Bonsai Repotting

Bonsai should be transplanted when the roots begin growing out the sides of the container. We recommend pushing your finger down along the inside of the bonsai container to examine if the roots have reached the sides of the bonsai container.

For the majority of bonsai this occurs every one to two years. In northern climates where there is only a four-month growing season, repotting should be done every two to three years.

Repotting the Bonsai and trimming the roots is not a hazardous operation, if done at the right time of the year. And, if one is careful not to take away too much soil from the tree providing it is done just before the new growth begins in the spring.

Procedure for Repotting Bonsai:

1. When spring arrives, pick a day that is overcast if repotting outdoros.
2. Carefully take the tree out of the container without disrupting the soil around the roots. The soil should be moderately dry. Tree placement in the container is important, so before removing the tree from the container, take a good look at where it is placed.
3. Untangle the roots from the soil-root-ball mass.
4. Remove approximately one-third of the of the soil from around the soil-root-ball mass. Be careful not to disrupt the soil from around the trunk of the tree.
5. Carefully trim off the roots that are now exposed due to the soil removal with a pair of sharp scissors, leaving one-inch of the roots still extending beyound the soil-root-ball-mass.
6. Cover the entire bottom of the container with a layer of pebbles. This will be used as the drainage field for your tree.
7. Using a good grade of potting soil mixture designed for bonsai, place enough soil in the container so that when the tree is replaced within the container, the top surface of the soil is even with or slightly below the edge of the container.
8. Place the tree back into the container and locate it where it was prior to its removal.
9. Fill the sides of the container with the soil mixture packing the soil firmly into the container to ensure that there are no air pockets around the roots.
10. Water the soil to saturation. Always water after packing the soil, not before.
11. Continue to water the bonsai as you did before repotting.
12. A vitamin mixture call SuperThrive or a stronger dose of Bonsai Master Fertilizer is recommended when repotting your tree.

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