Good bonsai care comes down to six things: water, light, soil, feeding, pruning and repotting. Get these right for your species and your tree will stay healthy for years. This page explains each one in plain language and links to our detailed guides when you need more.
1. Watering: check the soil, not the calendar
Watering is where most beginners go wrong. How often a bonsai needs water depends on the species, the size of the pot, the soil mix, the season and your climate, so a fixed schedule rarely works.
- Push a finger or a wooden chopstick about 1 cm into the soil. If it feels dry, water. If it feels damp, wait.
- Water slowly until it runs out of the drainage holes, then water again a minute later so the whole root ball is soaked.
- In summer an outdoor tree in a small pot may need water every day. In winter it may need water only once a week.
- Never leave the pot standing in a tray of water. Wet roots rot.
More help: Bonsai watering guides.
2. Light: the most common reason indoor bonsai decline
Bonsai are trees, and trees need strong light. Outdoor species like juniper, pine and maple should live outside all year in most climates. Tropical species such as ficus, jade and Fukien tea can live indoors, but they need the brightest window you have, or a grow light.
Signs of too little light: long, thin shoots, large pale leaves and leaf drop. Read how much light a bonsai tree needs for details.
3. Soil: use a free-draining bonsai mix
Regular potting soil holds too much water and packs down, which starves the roots of air. Bonsai soil is mostly coarse, gritty particles such as akadama, pumice and lava rock, sometimes with a little organic material. It drains fast, holds just enough moisture and lets roots breathe.
See our bonsai soil guides and the comparison of organic vs. inorganic bonsai soil.
4. Fertilizer: feed little and often in the growing season
A bonsai lives in a small amount of soil, and watering washes nutrients out, so regular feeding matters. Feed from spring to early autumn with a balanced bonsai fertilizer, following the label. Reduce or stop feeding in winter for outdoor trees, and never fertilize a tree that is very dry, sick or freshly repotted.
Not sure which type to use? Read bonsai fertilizer: pellets or liquid? or browse our fertilizer guides.
5. Pruning and shaping
There are two kinds of pruning. Maintenance pruning means trimming or pinching new shoots during the growing season to keep the tree compact. Structural pruning means removing larger branches to set the tree’s shape, and it is usually done in late winter or early spring, before new growth starts.
- Use sharp, clean bonsai shears so cuts heal well.
- Cut back to two or three leaves on a new shoot once it has grown five or six.
- Do not remove more than about a third of the foliage at one time.
More help: pruning and shaping guides and bonsai styles.
6. Repotting
Repotting refreshes the soil and gives roots new room. Young trees usually need it every two to three years, older trees every three to five. The best time for most species is early spring, just as the buds start to swell.
- Remove the tree and gently comb out the old soil from the outside of the root ball.
- Trim long or circling roots, but never more than about a quarter of the root mass.
- Replant in fresh bonsai soil, wire the tree in place so it cannot rock, and water thoroughly.
- Keep it out of strong sun and wind for two to three weeks, and do not fertilize for about a month.
Step-by-step guides: repotting bonsai.
Watch for pests and diseases
Check the leaves, both sides, every time you water. Catching spider mites, scale or fungal problems early makes them much easier to treat. Our bonsai diseases guide covers the common ones.
Bonsai care FAQ
How often should I water my bonsai?
Whenever the top centimeter of soil feels dry. That can be daily in summer and weekly in winter.
Can I keep a bonsai indoors?
Yes, if it is a tropical or subtropical species like ficus or jade and it gets plenty of light. Temperate trees like juniper and maple need to live outdoors. See how to take care of a bonsai tree indoors.
Why are my bonsai leaves turning yellow?
The usual causes are overwatering, too little light or a sudden change in location. Check the soil moisture first.