In case you haven’t been blessed with large amounts of spare time to play the summer bonsai games (pin the tail on the donkey, anyone?) then you may be wondering what it takes to really prepare bonsai trees for their long and cold winter hibernation. And how can you properly winter your bonsai tree in such a way that it looks as good as new come spring?
The first thing to do when preparing bonsai trees for the winter is to remove all of the trim, even the bark, from around the branches. Trim away as much as you can without completely removing the leaves or branches, since this will make it easier for the bonsai tree to adjust itself once it has fallen into its new root environment. Make sure that there are no small trees nearby that may hinder the bonsai from falling into place. You should also keep the soil moist but not muddy. This will help with the drainage of the bonsai tree and prevent any standing water to rot.
After you have cleaned and dried the area, you are ready for bonsai winter care. The next step is to repot the bonsai tree into it’s new container. If the bonsai has any loose foliage or dirt, gently brush it out of the pot before repotting it. Once the bonsai is inside it’s’ container, fill the container about two-thirds full of well-rotted, bark-free soil and add some fertilizer. Water the bonsai thoroughly and monitor the tree’s growth after the winter.