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Bonsai · Trees in Pots

Bonsai · Trees in Pots

Ficus microcarpa · Acer palmatum · Juniperus chinensis · …

Indoor Balcony Garden Sun Partial shade Demanding

For your Bonsai · Trees in Pots

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Profile

Plant group
Woody plants trained in shallow containers
Growth & habit
Trunk, root flare and branches create a deliberate tree form. The pot restricts roots but cannot replace species-appropriate care.
Foliage
Evergreen or deciduous, conifer or broad-leaved according to species. Small leaves do not identify a species.
Family
Species-dependent; bonsai is not a plant family
Origin
An East Asian training tradition using species from different regions
Height
From a few centimetres to over 1 m, depending on style, species and training
Bloom
Species-dependent; distinguish foliage, conifer, flowering and fruiting bonsai
Toxicity
Toxicity depends on the tree; ficus sap can irritate and yew is highly toxic

Care calendar

Leaf emergence

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Outdoor species grow after winter rest; tropical indoor species respond more directly to light and warmth.

Flowering / flower development

Flowering belongs to the actual tree species, not the word bonsai.

Leaf fall

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Only deciduous outdoor species show normal autumn shedding. Evergreens retain leaves or needles.

Pruning & growth habit

Distinguish structural, maintenance and root pruning. Choose timing by tree species and condition.

Guidance for Germany and Central Europe. Position, weather, species and cultivar shift these windows; indoor and container plants also depend on their winter conditions.

Your seasonal care plan

  • Check moisture

    Jan · Feb · Mar · Apr · May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep · Oct · Nov · Dec

    Check the small pot all year, especially often in warm or windy weather. Water slowly with a fine rose until the root ball is evenly moist and excess drains. Match care to the tree species rather than a fixed daily volume.

  • Feed active growth

    Mar · Apr · May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep

    Account for existing nutrition and root condition. Exact dilution and application limits are given with the linked product. Dilution: 5 ml per 1 litre of water. Every 1–2 weeks during active growth. March–September.

    View product dosage and application →

  • Prepare the root space

    Mar · Apr · May

    Choose timing by species and growth, checking medium and drainage. Follow the full instructions for the linked growing medium.

    View product dosage and application →

  • Care through winter

    Oct · Nov · Dec · Jan · Feb · Mar

    Let outdoor bonsai rest in shelter outdoors and protect pots from severe freezing. Tropical species remain frost-free; no single winter temperature fits every bonsai.

Highlighted months are guidance, not fixed dates. Observe the plant, root ball and weather; water, feed and repot according to actual need.

Seasonal care intensity

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Seasonal guidance for Germany. Needs depend on location, weather and species. Check moisture in winter too; these markers are not a feeding schedule.

Peak care Active Reduced care

Care tips

  • Calendar for Germany/Central Europe; species, weather and location can shift timing. Let outdoor bonsai rest in shelter outdoors and protect pots from severe freezing. Tropical species remain frost-free; no single winter temperature fits every bonsai.

Fruit & harvest

Fruit and seed formation

Bonsai is a cultivation style, not a species. A maple forms winged fruits, a ficus fig structures and a juniper cones. Fruit size and seed shape depend on species, not simply the small crown.

Harvest and use

There is no general food harvest. Identify the species, plant part and treatment history before use. Fruiting can use a small tree's resources; retaining it depends on vigour and the design aim.

Plant knowledge at a glance

Position, benefits & character

Position & soil

Identify the tree first: tropical ficus bright and frost-free, maple and juniper outdoors. Check shallow-pot moisture more often than in large containers.

Distinctive features

Bonsai results from care and training, not a special dwarf seed. A grafted crown can have different leaves from its rootstock.

Benefits

A living design project offering close observation of budding, branching and the seasons.

Partners & symbioses

Root fungi differ by tree species. Pines have different associations from ficus, so do not fully wash every species' roots using one routine.

Pruning & growth habit

Do not remove many branches and roots at the same time. Assess the intended silhouette first.

  1. 1. Set species and purpose

    Do not remove many branches and roots at the same time. Assess the intended silhouette first.

  2. 2. Cut selectively

    Shorten suitable shoots according to the species' rhythm. Avoid major spring cuts on maple because of sap bleeding.

  3. 3. Check wire and recovery

    Do not let wire cut into bark. After work protect against extreme wind and sun and observe new growth.

Nursery forms

This overview explains nursery supply forms. It does not indicate current availability in the GREEN24 shop.

Bare-root

Ask a specialist nursery

Bare-root availability depends on species and season. Protect fresh roots from drying before planting.

Root-balled

Ask a specialist nursery

Root-balled stock mainly for larger woody plants; keep the ball together until planting.

Container-grown

Common form

Rooted pot or container stock; inspect plant and root ball before buying.

Young plant

Common form

Young plants allow early shaping but need time to establish.

Shrub

Ask a specialist nursery

Choose bushy multi-stem forms according to natural habit and available space.

Feathered tree

Ask a specialist nursery

Low-branched or feathered trees only where appropriate for the woody species.

Half-standard

Ask a specialist nursery

Half-standard with a distinct crown, depending on species and availability; check stem and crown attachment.

Standard

Ask a specialist nursery

Standard forms need enough room and suitable stability.

Topiary

Common form

Topiary needs regular species-appropriate maintenance; the shape is not a species name.

Propagation & grafting

Propagation

Young material may come from seed, cuttings, air-layering or grafting, depending on species. Starting material shapes the training path.

Grafting

Possible on traded ficus forms and special cultivars. Check rootstock, crown attachment and unwanted rootstock shoots.

Species & cultivars

Ficus microcarpa

Tropical indoor bonsai; bright frost-free conditions.

Acer palmatum

Deciduous outdoor bonsai with autumn colour and winter rest.

Juniperus chinensis

Evergreen conifer bonsai for outdoors, not a permanent living-room plant.

Pests & diseases

These signs support an initial assessment. Different causes may look alike; choose a treatment only after identifying the problem.

Position & water first

Identify the tree first: tropical ficus bright and frost-free, maple and juniper outdoors. Check shallow-pot moisture more often than in large containers.

Recognise pests

Check for scale, mites or aphids according to tree species; inspect branches and leaf undersides.

Assess damage

Rapid drying and persistent wetness can both cause wilting. Check pot moisture and root condition first.

Hardiness · USDA

USDA by species

USDA describes climate using long-term winter minima, not a safe frost limit for an individual root ball.

Ficus microcarpa
USDA 9a–11bSpecies example; account for cultivar, age and site.
Acer palmatum
USDA 5a–8bSpecies example; account for cultivar, age and site.
Juniperus chinensis
USDA 4a–9bSpecies example; account for cultivar, age and site.

USDA zones describe long-term average winter extremes. Containers, young plants, wet soil, wind and late frost need separate consideration.

Understand USDA zones and maps →

Matching GREEN24 products

Matching fertilisers and substrates for your plant care.