BONSAI: Top 20 Tips

TIPS IN THE
ART OF
BONSAI
SHOPGARDENREPUBLIC.COM
SOWING
THE
SEEDS 1
✔ A day before sowing the seeds, soak the seeds
in hot water for 16-24 hrs. The seeds will absorb
the water and swell. This will increase the
chance of germination.
✔ Indoor trees can be sown anytime of the year.

Outdoor trees should be sown in the early spring
or fall.
✔ Give your Bonsai 6-8 hrs of sunlight per day.

Avoid direct sunlight until after germination.
✔ When planting, leave some distance between

each seed.
✔ Place the seed about ½ inch into the soil.
✔ Seeds take 2-6 weeks to grow.
✔ Remove the smaller, weaker sprouts so the

remaining trees have a better chance to grow.
✔ Bonsai’s take 2-3 years to reach full size.

Patience is key.
WHEN TO
WATER 2
✔ Water your Bonsai when the soil is slightly dry to
the touch by inserting your finger about ¼ inch
into the soil. Don’t water if it is still wet. Never let
a tree get completely dry!
WATERING
SCHEDULE 3
✔ Never water all of the plants on a routine. Water
each pot on an individual basis depending on
the feel of the soil.
HOW
TO WATER 4
It’s important to use a watering can with a small
spout so the mild temperature water pours slowly
in smaller amounts. This also helps prevent
overflowing the pot and washing away soil and
also prevents overwatering. Give the water time to
soak into the soil as well.
A good tip for success is to use rain water since

there are no chemicals but tap water is good to.
IMPORTANCE OF
FERTILIZER 5
✔ Your Bosai seeds will start out in a small pot, but as
they grow, the roots will look for nutrients. Until you
repot your plant, the current soil will eventually run
out of nutrients. That’s why it’s important that you
add Bonsai fertilizer regularly during the growth
season in order for your Bonsai to survive.
FERTILIZER
BASICS 6
✔ The three basic elements of any fertilizer are
Nitrogen (N), Phosphorous (P) and Potassium (K),
with each element serving different purposes.
Nitrogen increases growth of leaves and stems
(growth above ground), Phosphorus encourages
healthy root growth and growth of fruits and
flowers, Potassium promotes overall plant
health. Different ratios of NPK are being used for
different trees at different times of year, which
is very important to take into account when
fertilizing Bonsai.
HOW OFTEN
TO FERTILIZE 7
✔ Indoor trees can be fertilized year round but you
should wait about 30 days before fertilizing a newly
repotted Bonsai as it has plenty of nutrients in the
new soil for the time being.
✔ Your Garden Republic Bonsai trees can be placed

either indoors or outdoors. For outdoor trees, only
fertilize during the growth season between spring
and autumn.
WHICH
FERTILIZER? 8
✔ Liquid or solid fertilizer is fine.
✔ The most important thing to remember is which

ratio of fertilizer to use during certain times of
the year. During springtime, use a fertilizer that
is higher in Nitrogen for growth. During the
summer, you can use a fertilizer that is equally
balanced with NPK. During the fall, use a lower
Nitrogen fertilizer to harden the tree for winter.
✔ To encourage Bonsai flowering, use a fertilizer

with higher Phosphorous.
DO NOT
OVER FEED 9
✔ Reduce the amount of fertilizer if you are finished
training your tree and you don’t wish to stimulate
growth any longer.
✔ Over feeding your Bonsai can seriously harm the

tree’s health. Follow the instructions on your fertilizer
package.
REGULAR
REPOTTING 10
✔ You should regularly repot your Bonsai so it
has new soil full of nutrients. This will increase
growth rate and aid in the overall appearance of
your tree and it’s leaves or flowers.
HOW OFTEN
TO REPOT 11
✔ When the roots begin to bunch up and get tangled
up together around the sides or bottom of the pot, it’s
time for repotting.
✔ Since you’re starting from seeds with your Garden

Republic Grow Kit, it will take 1-2 years before you’ll
need to repot. This is the reason we use bamboo
pots instead of fiber pots, so the pots will last longer.
WHEN TO
REPOT? 12
✔ The best time to repot is in the spring before
growth begins so the tree doesn’t have any
lasting damage from the transition.
WHAT SOIL TO
CHOOSE WHEN
REPOTTING? 13
✔ The best soil mixture is a mix of Akadama,
pumice, and lava rock in a 2:1:1 ratio. Akadama
is a Japanese clay with a gritty texture that helps
absorb more water while the lava rock allows more
drainage. This mixture will require less watering for
you since the Akadama ratio is higher.
WHEN TO
PRUNE? 14
✔ Pruning should be done often. That’s why we
provided our Garden Republic pruning shears
so you can be ready for pruning as soon as your
tree is big enough.
A healthy tree can handle the pruning off of 1/3

of it’s foliage so don’t be afraid to snip.
MAINTENANCE
PRUNING 15
✔ Maintenance pruning is performed to maintain the
shape of the tree. The top of the tree growns the most
so this area will require more attention.
✔ By keeping the end of the limbs pruned, it will

encourage more growth closer to the inner parts
of the tree which gives it a dense foliage. This will
result in a fuller and more attractive Bonsai.
STRUCTURAL
PRUNING 16
✔ Structural pruning involves removing the larger
branches which will contribute to the overall look
and style of your Bonsai.
✔ This type of pruning should be done in early

spring or in late fall before or after the growing
season. This will give the tree a chance to heal
and produce less scarring.
✔ We advise using wound paste on each structural

removal of limbs and large branches. This will
minimize scarring, reduce chances of infections,
and therefore add to the beauty of your Bonsai.
TRAINING
YOUR BONSAI 17
✔ Use Bonsai training wire to wrap around branches
and shape your tree into any style you prefer. It’s up
to you on what fashion you prefer.
✔ It will take several months for the branches to take

shape but after they do, you can remove the wire.
✔ You can wire your Bonsai any time of year.

Remember to move your wire as needed, especially
during the growth season when changes will occur
more quickly. This will prevent scarring.
TYPE OF
WIRE 18
✔ Use anodized aluminum or annealed
copper. The anodized aluminum is softer
and better for use on deciduous trees and
flowering trees. Annealed copper is harder
and works better on the conifers and pines.
✔ The anodized aluminum wire is easier to

work with and easy to find so it may be the
best pick for beginners.
✔ Any thickness from 1mm to 4mm will be

fine to start with since you are starting your
Bonsai’s from seeds. The smaller gauges
will last you awhile until the tree gets bigger.
TOOLS FOR
YOUR BONSAI 19
✔ To start with, the pair of Bonsai shears provided
in your Garden Republic kit will do everything you
need for trimming twigs, leaves, and roots.
✔ As your tree grows, you’ll need a pair of concave

shears for structural pruning of larger branches.
Using the right tool will minimize damage to your
tree.
TOOLS FOR
REPOTTING 20
✔ For repotting, you’ll need a knife to cut along the
inside of the pot to release the roots.
✔ Once you remove the Bonsai along with it’s soil

and roots, you can use a root rake to clean soil
off of the roots before placing into the new soil.
✔ Scoops and chopsticks are convenient for

placing new soil in the pot and sifting through to
remove hollow spots and clumps.
✔ Wire cutting plyers for training.
✔ A small spout watering can.
✔ Brushes for removing trimmings, dead wood

clippings, soil spilling.
THANK YOU
FOR READING!

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What are the basic elements needed for fertilizer?

What are the basic elements needed for fertilizer?

What are the different types of pruning and when should each be done?

What are the different types of pruning and when should each be done?

TIPS IN THE

✔ Indoor trees can be sown anytime of the year.

✔ Give your Bonsai 6-8 hrs of sunlight per day.

✔ When planting, leave some distance between

✔ Place the seed about ½ inch into the soil.

✔ Seeds take 2-6 weeks to grow.

✔ Remove the smaller, weaker sprouts so the

✔ Bonsai’s take 2-3 years to reach full size.

A good tip for success is to use rain water since

✔ Your Garden Republic Bonsai trees can be placed

✔ The most important thing to remember is which

✔ To encourage Bonsai flowering, use a fertilizer

✔ Over feeding your Bonsai can seriously harm the

✔ Since you’re starting from seeds with your Garden

A healthy tree can handle the pruning off of 1/3

✔ By keeping the end of the limbs pruned, it will

✔ This type of pruning should be done in early

✔ We advise using wound paste on each structural

✔ It will take several months for the branches to take

✔ You can wire your Bonsai any time of year.

✔ The anodized aluminum wire is easier to

✔ Any thickness from 1mm to 4mm will be

✔ As your tree grows, you’ll need a pair of concave

✔ Once you remove the Bonsai along with it’s soil

✔ Scoops and chopsticks are convenient for

✔ Wire cutting plyers for training.

✔ A small spout watering can.

✔ Brushes for removing trimmings, dead wood

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