The safest time to re-pot a Bonsai tree is at “bud-burst,” usually in late winter, depending on the Bonsai type.
Some signs that a Bonsai needs re-potting are slow growth, roots anymore visible in pot, difficulty wetting the soil or slow water uptake by the plant.
In this article we will break down:
- The best time for repotting your Bonsai will depend upon which type of tree you have
- How to identify possible signs for repotting your Bonsai
- Why do you have to wait for bud-break to repot your Bonsai?
Do I Need to Repot My Bonsai?
If your Bonsai plant is healthy, you will have to transfer it to another pot at some point. As your plant continues to grow, its roots will fill the pot, and eventually lose their ability to provide nutrients to the rest of the plant.
When this happens, it will be time for you to repot it so you can trim the roots, replace the potting medium and allow your plant to continue to grow.
A lot of Bonsai owners think the trees cannot get any larger or their tree is too tiny to re-pot.
In fact, your tree could live for a few years but if you do not pay attention to signals your tree needs to be re-potted, the tree will stop growing and most likely die.
How Do I Tell If My Bonsai Is Needing to Be Repotted?
When the spring season arrives, remove your Bonsai from the pot to assess its root system. If the roots are circling the inner root ball and beginning to press outward around the edge of the soil, it is time to re-pot your Bonsai.
There are other signs that may indicate it is time to re-pot your Bonsai, but checking the root system your plants will tell you it is time or not.
Some of the more common signs that a Bonsai plant needs re-potting include:
- The roots are looping around the sides of the pot rather than staying in the soil
- The soil is not holding water
- The plant is growing slower than in previous growing seasons
- The leaves are starting to yellow or are dull instead of glossy
- The plant is not drinking water in the summer
- The plant’s leaves are dropping rapidly in the summer, or are smaller than previous growing seasons
What Time of Year Should I Repot My Bonsai?
The optimal time for repotting your bonsai is when your plant hits bud-burst, which is when the very first leaves are just starting to push through.
You are looking for tiny, healthy little buds, or nubs, pushing through on the branches after the plant has been in dormancy.
Remember that the best time of year for your Bonsai will depend on which type of plant you have.
Deciduous bonsais, evergreens, tropicals and cedars all have different needs.
Use this table to determine when, during the year your plant needs repotted.
| Bonsai Type | Season to Repot (US mainland seasons) |
|---|---|
| Deciduous | Late winter to early spring (late February to early March) |
| Evergreen | Mid-spring (March-April) |
| Tropical | Late spring to early summer (April-June) |
| Cedar | February only |
Why Do I Need to Repot My Bonsai At a Particular Time?
Bonsais are considered delicate plants overall, so selecting the right season to repot will minimize the stress of repotting the tree, and plant damage. The goal is to repot your tree just as it is breaking dormancy and as it starts new growth.
This is the best time for minimal stress, as it will allow trimmed roots to initiate new growth and heal properly during the growing season.
Different species of Bonsai will have different dormancy periods and new growth periods, so it is important to know the type of tree your Bonsai is (for example, deciduous, evergreen, tropical, and cedar), and thus its seasonal growth.
Can I Repot My Bonsai In Summer?
If you have a tropical climate, you may be lucky enough to repot your Bonsai during the summertime.
In tropical areas, Bonsai trees will typically show bud-break from late spring until early summer, roughly April – June, which is when you should repot your Bonsai, if it isn’t already trimmed and repotted for the season.
Examples of tropical varieties of Bonsai:
- Brazilian rain tree
- Bougainvillea
- Ficus
- Fukien tea
- Tabebuia
- Shohin
- Aralia
What If My Bonsai’s Bud-breaking Does Not Match the Usual Seasons?
Bonsai raised indoors do not always have the ability to follow cues in their environment that help them maintain their natural seasonal cycles.
This phenomenon is called “eco-dormancy,” which may mean that your bonsai may not bud-break at the expected season for your particular variety
Just because your bonsai’s bud-break does not occur at the expected seasonal period does not mean you repot your bonsai only thereafter; should the web break (the time for a bonsai’s new growth) little potting into a stress free place for the health of your bonsai, try to budget pot it in a stress-free environment.
Conclusion
Bonsai trees are great trees to have around the house, however, they are a little more maintenance than most houseplants.
What really matters is repotting your Bonsai when the root system gets too big for the pot to ensure that they will be as healthy and happy as possible.
The best time to repot your Bonsai is when you start to see the first signs of bud-burst from dormancy, and when making the transition into its new growth period for the season.