GENERAL BONSAI CARE CALENDAR
Northern Hemisphere / Only a Guideline
Winter
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.
Winter
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.
Winter
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.
SPRING
Spring
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.
Spring
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.
Spring
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.
SUMMER
Summer
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 should have shade consideration. Rotate pots every week.
Summer
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.
Summer
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.
AUTUMN
Fall
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.
Wiring: Can wire evergreens. Last chance to wire junipers, cryptomerias, and cypress.
Location: If hot sun is gone, you may remove shade. Rotate pots every week.
Fall
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.
Fall
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.
Wiring: Can wire evergreens. Only wire conifers.
Location: Rotate pots every week.