branches and stems that take away from the desired shape. Don't remove more than a third of your tree's branches at one time because this could injure the health of your plant.

• 9

  Use wire to redirect the growth of your bonsai tree's branches. Wrap copper wire in a spiral pattern around the trunk of the tree and out along the first one-third of the branch that you wish to shape. Gently bend the wired branch towards the desired position. Bend the branch a little at a time every two to three weeks to avoid breaking the branch. Stop bending the branch and allow it to grow once it's adjusted to the desired position.

• 10

  Prune the roots of your bonsai tree. Remove the tree's root ball from the pot by tipping the pot sideways and sliding the root ball out. Cut back any exposed roots one inch. Replace the root ball back into the bot and water the tree to minimize the shock. Prune the roots once a year, removing only one inch at a time.

• 11

  Maintain the shape of the bonsai tree by pruning it every two to three weeks. Clip off any new growth at the tips of the branches. Remove any new shoots emerging from the tree's bottom or surface of the trunk.

Continuing Care

• 12

  Replenish the nutrients in the small amount of soil available to the roots of your tree through fertilization. Fertilize your bonsai tree once a week with a 20-20-20 water-soluble fertilizer. Follow the package instructions for mixing the fertilizer to avoid burning the roots with too strong of a solution.

• 13

  Check the dampness of the soil every two to three days. Water your bonsai tree only when the top one to two inches of soil becomes dry. Water the tree thoroughly until water begins to run from the bottom of the pot. Don't water the tree so much that the soil becomes soggy; keep it evenly damp instead.

• 14

  Observe your tree often for signs of pest or disease. Look for small holes in the leaves indicative of chewing insects and black or discolored leaf spots indicative of sucking insects. Watch for signs of fungal diseases, such as white powder on the leaves, leaf discoloration or branch dieback.

• 15

  Treat your bonsai tree with an insecticide if signs of pests are present or a fungicide for symptoms of disease. Take a picture of the damage and take it to a local extension agent for identification and treatment recommendations. Follow the directions and warnings on the insecticide's or fungicide's label.