Question
QUESTION: Hi,

I decided I wanted to take on a new hobby and make a bonsai from scratch, so I purchased a tiny pine tree(label says: iseli) or some type of juniper a few days ago and put it into a roughly 4" by 7" bonsai pot today and trimmed it a little to make it look more like what I wanted.

I'm just going by instinct in terms of pruning it. I tend to be good with plants, but I've never raised a bonsai before. So far I've gotten it into the shape I want. I have some questions concerning care.

Where is the best place to cut and when?

I heard the tree's soil needs to be replaced every year or 2, is this true?

How often do they need to be watered?

Do they need any special types of fertilizers?

-Theo

ANSWER: Hi Theo,

This is a lot of questions to answer via email. I would recommend that you visit http://www.learning2bonsai.com and read some of the articles posted on the website. There is also a place for you to ask question.

It's important that you know if you have a Pine or a Juniper. The care instructions will be different. Regardless, if you recently pruned the tree, do not fertilize it for several weeks. You never want to fertilize a weak tree and this is not the optimal time to prune Pines or junipers.

You should be able to find everything your need to care for your new bonsai on www.Learning2Bonsai.com

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for the reply. I visited the website and what I read answered most of the questions. But I have one specified question that I don't think the website can answer.

So like I said, I purchased the juniper not as a prepared bonsai, but as a tiny tree/bush that came in a plastic pot. I re-potted it into the bonsai pot, but the soil and roots were so tightly packed together that it came out as one pot shaped mass that was stiff and dry. I tried to pull a few of the excess stringy roots off and then I put it into the pot.

I finished the job and the tree looks healthy, but the main root system is still packed together and not mixed with the extra soil.

Is this bad for the tree or will the roots adjust to the new environment and gradually spread towards the extra soil?

-Theo

Answer
Theo,

The roots should be pruned, but now is not the optimal time. I suggest that you post your question on the Learnin2Bonsai.com website. I'm the only person on this forum answering bonsai releated questions and there are a couple hundred on the other forum. It's free to post questions and you'll have the benefit of having multiple people answer your questions.

Pruning the branches & roots are often done at the same time. However, if your tree is repotted, leave it alone. You don't want to stress it more. Make sure that the new soil (e.g. around the root ball) cover the roots. you do not want exposed roots as they will dry out and eventually your tree will die.

It seems like the new pot is larger than the root ball so your root may adjust to the new pot, but you will want to prune them. Folks on the Learning2Bonsai.com community can tell you the optimal time to prune roots for the type of tree that you have.

Enjoy your day,