How To Repot A Bonsai
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How To Repot A Bonsai
Repotting is an important part in maintaining your bonsai's health, beauty and perfect small size. In this guide, bonsai expert Mark D'Cruz from Ma-Ke Bonsai shows you how to repot your bonsai tree.
You Will Need
- bonsai knife
- chopsticks
- scissors
- dibber
- aluminium wire
- wire cutters
Top Tips
- Use a bonsai knife and a chopstick to loosen the root ball from the sides of the pot and to prise it out gently.
- A very particular aesthetic of bonsai trees is a visible root structure. To aid this, remove a thin layer of topsoil to expose some of the thick roots at the bottom of trunk.
- Use a dibber to scrape away at the soil around the root ball and to loosen the roots that have been "squashed" against the side of the pot. Cut away any exposed roots into a clean edge - this helps to keep the tree small and healthy.
- Clean the pot, then replace the wires at the base (if there were any). Add a thin layer of soil across the bottom before introducing the tree back into the pot. Fill up the space around the newly pruned roots and fix it into place with the wires (again, if necessary). Once you have done this spread a nice, even layer of soil across the top and press down firmly.