Care Calendar
This page was a suggestion by one of our visitors and features a detailed guide on how to care for your bonsai trees each month.
Please Note: There are two calendars on this page; the first calendar is for Outdoor Trees and the other is for Indoor Trees. Also this calendar corresponds to Northern Hemisphere seasons.
The months corresponding to the general seasons are color coded.
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Please Note: There are two calendars on this page; the first calendar is for Outdoor Trees and the other is for Indoor Trees. Also this calendar corresponds to Northern Hemisphere seasons.
The months corresponding to the general seasons are color coded.
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Outdoor TreesMarch
Watering: Once a week only if trees start growing otherwise just keep soil moist. Fertilizing: Do not fertilize. Pruning: Prune if trees are not showing new growth. Potting: Repot conifers. Wiring: Wire conifers. evergreens, and deciduous. Location: Keep trees cool but provide good light. April Watering: Once a week or more if trees are growing. Fertilizing: Do not fertilize unless buds start growing. Pruning: Prune if trees are not showing new growth. Potting: Last chance to repot conifers. Repot deciduous trees. Wiring: Wire conifers, evergreens, and deciduous. Location: Keep trees cool but provide good light. Conifers can come out from winter protection. May Watering: Up to three times a week if soil is getting dry. Fertilizing: Once every two weeks at 1/2 strength if buds are growing. Pruning: Last chance to prune if trees are not showing new growth. Potting: Repot deciduous if they have no new growth. Wiring: Only wire evergreens. Location: Keep trees cool but provide good light. Deciduous trees can come out from winter protection. June Watering: Once a day or maybe even twice a day. Fertilizing: Once a week at full strength Pruning: Do not prune. Potting: Do not repot. Wiring: Only wire evergreens. Location: All bonsai can come out of winter protection. Rotate pots every week. July Watering: Once a day or maybe even twice a day. Mist leaves daily. Fertilizing: Do not fertilize. Pruning: Do not prune, but you may defoliate certain species if required. Potting: Repot after defoliation. Wiring: Ideal time to wire deciduous trees. Can wire evergreens. Location: Keep in partial shade or full shade if really hot. Rotate pots every week. August Watering: Once a day or maybe even twice a day. Mist leaves daily. Fertilizing: Once a week at full strength, but use low nitrogen fertilizer. Pruning: Prune pines, junipers, and yews. Potting: Only repot cypress, buttonwood, cotoneaster, fig, and most tropical trees. Wiring: Wire pines, junipers, yews, and evergreens. Location: Keep in partial shade or full shade if really hot. Rotate pots every week. September Watering: Once a day. Fertilizing: Do not fertilize deciduous once leaves change color, but feed evergreens at 1/2 strength once a week. Pruning: Last chance to prune tropical trees, but avoid pruning all others. Potting: Avoid repotting. Last chance to wire junipers, cryptomerias, and cypress. Wiring: Can wire evergreens. Location: If hot sun is gone, you may remove shade. Rotate pots every week. October Watering: Once a day. Fertilizing: Do not fertilize deciduous but feed evergreens at 1/2 strength once a week. Pruning: Do not prune. Potting: Do not repot. Wiring: Can wire evergreens. Location: Rotate pots every week. November Watering: Every second day unless leaves have fallen. If leaves have fallen, then just maintain moist. Fertilizing: Do not fertilize deciduous but feed evergreens at 1/2 strength every four days. Pruning: Do not prune. Potting: Do not repot. Only wire conifers. Wiring: Can wire evergreens. Location: Rotate pots every week. December Watering: Keep soil moist; water around every second day. Fertilizing: Only fertilize evergreens with pellet food. Remove pellets before cold weather. Pruning: Maples may be pruned if naked. Potting: Do not repot. Wiring: Only wire conifers and evergreens. Location: Protect trees for winter. Deciduous trees must be left in a cool place. January Watering: Maintain moisture. Fertilizing: Do not fertilize. Pruning: Do not prune. Potting: Do not repot. Wiring: Only wire conifers and evergreens. Location: Protect all trees from cold weather. February Watering: Maintain moisture. Fertilizing: Do not fertilize. Pruning: Maples may be pruned if naked. Potting: Do not repot. Wiring: Only wire conifers and evergreens. Location: Protect all trees from cold weather. |
Indoor TreesMarch
Watering: Once a week by entirely submerging pot in water. Fertilizing: Once every two weeks at 1/2 strength if leaves are growing. Pruning: Light pruning of overgrown branches. Potting: Repot with new soil. Wiring: Ideal time to wire. Location: Keep in a bright place, but avoid burning sunlight. Rotate bonsai every second day for even light. April Watering: At least once a week by submerging. If necessary, water second time normally. Fertilizing: Once every two weeks at 1/2 strength if leaves are growing. Pruning: Light pruning of overgrown branches. Potting: Repot with new soil. Wiring: Alright. Location: Keep in a bright place, but avoid burning sunlight. Rotate bonsai every second day for even light. May Watering: At least once a week by submerging. If necessary, water second time normally. Fertilizing: Once every two weeks at 1/2 strength. Pruning: Light pruning of overgrown branches. Potting: Repot with new soil. Wiring: Alright. Location: Keep in a bright place, but avoid burning sunlight. Rotate bonsai every second day for even light. June Watering: No more submerging until next year. Water as needed (even everyday if need be), but do not water if soil is moist. Misting everyday is recommended. Fertilizing: Once a week at full strength Pruning: Prune branches that overgrew in spring. Potting: Avoid repotting. Wiring: Alright. Location: Can be placed outdoors if weather is good. Protect from wind and keep rotating. July Watering: Water as needed (even everyday if need be), but do not water if soil is moist. Misting everyday is recommended. Fertilizing: Do not fertilize. Pruning: Most work can be performed now (wiring, pruning, shaping, defoliating). Potting: Repot if defoliating. Wiring: Alright. Location: Can be placed outdoors if weather is good. Protect from wind and keep rotating. August Watering: Water as needed (even everyday if need be), but do not water if soil is moist. Misting everyday is recommended. Fertilizing: Do not fertilize. Pruning: Most work can be performed now (wiring, pruning, shaping, defoliating). Potting: Repot if defoliating. Wiring: Ideal time to wire. Location: Can be placed outdoors if weather is good. Protect from wind and keep rotating. September Watering: Water as needed (even everyday if need be), but do not water if soil is moist. Misting everyday is recommended. Fertilizing: Once a week at full strength, but use low nitrogen fertilizer. Pruning: Do not prune. Potting: Do not repot. Wiring: Ideal time to wire. Location: Bring indoors and keep in bright place. Keep rotating. October Watering: Keep soil moist and mist every second day. Fertilizing: Once a week at 1/2 strength with low nitrogen fertilizer. Do NOT fertilize if leaves change color. Pruning: Do not prune. Potting: Do not repot. Wiring: Alright. Location: Keep in bright place and keep rotating. November Watering: Keep soil moist and mist every second day. Fertilizing: Once a week at 1/2 strength with low nitrogen fertilizer. Do NOT fertilize if leaves change color. Pruning: Do not prune. Potting: Do not repot. Wiring: Alright. Location: Keep in bright place and keep rotating. If leaves fall, keep cool until March. December Watering: Keep soil moist and mist twice a week. Fertilizing: Do not fertilize. Pruning: Do not prune. Potting: Do not repot. Wiring: Alright. Location: Keep in bright place and keep rotating. January Watering: Keep soil moist and mist twice a week. Fertilizing: Do not fertilize. Pruning: Do not prune. Potting: Do not repot. Wiring: Alright. Location: Keep in bright place and keep rotating. February Watering: Keep soil moist and mist twice a week. Fertilizing: Do not fertilize. Pruning: Do not prune. Potting: You may begin repotting. Wiring: Ideal time to wire. Location: Keep in bright place and keep rotating. |