Because bonsai plants are actually trees, they need to be cared for according to the same cycle of nature that a tree outside would need. For the healthiest bonsai plants, it's a good idea to follow a care calendar.
January - The trees are mostly dormant. This is your month off from caring for your bonsai plants. All you'll really need to do is water your bonsai trees just enough to keep the soil from drying out.
Grow Calendar 2011
February - If you need to wire your bonsai tree to shape it, now is the time. Any pruning should be done this month before the growth season starts.
March - You'll need to start thinking about repotting your bonsai plants. Make sure that you have the right soil mix, an adequate supply of pots and some good fertilizer. If your bonsai tree is less than five years old, you will need to repot it. If your bonsai plant is between five and twenty years old, it should only be repotted every other year. If your bonsai tree is over twenty years old, you'll repot every three years. If your bonsai is over 100 years old, you shouldn't repot it more than every four or five years.
April - Bonsai plants are starting to put out spring growth of flowers, leaves, and new green needles. Make sure that the bonsai plant is watered properly and given the right amount of fertilizer at this crucial time.
May - This is a season of vigorous growth. Be sure to pinch back trailing leaves to make sure that there is bushy, full growth where you want it. A good watering schedule, especially in the evening, is essential now.
June - It is now safe to prune deciduous trees if needed. Continue to pinch away any unwanted shoots of growth.
July - The temperatures are rising higher. Good watering is crucial, as is protecting plants with tender leaves from the scorching sun. For bonsai plants such as maples or beeches, it is best to remove them from direct daytime sunlight and only allow full sun in the morning and evening.
August - Continue to protect your bonsai trees from the harsh sun. Reduce the amount of nitrogen in your fertilizer mix, as the heavy growth season is coming to a close.
September - Check any wired branches to make sure that the bonsai plants have not grown enough to be pinched by the wires. Continue watering schedule.
October - The deciduous trees are showing their colors now and saying goodbye to the growing season. This is an excellent time to prune heavier branches. You do not have to water the bonsai trees as often now.
November - Deciduous trees have now lost all their leaves. If you have been keeping your bonsai plants outside, now is the time to bring them indoors.
December - With the close of the year, make sure to protect your bonsai plants from too much cold. However, be sure not to put them near a heat source. A bonsai tree is just that - a tree! They need the stimulation of some cold to renew the cycle of the life.
The Bonsai Calendar - What You Need to Do and When For the Best Bonsai Trees Grow Calendar 2011
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