Bonsai is a Japanese art form that and every 4­5 years when older. Prune Cryptomeria japonica varieties­ captures the essence of a natural setting. immediately after flowering. Keep moist. Japanese Cedar. This conifer has tight Various pruning and training techniques foliage and stiff branches. Repot new trees help attain this look. Please refer to the back Stewartia pseudocamellia­ This slow every 2 years in spring. Prune in late of this pamphlet for instructions. The growing tree has white summer flowers and summer. Water thoroughly, but do not keep following list gives some suggestions and brilliant fall color. Repot every 2­5 years in it permanently saturated. Protect from details of plants that work well as outdoor early spring. Prune in early spring before winter winds and extended frosts. Zones 5­ bonsai specimens. repotting. Keep moist. Zones 4­7. 9. Tsuga canadensis, or T. mertensiana­ Bonsai for part shade Ginkgo biloba­ An ancient tree with fan Hemlock. A graceful conifer with flattened shaped leaves. They can also tolerate part Acer palmatum varieties­ Japanese needles. Repot every 2­4 years. Prune in shade. Repot every year in late winter or Maple. There are so many varieties with summer. Keep moist. Very cold hardy. early spring. Prune in late spring. Regular different growth habits and characteristics. water. Shelter ginkgos during severe winter Many varieties can tolerate full shade. Bonsai for Sun freezing. Zones 3­8. Please ask for a handout at the information Bamboo­ Dwarf species such as desk. Repot every 1­3 years in spring. Ilex crenata­ Japanese Holly. Small Arundanaria and Pleiblastus are excellent glossy evergreen leaves on this rounded Prune in spring. Keep soil moist. Monitor bonsai plants. Repot every 2­3 years in for aphids. shrub. Repot every 2­3 years in late winter. spring. Remove undesired new shoots when Prune in late spring. Water thoroughly in Adina rubella­ Chinese Button Bush. will soft. Prune out other shoots spring­ summer. Zones 5­7. Clusters of white flowers in summer and summer. Keep moist especially in hot beautiful fall color. Repot every 2­5 years. weather. Monitor for waterlogged soil and Juniperus chinensis­ Chinese Juniper. Prune after flowering, or in spring. Adina spider mites. Horizontal conifers with grey green foliage. can dry out a bit between waterings. Repot every 2­5 years in mid spring. Prune Chaenomles japonica­ Flowering in late summer. Keep moist in summer and quince. Early spring flowers in various Chamecyparis obtusa­ Hinoki Cypress. slightly dry in winter. Monitor for spider colors. Look for the contorted variety for mites. Zones 3­9. These conifers tolerate part shade or full extra interest. Repot every 1­2 years in sun. They need to be repotted every 2­3 spring. Prune immediately after flowering. Pinus thunbergi­ Japanese Black Pine. years in mid spring. Prune in summer. Cut back new shoots mid­late summer. Upright rich green needles and black Zone 4. Keep wet they are very thirsty! Zones 4­8. fissured bark. Repot every 2­5 years in late spring. Prune in late summer. Keep soil Daphne sp.­ Fragrant flowers on this Cotoneaster horizontalis­ Distinct stiff mounding evergreen shrub. Repot every 2­3 moist, but not saturated. Monitor for root fan like structure gives many possibilities rot. years. Prune in spring. Keep moist. Some for bonsai. Repot every 1­2 years in mid species tolerate full sun. Shelter from severe spring. Prune in spring 3 weeks after Ulmus parvifolia­ Chinese Elm. Tiny winter winds. repotting and seal wounds. Water when soil leaves and horizontal structure provide the Rhododendron sp.­ Dwarf varieties tend is fairly dry. Shelter from winter rains perfect elements for bonsai. Repot in spring to have small leaves and flowers. Some because of rot. Zones 4­7. every 1­3 years. Keep moist in summer. Do species can tolerate more sun. After not use synthetic pesticides because they flowering, repot every 2 years when young, will defoliate the plant. Zones 4­9. After care Starting a Bonsai Outdoor bonsai The five basic styles of bonsai include Watering formal upright, slanting, semi­cascade, and Begin watering every day, and cut back if informal upright. Additional themes are Ideas and the soil is still damp. Bonsai are very water illustrated in bonsai references. demanding because they cannot send out a Beginning a new bonsai is best done in instruction large root system. Even keep drought early spring before the plant breaks for Outdoor tolerant plants moist. Details for watering dormancy. It can also be done in fall, but Bonsai are in the plant descriptions. the plant must be sheltered for the winter. Fertilizing 1.Materials for beginning. Pot, bonsai soil In general bonsai need an all purpose mix, wire, root rake, branch pruners, granular fertilizer at half strength. Use ½ tsp scissors, wire cutters, pliers, and chopstick. for every 25 cm of pot spread. Apply in spring, summer and fall. Flowering plants 2. Prepare the pot. Cover the drain holes require a fertilizer with higher potassium. A with mesh and secure with wire. Add rose food is sufficient. Use for the spring another long loop of wire up through the and summer applications, with an all­ drain holes for anchoring the root ball. purpose application in the fall. 3.Root pruning. Ease the tree from its pot Repotting without pulling too hard on the trunk. Repot bonsai if water drains slowly, or Gently tease apart the roots at the edges with plant growth is greatly retarded. Another a root rake or metal hook. Then untangle sign is if the root mass is very dense and the roots on the underside. Mist the roots formed to the pot .Bonsai are repotted every mass occasionally to keep moist and clear one to three years when they are new. Repot away excess soil. Cut back the thick roots at older specimens less often. Please refer to the edges by 1/3–½. If there is a large mass plant descriptions for repotting times. of fine roots, remove up to 1/3. Try to leave Follow directions for starting a bonsai for as many of the fine feeder root as possible. specific repotting instruction. There should be ½­3/4” space around the edges of the pot to allow for growth.

References 4.Planting. Place a layer of soil in the pot with a slight mound under the trunk. Place Bonsai a Care Manual by Colin Lewis the plant in the pot. Once the plant is in the correct position, secure with the wires from Creating Bonsai by Joe Davis the drain holes. These wires can be cut off in 2­3 months. Fill the remaining space with soil. Soak the plant and place in a sheltered area. Compiled by Laura Altvater