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

Outdoor Trees

March
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 Trees

March
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.