How To Transplant A Bonsai Tree 12 Step By Step With Picture

How to transplant a bonsai tree? Will transplant a Bonsai tree by uprooting an existing bonsai tree, doing some root maintenance, and then transferring the plant into a new pot.

Transplanting your Bonsai can be easy if you know how to do it. That is why, in this article, you will find detailed information so that you can do it most safely and efficiently.

In years gone, I have lost so many expensive bonsai trees during transplanting.,

Today, I will show you how to transplant a Bonsai tree as a professional.

Also, learn how to fertilize a bonsai tree.

Before You Start Transplanting A Bonsai Tree

How to transplant a bonsai tree: It is essential that before beginning your bonsai transplant, you have everything you will need ready.

It is the first job that we will carry out calmly and with a particular delicacy.

We must ensure that the process and the time the roots are exposed to the outside are as minimal as possible.

Have all the tools you will need on hand. There are plenty of bonsai tools to perform transplants, and it will depend on the type of transplant you will do.

And the specimen to be transplanted that you need to use them.

The Tools And Materials For The Bonsai Transplant Are:

Pot
Substrate
Pruner or scissors and
Toothpick to work the soil.

It would be advisable, although not essential, to add to those mentioned below.

· Rake

· Mesh for the drainage holes of the pot

· Holding wire

· Wire cutters

· Healing paste,

· Root pruner

Have your new pot ready unless you will reuse the same pot; before starting the transplant, you must choose where you will replant the tree.

Also, learn how to choose a pot for a bonsai tree.

If this is the case, it is recommended that you have it prepared with its corresponding mesh to cover the drainage holes.

Also, learn how to prepare a planter for planting.

With the wires, fix the tree to the pot to ensure it does not accidentally move once transplanted.

If you have not yet selected your new pot or have questions, you can visit this article on choosing a pot for Bonsai. Read now.

Have the new substrate [Link] you will use ready, mixed, and sifted. Do not skimp; always have a slightly higher substrate than you initially estimate to avoid falling short.

It’s not nice to start mixing new soil and sifting it with a half-done transplant because you came up short at first.

Apart from sifting it, some people wash the new substrate beforehand to remove dust.

If you decide to do it, prepare it beforehand so it dries.

Transplant with the original dry substrate Unless the substrate is excessively compacted.

It is preferable to leave the tree without watering for a couple of days so that it is as dry as possible and thus detaches more easily from the roots.

Logically, it will depend on our climate and the volume of the current pot since if it is very hot, a single day can be enough or, in the case of seedlings, not even that.

How To Transplant A Bonsai Tree Step By Step

How To Transplant A Bonsai Tree Step 1:

Prepare the tools, pot, and substrate that you will need. It is also advisable to have a damp cloth or a spray with water to keep the roots moist when we have them without substrate.

How To Transplant A Bonsai Tree Step 2:

Carefully remove your tree out of its original pot. To do this, check if it has anchor wires that hold it to it since you must cut them first.

Once done, using a rake or similar, free the plant from the receptacle.

If it is a plastic pot such as the classic ones where the seedlings come from, and you see that you have problems extracting the entire root ball, you can cut it with scissors.

How To Transplant A Bonsai Tree Step 3:

Eliminate the old substrate using the toothpick. Start first on the outside to break down the block and go gradually.

Do it delicately to damage the roots as little as possible. If transplanting a pine, you must leave at least 50% of the original substrate.

If you need more information about your specific species, you can look at the files by species you will find on the web.

Suppose you will reuse the original bonsai substrate because it is akadama. In that case, you must sift it before reusing it.

How to transplant a bonsai tree Step 4:

Once you have the roots exposed and without substrate, we will cut the root we see most grown.

We will remove the taproot for Those circling in the pot and if it were a young seed specimen.

Unless we have experience, it is advisable not to remove more than 25-30% of the original roots.

However, this will also depend on the species to be transplanted since, for example, maples admit radical root pruning.

How To Transplant A Bonsai Tree Step 5;

We add part of the new substrate in the new pot to serve as a base. We must place a small mound where the tree’s base is placed.

Also, read the best substrate for bonsai trees. [Link]

How To Transplant A Bonsai Tree Step Step 6:

We placed the Bonsai in the new pot, placing its base on the mound of substrate we had previously made.

Now (in case of having put fastening wires), we will tie the tree to the pot using the wires we placed in the new pot.

We will not tighten them completely but enough to keep them in the desired position.

We will carry out the last tensions once we have added the rest of the substrate or at least 90% of it.

How To Transplant A Bonsai Tree Step 7:

We add the rest of the substrate evenly throughout the pot and use the toothpick to put it around the roots, eliminating all the remaining air pockets.

It is not a question of nailing the toothpick piecewise; we must do it without excessive force to not damage the new substrate.

Keep in mind that when you water, it will finish settling down. If you don’t know how to water a bonsai tree, read our article on how to water a bonsai tree.

How to transplant a bonsai tree Step 8:

We definitively finished tightening the fastening wire to fix the tree to the pot.

We must not over-tighten as we could cause injuries to the tree or affect the growth of its roots.

We will tighten just enough and necessary so that it remains fixed and does not move due to the air or some involuntary friction.

We will cut the excess wire and bend the protruding tip in the pot to hide it. Also, read how to wire a bonsai tree.

How To Transplant A Bonsai Tree Step 9:

We complete filling the pot with the substrate; we will stick a little more if necessary.

We can also use a wooden block or a spatula to press the earth and finish compacting it lightly.

How To Transplant A Bonsai Tree Step 10:

Now, we will water the Bonsai copiously until the water from the drainage holes sprouts crystal clear.

It will confirm that we have removed much of the remaining dust from the substrate and that it was not removed when we sieved it.

How To Transplant A Bonsai Tree Step 11:

We can complete the work by placing a layer of previously moistened sphagnum moss to protect it if necessary.

Read How To Transplant A Bonsai Tree complete guide

How To Transplant A Bonsai Tree Step 12:

We will place our newly transplanted tree in an area protected from direct sun (semi-shade) and the wind.

Also, learn how to choose the best location for your bonsai tree.

Bonsai Post-Transplant Care

It is important to protect our Bonsai after it has been transplanted. Keep in mind that we have inevitably subjected the tree to stress.

The transplanting has weakened it, generating new roots and healing the wounds we may have caused.

Therefore, we must protect it from drafts or involuntary movements we can cause when we stumble upon it.

At this time, its root system is delicate, and the new roots that it is generating are still very thin and weak, so a sudden movement that shakes them can damage them.

The idea is to have it in a greenhouse, but if it is impossible, place it in an area where you do not have excessive traffic and do not get direct sun, much less the wind.

Have it at least 15 days protected, and do not fertilize it during that time. Once that time has passed, gradually remove it from the sun.

Learn how to choose the best location for a bonsai tree read now.

If you do not know about fertilizing your bonsai tree or you need advice in fertilization of bonsai tree.

I recommend you read how to fertilize a bonsai tree and how to make fertilizer for a bonsai tree at home. Read now.

When Should I Not To Transplant My Bonsai

It is not logical or advisable to transplant your plant for no reason just because you want to.

It is typical that when we acquire a new specimen, we are eager to transplant it either because the substrate from which it comes does not convince us or because we want to plant it in a new pot.

The art of Bonsai requires patience, and we must try as much as possible to respect certain rules that have their logic and will avoid unpleasantness.

Do not transplant out of date unless for some reason. Surely, you are right in that the current substrate of your new little tree is of low quality or is very degraded.

But surely, when you bought that Bonsai, you did it because it seemed healthy and beautiful.

If so, I assure you that you can wait to transplant it in spring without harming the tree.

What’s more, if you transplant it out of date, you are doing it a disservice, decreasing its growth rate by unnecessarily weakening it.

When To Transplant A Bonsai Tree?

Suppose you are in the right season for it and the weather is suitable.

In that case, you can do it without a problem by following the instructions that you will find in this article.

There are countless reasons why a bonsai should be transplanted. Here we list some of them:

· Degraded or compact substrate. When you water, you see that it does not drain properly or is not easy to absorb, remaining on top. In that case, you probably have a degraded or too compact substrate, which would be a good reason to replace it with a new one.

· When you notice that the substrate protrudes from the pot, your tree has become full of roots, pushing it up as they have run out of space.

Be careful if you look at the bottom and see roots appear, as this is not a clear indication that the pot is saturated with roots, although it can give you clues that it is.

· If it is planted in a substrate that is not suitable for its species or it is a low-quality substrate.

· If the tree looks dull, with yellowish colors, or we observe that its growth is excessively slow, it may be time to transplant it.

· If it is a young pre bonsai or has been born from seed and has not had transplants before, it is advisable to do it to work the roots and eliminate the taproot if it has.

What Are The Right Dates To Transplant A Bonsai Tree

Generally, the best time to transplant your Bonsai is at the end of winter, just before spring budding.

When you see that the buds are swelling, or in the case of fruit trees after flowering.

The reason why this date is the most appropriate is that this way, we will take advantage of the flow of sap and vigor that it will have during the spring.

The sap and vigor to close the wounds that we cause when cutting branches and roots. Learn how to heal a bonsai tree. Read now. [Link

This wound happens when we are pruning the bonsai tree. If you don’t know how to prune your bonsai tree, read how to prune a bonsai tree. Read now.

In addition, the energy that awakens in the plant during that date will help it to overcome the stress of the transplant much better.

It is important that you not only look at the date but also consider the climate in your area to avoid, for example, the dangerous frosts that usually occur just before spring.

However, this general rule of transplantation date is not completely accurate since each species has its ideal dates.

How often to transplant a bonsai

How often to transplant your bonsai tree is very important when talking about how to transplant a bonsai tree.

To decide how often to transplant a bonsai, apart from the reasons indicated in the point When to transplant your Bonsai, we must consider some factors in this article.

Above all, remember that each specimen is unique and must be treated as such, so the question we must ask ourselves is, does my Bonsai need a transplant?

Generally, fast-growing species such as maples or ligustrum can be transplanted every two years (some even yearly).

While other slower-growing species, such as an olive tree, can be transplanted every three years or more.

Young specimens will require shorter periods between transplants. At the same time, more mature and developed trees that already have their finished design can last much longer without transplanting.

You already know how to transplant a bonsai tree is not complicated, and if you want to continue learning more, I invite you to see my guide on bonsai care.

Conclusion

How to transplant a bonsai tree is easy if you follow the step-by-step and useful guide provided in this article.

You will be an expert in transplanting a Bonsai tree by yourself. Transplanting a Bonsai tree is a primary care of bonsai tree care.

There is a right time to transplant a bonsai tree as transplanting is a basic technique needed in a bonsai tree garden.

I hope this article is helpful and I have taken you from beginners to professionals.

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