Step 3 of 4
How to keep your bonsai alive
Nine out of ten beginner bonsai die of watering — too much or too little. Master this and you're most of the way there.
Water by feel, never by calendar
Check the soil daily and water thoroughly when the surface is just-dry, until it runs from the drainage holes. Watering 'a little every day' on a fixed schedule is how roots rot and trees die.
Light and placement
Give your tree as much light as its species wants — outdoor trees outside, indoor trees at your brightest window. Turn it now and then so it grows evenly on all sides.
Feed and follow the seasons
Feed through spring and summer, then ease off in winter when the tree rests. Our seasonal calendar tells you what each month needs, so you're never guessing.
Key takeaways
- Water when the soil is just-dry, never on a fixed schedule.
- Give the light the species needs; turn the tree occasionally.
- Feed in the growing season and rest it in winter.