When to Repot your Bonsai

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Bonsai cannot be repotted at any time of the year; for the majority of species, there is a small period of time during the Spring where the roots can be disturbed and pruned with reduced risk of danger to the tree's health.

Though there are tree species that can be repotted at other times of the year, the purpose of this article is to describe and highlight the best time for repotting the typical deciduous bonsai in Spring.

It is well known (and is frequently referred to in the Species Guides at Bonsai4me.com) that bonsai should be repotted 'when the buds start to extend', but, what exactly does this mean and exactly when does this happen?

It is not possible to specify exact calendar dates for repotting. Different tree species require repotting at slightly different times and different trees of the same species can be ready to repot at slightly different times, even those grown in exactly same climate.

Different climates can dramatically effect the exact date of repotting; repotting time in Florida will take place weeks before repotting in New York.

However, nearly all tree species follow the same series of stages of bud growth in Spring and these can be used to identify the best time to repot your bonsai.

Why Repot in Spring?

As temperatures slowly rise in early Spring, the roots of a bonsai slowly become active. The energy resources of the tree that have been stored in the roots over winter begin to move back up into the tree. As they do, the dormant buds on the branches (produced in late Summer and Autumn of the previous year) begin to swell.

This is the signal that the tree is beginning to come out of dormancy. As ambient temperatures continue to rise through the next weeks, move of the tree's stored energy moves from the roots, up into the tree in readiness for the explosion of new growth as the tree comes into leaf. At this point, the roots stop being an energy store and their primary function is to supply the newly opening leaves with moisture from the ground.

This process can be followed from start to finish by observing the state of the buds visible on the branches on the bonsai. This process can be broken down into 4 stages;

The 4 Stages of Spring Buds

Stage One, Winter Buds: The Winter Buds on most trees are tiny and are typically colourless. At this point the roots are also dormant. The majority of the trees resources are contained within the roots.

Stage Two, Swelling Buds/Bud Swell: A period of time after the roots begin to wake in early Spring, the buds on the branches will begin to swell. In many (but not all) species, the swelling buds will have a stronger colour than those that are still dormant (Winter buds).

It is at this stage that new adventitious buds can appear on the trunk and existing branches of the tree.

Stage Three, Extending Buds/Bud Extension: The buds will lengthen, take a stronger colour and in many cases appear to be on the verge of opening. By this point the majority of the tree's resources are no longer in the roots but in the above ground parts of the tree.

This is the best time to repot and root prune as the roots are very active and can repair themselves rapidly, and the majority of the trees resources are contained in the tree. In other words, pruning and removal of the roots will not deplete the tree of energy.

Stage Four, Bud Burst/Bud Opening: The buds open and the tiny new leaves begin to appear. Repotting must be finished by now.

Identifying the 4 Stages

When to Repot your Bonsai

This image of part of a Hawthorn (Crataegus) was taken mid-February in the UK. The swelling buds have brighter, more colourful tips than the dormant buds.

When to Repot your Bonsai

Not all the buds on any one tree will all change from one stage to another uniformly. The tendency of most trees is that the apical buds (those on the tips of branches and in the higher areas of the tree) will always progress more quickly than buds on the inner and lower branches. This Hawthorn branch has 2 swelling buds at the tip and one bud lower down that is still dormant.

When to Repot your Bonsai

This Hawthorn now has swelling buds all over the branches and a few extending buds. These will begin to open soon and repotting must be carried out.

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